IE56733B1 - Insulation board - Google Patents

Abstract

An insulating board suitable for use in the insulation of cavity walls has a plurality of spaced apart slots 19 along one edge. In use a plurality of the boards are assembled edge to edge in both the horizontal and vertical directions, the tongues on the edges of each board engaging in complementary grooves on the adjacent edges of like boards. Wall ties pass through selected slots for engagement with the leaves of the wall on either side.

Description

This Invention relates to boards for use In buildings, in particular to insulation boards suitable for use in the insulation of cavity wall constructions.

: In practice the present invention, although not .5 restricted to such use. has particular application to insulation board of expanded polystyrene or similar insulation material, for example insulation board as sold under the very well known Registered Trade Mark AEROBORD.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a board of insulating material for use In a cavity wall, wherein the board has a plurality of af least partially formed slots disposed along af least one edge of the board for accommodating wall ties, the slots being substantially equally spaced apart by a distance which is a common factor of 450mm, 750mm and 900mm, and the length of the said edge being an integral multiple of the spacing between adjacenf slots.

According to another aspect of the invention there Is provided further a board of insulating material for use in a cavity wall, wherein the board has a plurality of af least partially formed slots disposed along at least one edge of the board the slots being substantially equally spaced apart by a distance which is a common factor necessary to provide in use in the cavity wall 2.5, 3 and 5 wall ties per square metre and the length of said edge being an integral multiple of the spacing between adjacent slots.

The advantage of the Invention is that by providing a board having at least partially formed slots whoso spacings are in accordance with the parameters defined e.g. a spacing which is a common factor of 450mm, 750mm and 900mm, with the length of the associated edge being an integral multiple of the spacing between adjacenf slots, the user can choose the appropriate locations for ths work in hand, that is. every third, fifth, or sixth location. Thus a common board can be used.

Th$ insulation board used is preferably expanded polystyrene board.

·- Xn use, at least selected slots locate and accommodate the stem members of respective wall ties, the number of slots provided allowing on© to correctly space apart the wall ties used to comply fully with existing official building regulations governing the use of wall ties in the construction of cavity walls. Building regulations relating to the use of wall ties in cavity wall construction vary from country to country. Accordingly, the? length of the Insulation board may vary and tha spacing between th« slot# may also be varied as appropriate to comply with local practices and regulation®. 4ft The invention will be understood from the following description of embodiments thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Fig 1 is a perspective view of an insulation board according to the present invention; Fig 2 is a front view of the insulation board of Fig 1; a, a Fig 3 is an end view of the insulation board of Fig 1; Fig 4 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the slotted edge of the insulation board of Fig 1; Fig 5 is a schematic drawing of six abutting insulation boards on which specific wall tie spacings are indicated; Fig 6A is a schematic drawing showing a slot spacing format on an insulation board according to the present invention; Fig 6B is a second schematic drawing showing a second slot spacing format on an insulation board according to the present invention; Fig 7 is a schematic drawing similar to Fig 5 in which different wall tie spacings are indicated; Fig 8 is a front view of a wall of insulation boards as assembled in use within a cavity wall, in which the wall tie positions are based on the slot spacings of Fig 5; and Fig 9 is a view similar to Fig 2 showing another embodiment of the present invention. The insulation board illustrated in Figs 1-4 of the accompanying drawings is a moulded expanded polystyrene board 10 of rectangular shape provided on edges 11 and 12 -r with grooves 13 and 14 respectively and on edges 15 and 16 with a continuous tongue 17 and a slotted tongue 18 respectively. The tongue 18 has a plurality of equally spaced apart slots 18. The tongues and grooves are of complementary construction, permitting ia plurality of boards to be arranged edge to edge in both the horizontal and vertical directions, ©&ch tongue 18 entering a groove 14 of a board immediately above it and each tongue 17 entering a groove 13 of a board isnediately to the left.

Xn the construction of an insulated cavity wall it is usual to use both insulation boards and wall ties. Xn the present case a slot 19 in an insulation board 10 in a cavity wall can locate and accommodate the stem member of a wall tie of known construction, with the anchor ends of th© wall tie on each of the inner and outer leaves of the cavity wall.

Xn the construction of cavity walls there are a series of building regulations governing all aspects of the construction work including the use of wall ties. Th& appropriate regulations currently in force in the Republic of Ireland may be stated in general terms as recommending the following guidelines on wall tie usage, namelys (&) Where the cavity wall has a cavity width in the range 50 - 75 mm, the recommended horizontal wall tie spacing is 900 nsn; the recommended vertical wall tie spacing is 450 mm; and there should be 2.5 wall ties per square metre. (b) Where the cavity wall has a cavity width in the range 75 - 100 mm the recommended horizontal wall tie spacing is 750 mm; the recommended vertical wall tie spacing is 450 mm; and there should be three (3) wall ties per square metre. (c) Hhere the cavity wall has a cavity width in the range 100 150 mm the recommended horizontal wall tie spacing is 450 mm; the recommended vertical wall tie spacing is 450 mm; and there should be five (5) wall ties per square metre.

Referring to Figs 5 and 7 of the accompanying drawings there are illustrated in schematic form an appropriate wall ti® spacing for a cavity wall of category (b), Fig 5, ^nd for a cavity wall of category (c), Fig 7. Xf slots 19 are provided at 150 nun spacings on a 1200 Hun long insulation board as shown in Fig 6A then the correct combination of slots may be selected for locating wall ties at the correct spacing for either category of cavity wall. Thus, if the spacing for cavity wall (b) is to be met then a wall tie is provided at every fifth (5th) slot (750 mm spacings), While if the spacing for cavity wall (c) is the criterion then a wall tie is provided at every third (3rd) slot (450 smn spacings)» Referring to Fig 6B of the accompanying drawings, this drawing exemplifies wall tie spacings where the first wall tie slot 19 is provided at any point in the range 0-150 ram in from the left hand top corner of the insulation board as shown in the drawing. Xn Fig SB the first slot 19 is at 50 mm spacing from the said top corner of the insulation board and each further slot is at a spacing of 150 mm from the previous one. This format of wall tie slot spacings has the advantage that no slot is provided at the abutting joint of two adjacent insulation panels.

Referring to Fig 8 of the accompanying drawings, ther® is shown a wall of insulation boards 10 assembled together, with the complementary tongue and groove engagement previously mentioned. The positions 20 of a plurality of wall ties are shown located in selected slots 19 and held in position by the engaging board edge 12· The provision of th® slots 19 for location and accommodation of the stem members of wall ties allows a closely knit assembly of the insulation boards 10 = with the tongues 17/18 of one board in proper engagement with the grooves 13/14 of the appropriate abutting boards .Xt will be readily appreciated that in the construction of a cavity wall, in order to ensure the proper construction of the cavity wall one should preferably provide a wall ti® configuration having th® staggered arrangement as illustrated in Fig 8. The present invention with the slots provided at 150 mm spacings allows one fo achieve the staggered configuration of wall ties while*complying fully with the relevant building regulation relating to wall tie usage.

Sn accordance with the present invention, the slots 19 are provided along the grooved edge 12 of the insulation board 10, in this instance the tongue 18 being continuous. Referring to Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings, if is also envisaged in accordance with the present invention that, rather thein provide slots 19 in one or more edges of the insulation board, there be provided a plurality of pairs of cuts 22 along the? tongue 19 of the edge 19 of the Insulation board 10, whereby the portions 21 of the tongue 19 between the cuts 22 may be broken off as appropriate to provide the required ©lot© to locate and accommodate the wall ties. In this embodiment, in use slots 19 are therefore made or formed on the Insulation board on site by breaking away tongue portions 21. The cuts 22 may alternatively be formed along the grooved edg© 12.

Xt is also envisaged that each board be provided, af say the mid point of it© in use vertical edges, with a clear mark 23. The&e mark© 23 may be used in practice, once the bottom insulation board© are properly bedded and aligned, to assist the brick/bloek layer to ensure that the wall under construction i© correctly aligned and that the correct brick/block line is being followed. If 1© also envisaged that the wall tie location indicator mean© may simply consist of mark© along the edge(@) of the board where wall tie© may be placed in use.

Xt will be readily appreciated that while the embodiments described above make reference to the provision of slot© along one edge only of th® insulation board and that edge being a longitudinal edge of the board, the present invention is not in any way limited to such a slot configuration. The insulation board may be provided with spaced apart ©lot© on more then one edge of th© insulation β board - namely both the In use assembled horizontal and vertical edqes of th© insulation board.

The present invention has a number of important advantages for both the building of a cavity wall and the insulation of the cavity wall. It will, for example, be readily appreciated that the provision of the slots or other wall tie location Indicator means in the insulation board provides a ready means to properly locate the wall ties, as the wall is being constructed, resulting in the correct location and use of the proper number of wall ties without the need to measure off, on site, th® distances for spacing apart the wall ties· The position and number of wall ties used can be easily checked by the site supervisor or the architect. Greater safety is achieved by substantial elimination of possible errors in providing the correct number of wall ties and a reduction in wastage by .substantial elimination of over usage of wall ties. It will be further appreciated that, in the preferred embodiment, the brick/block layer does not have to interfere with and possibly damage the insulation board, by having to cut slots in the board on site.

The provision of the slots on the insulation board allows all known types of wall ties to be used - for example the well known wall ties sold under the Trade Mark AEROTIE. The tongue and groove engagement of the insulation boards with th© slots provided, allow proper engagement between the insulation boards, without any holes or gaps in the Insulation board assembly resultant upon poor on-site cutting of slots or holes to accommodate wall ties. This means that heat losses are minimised and that instances of cold bridging are substantially eliminated.

It will be understood that if the first slot is placed 75 mm from one corner of the board and each of th® other slots are positioned 150 mm apart, then one can achieve the required wall tie positioning to comply with the stated building regulations and achieve aa advantageous result that ο no well tie is positioned at the joint of two engaging or abutting boards.

If an insulation board according to the preeent invention is produced from expanded polystyrene using a moulding process, the insulation board haa an overall skin which renders the board to a large extent water resistant, including a skin in the moulded slots for the wall ties.

The use of the moulding process improves the water resistance of insulation board which is provided with preformed slots to locate and accommodate wall ties.

It will be readily appreciated that while the described embodiments relate to insulation boards provided with tongue and groove edges to facilitate engagement with other similar insulation boards, the present invention may also be applied to insulation boards having plain edges and/or rebated edges or where assembly of the insulation boards in use is a simple abutment or interlock of one edg© of one board upon an edge of the immediately adjacent board. One or of the plain edges of an insulation board may according to the present invention be provided with spaced apart slots or provided with spaced apart cut away portions which may be broken away to provide slotsSG

Claims (9)

1. A board of insulating material for use in a cavity wall, wherein the board has a plurality of at least partially formed slots disposed along at least one edge of the board for accommodating wall ties. the slots being substantially equally spaced apart by a distance which is a common factor of 450mm, 750mm and 900mm, and the length of the said edge being an integral multiple of the spacing between adjacent slots.

2. A board of insulating material for use in a cavity wall, wherein the board has a plurality of at least partially formed slots disposed along at least one edge of the board the slots being substantially equally spaced apart by a distance which is a common factor necessary to provide in use in the cavity wall 2*5, 3 and 5 wall ties per square metre and the length of said edge being an integral multiple of the spacing between adjacent slots.

3. A board according to claim 1 or 2, where slots are disposed along at least one edge of the board for accommodating the wall ties.

4. A board according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each at least partially formed slot comprises a respective pair of cuts in the edge of the board permitting the portion of the edge between the cuts to be removed to form a slot.

5. * A board according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one pair of opposite edges of the board are of complementary tongue and groove construction.

6. « A board according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of at least partially formed slots are formed in one of the said pair of opposite tongue and grooved edges of the board.

7. A board according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of at least partially formed slots are formed in the tongued edge of the board. β. A board according ro any preceding claim, wherein the first slot or partially formed slot, as measured from one end of the said at least one edge, is spaced from the said one end by less than the spacing between adjacent slots. 59. A board according to any preceding claim, wherein the board is made of moulded expanded polystyrene.

8. 10. In a cavity wall, an assembly of boards according to any preceding claim arranged edge to edge in both horizontal and vertical directions, and a pluality of wall ties passing through 10 the assembly at least at selected ones of the slots.

9. 11. A board of insulating material substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.