WO2004083554A1

WO2004083554A1 - Method for laying an insulating covering

Info

Publication number: WO2004083554A1
Application number: PCT/IB2003/000966
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giorgio Pasetto; Giuseppe Modena
Original assignee: Pluvitec Spa
Priority date: 2003-03-17
Filing date: 2003-03-17
Publication date: 2004-09-30
Also published as: AU2003208535A1

Abstract

Method for laying an insulating covering, which envisages preparation of a laying surface (A) of a support (2), arrangement, on top, of a waterproof layer (3) consisting of a thermally adhesive waterproofing membrane (3), and then heating of the upper side (5) of the latter so as to allow the adhesion of insulating elements (4) suitably arranged on top of it during a covering step shortly thereafter. The heating also causes simultaneously fixing, by means of adhesion, of the membrane (3) onto the laying surface of the support (2) as a result of the effect of the heat transmitted from its upper side (5) to its bottom side (6). The waterproof layer may be a vapour barrier.

Description

METHOD FOR LAYING AN INSULATING COVERING

Technical field

The present invention relates to a method for laying an insulating and/or waterproofing covering, in particular for lining civil construction works, such as roofs, floors, walls, paving, bridges, viaducts and roadbeds.

The method in question is designed to be advantageously used for the construction of thermal and/or acoustic and/or waterproofing insulating coverings using bitumen-based membranes and rigid or semi-rigid panels or flexible felts which can be made for example of cork, expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene, expanded polyurethane, wood, glass, or mineral fibres or wools, polyethylene or bituminous conglomerates.

Background art

As is known, in the civil construction sector, there is a particularly widespread need to waterproof and thermally/acoustically insulate walls, surfaces or individual rooms by means of laying methods which can be implemented rapidly and at a low cost and which allow the use of technologically advanced materials with optimum insulating properties.

For this purpose, insulating elements which are of varying shape and size and made of various materials are traditionally arranged on concrete, wood or fretted sheet-metal supports. Usually these elements, in particular in the more common case of coverings for roofs, but also in the case of floor structures, are kept separate from the support to be covered by means of a waterproof layer arranged beforehand on the support - or base layer - in order protect the insulating elements from vapour and moisture coming from inside the building.

This waterproof layer, which is known in the technical jargon of the sector as "vapour barrier", is generally composed of a bituminous mass or more frequently by a bituminous waterproofing membrane which is made to adhere onto the base layer support by flame-heating in a traditional manner the bottom contact side, fixing the membrane mechanically either by means of hot-oxidized bitumen or using cold adhesives.

At present, therefore, the insulating panel is fixed on top of the vapour barrier using cold adhesives, by means of mechanical fixing or by means of spreading of hot bitumen or also by heating the upper side of the bituminous waterproofing membrane which acts as a vapour barrier.

In any case, in accordance with the technique known hitherto, laying of the thermally insulating elements, generally in the form of panels, always envisages two separate operations, namely a first operation for laying the waterproof layer, causing it to adhere onto the supporting surface of the concrete, wood or fretted sheet-metal base layer and then subsequently a second operation for laying the thermo-insulating layer, causing it to adhere onto the upper side of the waterproof layer, as explained above.

The thermally insulating layer may be further lined with one or more waterproofing membrane layers also of the mainly bituminous type.

The functions of the insulating layer and the waterproofing membranes are quite different. For example, in the case of waterproofing of roofs of buildings in order to prevent the infiltration of water, the function of the insulating layer relates to thermal-acoustic insulation, in particular for retaining the heat inside the buildings.

The waterproofing membranes can be generally found on the market in the form of strips of flexible material which are wound in rolls and nearly always consist of a core, or reinforcement, lined with a mass of bituminous waterproofing material.

The reinforcement is intended to impart mechanical strength to the membrane and for this purpose is made of a synthetic fibre non-woven material or glass felt, or also film or plastic or metal sheets.

In turn, the bituminous mass consists of "distilled" or "oxidized" bitumen mixed with thermoplastic polymers, such as polyolefins or styrene-butadiene in order to obtain waterproofing membranes respectively of the plastomer type (referred to by the abbreviation "APR") or of the elastomer type (referred to by the abbreviation

SBS ).

As is known, depending on the modifying agents added (polymers and other additives), the membranes have a different mechanical behaviour and a different resistance to the variation in temperature.

Advantageously, in accordance with the contents of the Italian patent No. IT 1296530 in the name of present Applicants, the reinforcement may be lined on its two sides with waterproofing bituminous masses having different chemical/physical characteristics, resulting in a multiple-layer membrane with an optimum performance.

Usually, the waterproofing membranes need to be flame-heated by means of a gas torch in order to be able to adhere to the surface to be covered which may also be that of another waterproofing membrane in the frequent case where the provision of dual-layer or multiple-layer waterproofing is envisaged.

Recently thermally adhesive membrane arrangements have been developed such that the time required for laying thereof in multiple-layer waterproofing systems may be reduced. These membranes are in fact distinguished by the adhesive capacity of a bottom contact surface thereof once the upper opposite side is heated.

Operationally speaking, therefore, in dual-layer waterproofing systems it is possible to perform the cold arrangement of the first layer of waterproofing membranes, then heat the upper surface thereof and finally lay the second waterproofing layer on top of it. In this way, as a result of a single heating operation, on the one hand the heat is transmitted to the contact surface of the first bottom layer of membranes, causing them to adhere to the support to be lined, and on the other hand the flame-heated side of the bottom layer is softened, allowing the upper layer to adhere on top.

With this method, it is therefore possible to speed up only laying of the waterproofing covering in the particular case of dual-layer waterproofing systems if necessary on top of a thermally insulating covering. This method also does not provide any information on the method of laying, in the building sector, coverings which are waterproofing and/or thermally insulating, this always being, as mentioned, negatively affected by the excessively long time required for laying of the insulating layer.

Disclosure of the invention

In this situation the main object of the present invention is therefore that of overcoming the limitations of the art known hitherto, as cited above, by providing a method for laying a waterproofing and/or insulating covering which can be simply and rapidly implemented.

Another object of the present invention is that of providing a method for laying a waterproofing and/or insulating covering which is low-cost and operationally entirely reliable.

The abovementioned objects, together with others, are all achieved by the method for laying an insulating and/or waterproofing covering in question, which comprises the following steps: arranging a waterproof layer on the laying surface of a support to be lined; first fixing of the waterproof layer on the support; covering the waterproof layer with insulating elements; fixing of the insulating elements on the waterproof layer. According to the present invention, the method is characterized in that the waterproof layer consists of a thermally adhesive membrane with an upper side and a bottom side which are parallel and oppositely arranged with respect to each other and in that the first and the second fixing steps are performed by means of heating of the upper side of the thermally adhesive membrane, the heating being able to cause adhesion of the insulating elements onto the upper side of the thermally adhesive membrane during the covering step and adhesion of the bottom side of the thermally adhesive membrane onto the laying surface of the support as a result of the heat transmitted from the upper side to the bottom side across the thickness of the said thermally adhesive membrane.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive embodiments of a method for laying an insulating covering according to the invention, illustrated by way of a non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

- FIGS. 1-3 show in schematic form three successive steps for implementing the method for laying a waterproofing and/or thermally adhesive covering, according to the present invention;

- FIGS. 4 and 5 show in schematic form two further steps of the method in accordance with the above figures for laying a further waterproofing layer;

- FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a thermally adhesive waterproofing membrane used in the method in question.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the attached drawings 1 denotes in its entirety an insulating covering arranged on a support 2 to be lined according to the method forming the subject of the present invention.

Obviously, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present patent, the support 2 may consist of any support used in the building sector and made, for example, from cement, concrete, wood, fretted sheet-metal or other material and may be used to form the base layers of roofs, floors, paving, horizontal or inclined walls, roadbeds, etc.

The method in question is intended to be advantageously used for the construction of thermally insulating and/or soundproofing and/or waterproofing coverings in particular for buildings.

The method envisages initially a step for preparing the laying surface A of the support 2 intended to receive the covering 1 , cleaning it if necessary by applying a bituminous primer and waiting for it to become completely dry.

Once ready, the laying surface A traditionally undergoes a step for arranging a waterproof layer 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This layer 3 allows the covering 1 to be protected against the moisture and vapour transmitted by the supporting base layer 2 and originating for example from inside the building.

A first fixing step for fixing the waterproof layer 3 on the support surface A of the support 2, a step for covering this waterproof layer 3 with an insulating layer 4, and a second fixing step for fixing the latter on the waterproof layer 3 are therefore envisaged.

According to the invention, the waterproof layer 3 consists of a thermally adhesive membrane with an upper side 5 and a bottom side 6 which are parallel and oppositely arranged with respect to each other. Moreover the two fixing steps are performed by means of heating of the upper side 5 of the thermally adhesive membrane 3.

Functionally speaking, in fact, the abovementioned heating operation causes adhesion of the bottom side 6 of the thermally adhesive membrane 3 onto the laying surface A of the support A because of the presence of thermal-adhesion polymers in the bituminous mixture and owing to the fact that the heat is transmitted from the heated upper side 5 to the bottom side 6 passing through the thickness d of the membrane 3. Almost simultaneously adhesion of the insulating layer 4 arranged on the upper side 5 of the thermally adhesive membrane 3 during the covering step occurs while the membrane 3 itself is still hot.

In fact, this latter step must take place after the upper side 5 of the membrane 3 has been heated to allow the insulating layer 4 to adhere to the bituminous mass softened by the heat and preferably forming the membrane 3 as will be explained more clearly below.

For this purpose, it is possible to proceed operationally by employing a first operator for heating the membrane 3, for example using a gas torch 7 or a hot-air blower, and a second operator, after the first operator, for laying the insulating elements 4 onto the heated membrane zone 3.

Alternatively, a single operator must heat small areas of membrane 3 and then immediately perform arrangement of the insulating elements 4.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the method in question, the thermally adhesive membrane 3 advantageously consists of a thermally adhesive waterproofing membrane of the type intended to form dual-layer or multiple-layer waterproofing systems. In greater detail, according to a further characteristic feature of the present invention, it comprises a first layer 3' of a thermally adhesive, elastomeric, bituminous mass arranged in the region of the bottom side 6 and a second layer 3" of bituminous mass arranged in the region of the upper side 5, able to allow the transmission of heat.

From a constructional point of view, the production process will envisage, for example, impregnating and saturating a central reinforcement B (see Fig. 6) with a first layer of waterproofing bituminous mass and lining this layer on the two opposite sides with another two layers of bituminous material. More particularly, the layer intended to come into contact with the laying surface A will be mixed with thermal-adhesion polymers, while the layer intended to come into contact with the insulating elements 4 will be mixed with polymers (and/or with other substances) able to allow rapid transfer of the heat.

In accordance with the example shown in the accompanying figures, the insulating elements 4 consist of rigid or semi-rigid panels of thermally insulating material such as for example cork, expanded polystyrene, expanded polyurethane, wood, glass or rock wools or fibres, polyethylene or a layer of bituminous conglomerate.

During the construction of roofs it is required to perform also waterproofing of the insulating layer (4).

For this purpose, the method of laying the covering 1 therefore envisages a first step for arranging a first layer 8 of waterproofing membranes onto the insulating elements 4 and a second step for arranging a second layer 9 of waterproofing membranes so as to line the first layer 8 (see Figs. 4, 5).

The two layers 8 and 9 of membranes are then fixed by means of a third fixing step intended to cause adhesion of the first layer 8 onto the insulating elements 4 and a fourth fixing step intended to cause adhesion of the second layer 9 on top of the layer 8 of waterproofing membranes.

By using thermally adhesive waterproofing membranes of the type described above it will be possible to perform the two fixing steps by means of a single operation involving heating of the upper surface 10 of the first layer 8 of waterproofing membranes.

In this way, on the one hand heating causes adhesion of the bottom surface 11 of the first layer 8 of waterproofing membranes onto the insulating elements 4 as a result of the heat which is transmitted from the upper surface 10 to the bottom surface 11 , passing across the thickness d'. On the other hand, almost simultaneously, adhesion of the second layer 9 of waterproofing membranes takes place, said layers being arranged on the first layer 8 during the corresponding fourth preparation step.

In accordance with that stated regarding adhesion of the insulating elements 4, this latter step must be performed simultaneously or soon after the upper surface 10 of the first layer 8 has been heated so as to allow the second layer 9 to adhere on top of it under hot conditions, optimizing adhesion thereof.

It is also possible to envisage using surface finishing materials 12 for the membranes, which may have various functions including that of improved protection of the paintability characteristics using a film of fabric. The accompanying Fig. 5 shows in schematic form the hypothetical case where the last layer 9 of waterproofing membranes is lined for example with slate scales 12, said layer being intended to remain visible and therefore also being required to perform an aesthetic function.

The invention thus conceived therefore achieves the predefined objects.

Obviously, it may also assume, in its practical embodiment, forms and configurations which are different from that illustrated above without thereby departing from the present scope of protection.

Moreover, all the details may be replaced by technically equivalent elements and the dimensions and forms used by be replaced according to requirements.

Claims

1. A method for laying an insulating and/or waterproofing covering, comprising the following steps: a) arranging a waterproof layer (3) on the laying surface (A) of a support (2) to be lined; b) first fixing of said waterproof layer (3) on said support (2); c) covering said waterproof layer (3) with insulating elements (4); d) second fixing of said insulating elements (4) on said waterproof layer (3); characterized in that said waterproof layer (3) comprises a thermally adhesive membrane with an upper side (5) and a bottom side (6) which are parallel and oppositely arranged with respect to each other and in that said first fixing step (b) and second fixing step (d) are performed by means of heating of the upper side (5) of said waterproof layer (3), said heating being performed to cause adhesion of said insulating elements (4) onto the upper side (5) of said waterproof layer (3) during said covering step and adhesion of the bottom side (6) of said waterproof layer (3) onto the laying surface (A) of said support (2) as a result of the heat transmitted from the upper side (5) to the bottom side (6) across the thickness (d) of the said waterproof layer (3).

2. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that said waterproof layer (3) is a vapour barrier.

3. Method according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that said thermally adhesive membrane (3) comprises a first layer (3') of a thermally adhesive bituminous mass arranged in the vicinity of said bottom side (6) and a second layer (3") of bituminous mass with a high heat transmission factor arranged in the region of said upper side (5).

4. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that it also comprises a first step for arranging a first layer (8) of waterproofing membranes and a second step for arranging a second layer (9) of waterproofing membranes so as to cover said first layer (8), a third step for fixing said first layer (9) of waterproofing membranes on said insulating elements (4) and a fourth step for fixing said second layer (9) of waterproofing membranes onto said first layer (8) of waterproofing membranes.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said waterproofing membranes are of the thermally adhesive type and in that said third and fourth fixing steps are performed by heating the upper surface (10) of said first layer (8) of waterproofing membranes, said heating being able to cause adhesion of said second layer (9) of waterproofing membranes onto the upper side (10) of said first layer (8) of waterproofing membranes and adhesion of the bottom side (11) of said first layer (8) of waterproofing membranes on said insulating elements (4) as a result of the heat transmitted from the upper side (10) to the bottom side (11) of said first layer (8) of waterproofing membranes.

6. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that said thermally adhesive membrane (3) is a thermally adhesive waterproofing membrane of the type intended to form dual-layer or multiple-layer waterproofing systems.

7. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that said insulating elements (4) consist of rigid or semi-rigid panels of thermally insulating material.

8. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support (2) to be lined is a base layer of a roof or a floor.

9. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that said insulating elements consist of a bituminous covering for a roadbed.

10. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that said bituminous covering for a roadbed is laid at temperatures of between 80°C and 200°C.