WO2012009752A1

WO2012009752A1 - An insulating form

Info

Publication number: WO2012009752A1
Application number: PCT/AU2011/000911
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael James Schock; Robert John Leslie Schock
Original assignee: Formcraft Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-07-21
Filing date: 2011-07-19
Publication date: 2012-01-26
Also published as: AU2011282468A1

Abstract

A solid insulating form is disclosed. The form is used to construct an insulated panel of a building. The form comprises thermally insulating material and at least one channel extends inwardly from a first side of the form. The channel is configured such that when settable material is disposed on the first side of the form and the settable material subsequently sets, the settable material forms a mechanical lock with the insulating form.

Description

AN INSULATING FORM

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an insulating form, to an insulated panel constructed using the insulating form, to a method of constructing an insulated panel using the insulating form, and to a building system using the insulating form.

Background of the Invention

During construction of a multi storey building, it is known to construct a concrete slab by building a suitable form, for example using wood, supporting the wood form in situ at a desired location for the slab, and pouring settable material such as concrete into the wood form.

It is also known to form a concrete wall by constructing a wooden form on the ground, filling the form with settable concrete material, allowing the material to set, and subsequently tilting the formed concrete panel to a vertical orientation. If insulation is required, additional steps are also required to form a layer of insulating material adjacent the slab or wall.

However, such construction methods are time consuming since it is necessary to first build a suitable form from wood material, and are expensive due to the time required to build the form and because of the amount of concrete material required to produce a slab or wall of suitable strength .

Summary of the Invention In accordance with a first aspect of the present

invention, there is provided a solid insulating form, the form for constructing an insulated panel of a building, the form comprising thermally insulating material and at least one channel extending inwardly from a first side of the form;

the channel being configured such that when settable material is disposed on the first side of the form and the settable material subsequently sets, the settable material forms a mechanical lock with the insulating form.

In one embodiment, the solid insulating form comprises a plurality of solid insulating form elements. The form elements may be arranged such that adjacently disposed form elements mate with each other so as to prevent egress of settable material through the form during formation of an insulated panel.

In one embodiment, the channel comprises at least one side wall which tapers such that when settable material is disposed on the first side of the form and the settable material in the channel subsequently sets, the settable material forms a mechanical lock with the insulating form. In one embodiment, the form comprises at least one slot for receiving a respective furring member. The or each furring member may be in the form of a furring strip and may have a substantially Z-shaped or C-shaped cross section .

In one embodiment, the form comprises at least one utility chase for accommodating utility items such as electrical cables and/or plumbing pipes. In one embodiment, the form comprises polystyrene

material, for example expanded polystyrene with a density of about 28kg/m³. In accordance with a second aspect of the present

invention, there is provided an insulated panel for a building, the panel comprising a solid insulating form according to the first aspect of the present invention, and settable material disposed on the first side of the form, the settable material forming a mechanical lock with the insulating form. In one embodiment, the insulated panel further comprises reinforcing means incorporated into the settable material.

The reinforcing means may comprise at least one

reinforcing bar disposed in at least one channel and/or at least one reinforcing mesh.

In one embodiment, the insulated panel further comprises a door or window sub frame . In one embodiment, the settable material comprises concrete .

In accordance with a third aspect of the present

invention, there is provided a slab or a wall for a building, the slab or wall comprising at least one insulated panel according to the second aspect of the present invention.

The slab or wall may comprise a plurality of insulated panels with sealant material disposed therebetween.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present

invention, there is provided a method of constructing an insulated panel for a building, the method comprising: providing a solid insulating form of substantially planar configuration, the form comprising at least one channel extending inwardly from a first side of the form, and the channel being configured such that when settable material is disposed on the first side of the form and the settable material subseguently sets, the settable material forms a mechanical lock with the insulating form;

disposing settable material on the first side of the form; and

allowing the settable material to set.

In one embodiment, the insulated panel is a slab of a building, and the method comprises the step of supporting the form relative to walls of a building under

construction at a location of a desired slab prior to the step of disposing settable material on the first side of the form.

In one embodiment, the insulated panel is a wall of a building, and the method comprises the step of disposing settable material on the first side of the form with the solid insulating form on the ground, and tilting the panel to a substantially vertical orientation so as to thereby define a wall.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present

invention, there is provided a building system comprising: an insulated panel according to the third aspect above; and

a wall section comprising:

first and second wall members disposed adjacent and spaced from each other so as to define a gap

therebetween, each wall member having a connection strip fixed thereto;

a plurality of connection members extending between the first and second wall members, each connection member engaging with respective connection strips of the wall members so as to connect the first and second wall members together; and

settable material disposed between the first and second wall members .

In one embodiment, at least one of the wall members comprises thermally insulating material.

In one embodiment, each of the wall members comprises thermally insulating material.

In one embodiment, at least one of the wall members comprises non-thermally insulating material.

In one embodiment, at least one of the wall members is about 12mmthick. In one arrangement, at least one of the wall members has a connection strip fixed to a surface of the wall member. In addition or alternatively, at least one of the wall members has a connection strip fixed to the wall member by incorporating the connection strip into the wall member.

In one embodiment, the building system also comprises a joining strip arranged to engage with adjacently disposed wall members of respective adjacently disposed wall sections so as restrict movement of the wall sections in a direction generally transverse of the wall sections. The joining strip may comprise a strip member and a locking member that with the strip member defines oppositely disposed troughs, each trough receiving a connection strip of a wall member so as to thereby restrict movement of the wall member associated with the connection strip in a direction generally transverse of the wall sections.

In one embodiment, the building system also comprises a corner member fixed to adjacently disposed wall members and having a hinge portion, and a locking device

engageable with the corner portion so as to lock the corner portion in a bent configuration, the angle defined by the corner member being at least partially defined by the length of the locking device.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present

invention, there is provided a method of constructing a building comprising:

constructing an insulated panel according to the method of the fourth aspect above; and

constructing a wall section comprising:

providing first and second wall members disposed adjacent and spaced from each other so as to define a gap therebetween, each wall member having a connection strip fixed thereto;

providing a plurality of connection members;

engaging each connection member with respective connection strips of the wall members so as to connect the first and second wall members together; and

disposing settable material between the first and second wall members .

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an insulating form element according to an embodiment of the present invention, the insulating form element being used to construct a building slab;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic part sectional view of a slab constructed using the insulating form element shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic end view of an insulating form element according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the insulating form element being used to construct a building slab;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic end view of an insulating form element according to a further alternative embodiment of the present invention, the insulating form element being used to construct a building slab;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an insulating form element according to a further alternative embodiment of the present invention, the insulating form being used to construct a wall of a building;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of two insulating form elements of the type shown in Figure 5 joined together;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic end view of a wall panel constructed using the insulating form element shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic end view of an end portion of a wall formed using the insulating form element shown in Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic end view showing two adjacently disposed walls during use;

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic plan view of two walls formed using the insulating form shown in Figure 5 connected at a corner of a building;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic plan view showing a wall having an incorporated column;

Figure 12 shows diagrammatic side, front and cross- sectional views of a connection strip for connecting insulating wall panels together during a building wall fabrication process according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 13 shows diagrammatic side, front and cross- sectional views of a connection member for engaging with connection strips and thereby connecting insulating wall panels together during a building wall fabrication process according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic plan view of adjacently disposed connected insulating wall panels of a building system according to an embodiment of the present

invention ; Figure 15 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a window sub-frame of a wall section of a building system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic perspective view of adjacently disposed connected wall members of a building system according to an embodiment of the present

invention ;

Figure 17 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a frame member of a building system according to an

embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 18 is a diagrammatic perspective view of adjacently disposed wall sections of a building system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 19 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a joining strip of a building system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 20 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a corner member of a building system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 21 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a locking device of a building system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of an Embodiment of the Invention

Referring to the drawings, in Figure 1 there is shown an insulating form element 10 for use in constructing a building slab. In this example, the insulating form element 10 is formed of expanded polystyrene (EPS) material with a density of the order of 28kg/m³ such that the form element has thermally insulating properties.

However, it will be understood that any suitable thermally insulating material may be used.

The insulating form element 10 comprises first and second side panels 12, 14 and a channel 16 disposed between the first and second side panels 12, 14. The channel 16 is arranged such that when settable material is disposed in the channel 16, the settable material forms a mechanical lock with the side walls 18 of the channel 16. In this embodiment, this is achieved by providing the channel 16 with side walls 18 which taper outwardly.

The form element 10 also comprises at least one slot 20 arranged to receive a furring member, in this example an elongate furring strip 22. In this example, two slots 20 are provided and the furring strips 22 have a

substantially Z-shaped cross section and are formed of metal material such as aluminium. Alternatively, the furring strips 22 may have any other suitably shaped cross-section, such as C-shaped, and may be formed of any other suitable material, such as steel.

The purpose of the furring strips is to facilitate attachment of items such as panels, for example

plasterboard, to the slab. Outwardly facing sides of the first and second side panels 12, 14 are provided with alternating ribs 24 and troughs 26. The ribs 24 and troughs 26 are configured so that a first side panel of an insulating form element 10 will mate with a second side panel 14 of a similar adjacently disposed insulated form element 10 and thereby prevent egress of settable material through the form elements 10 during formation of the slab.

The insulating form element 10 also includes one or more utility chases 28, each utility chase 28 being arranged to accommodate utility items such as electrical conduits and/or plumbing pipes.

With the present embodiment, a slab of desired size is constructed by disposing a required number of insulating form elements 10 in mating relationship and disposing settable material, such as concrete, on the form elements 10 to a desired thickness.

It will be understood that while the present embodiment is described in relation to producing an insulating form by disposing multiple insulating form elements 10 in mating relationship, alternatives are possible. For example, a single form element with multiple channels may be provided or multiple form elements of differing sizes may be provided .

It will also be understood that although each of the present insulating form elements 10 includes a single channel, other arrangements are possible. For example each form element may include multiple channels and/or the form elements may comprise differing numbers of channels.

A portion of a slab 30 formed using the insulating form element 10 is shown in Figure 2. The slab 30 includes settable material, in this example concrete 32, disposed on the insulating form element 10 such that the concrete material 32 fills the channel 16 and defines a layer of concrete material above the insulating form element 10. In this example, reinforcing bars 34, for example formed of iron material, are disposed along each channel 16 and a reinforcing mesh 36, for example formed of iron material, is disposed on the insulating form element 10. During slab construction, concrete material 32 is poured onto the insulating form element 10 so that the reinforcing bars 34 and the reinforcing grid 36 become incorporated into the concrete material 32.

During use, a required number of form elements 10 are disposed side by side such that adjacently disposed ribs 24 and troughs 26 mate with each other, and the form elements are supported at a desired location relative to a building under construction. Concrete is then poured onto the form elements 10 and allowed to set.

It will be understood that a slab formed in this way effectively defines a series of structural concrete T beams integrated with a thinner flat concrete slab. This reduces weight while maintaining strength. Tapering walls of the channel portion 16 ensures that an insulating layer is mechanically locked to the concrete to provide

effective insulation.

It will also be understood that the configuration of the concrete portion of the slab may be easily tailored by modifying the shape of the insulating form elements 10, the thickness of the form elements 10, and/or the depth of the channels 16. For example, alternative insulating form elements 40, 50 shown in Figures 3 and 4 provide varying depth concrete T beams. Like and similar features are indicated with like reference numerals.

Referring to Figure 5, an insulating form element 60 for use in constructing a wall is shown. Like and similar features are indicated with like reference numerals. The insulating form element 60 includes a central peak portion 62 and first and second side portions 64, 66. As with the form element 10 shown in Figures 1 to 4, similar adjacently disposed insulating form elements 60 may be mated together so as to define a single insulating form. Two such mated form elements 60 are shown in Figure 6.

When a first side portion 64 of a form element 60 is disposed in mating relationship with a second side portion 66 of an adjacently disposed form element 60, a channel 68 is defined. As with the form elements shown in Figures 1 to 4, the channel 68 is configured such that when settable material is disposed in the channel 68 and allowed to set, the settable material forms a mechanical lock with the insulating forms.

In this example, a 'chair' 70, for example formed of steel material, is included for receiving reinforcing rods during use.

A portion of a wall panel 72 formed using the insulating form elements 60 is shown in Figure 7. As with the slab 30 shown in Figure 2, concrete material 74 is poured onto the form elements 60, and reinforcing bars 76 and a reinforcing grid 78 are incorporated into the concrete 74 during the wall fabrication process.

In this example, the wall 72 is fabricated on site by disposing an appropriate number of form elements 60 in mating relationship and pouring concrete material 74 onto the form elements 60 until the channels 68 have filled with material and a concrete panel of sufficient thickness has been defined above the form elements 60. After the concrete material 74 has set, the wall 72 is tilted to a vertical orientation and secured in position relative to the building under construction.

As shown in Figure 8, end portions 80 of a wall may also include end reinforcing members 82 and, for portions of the wall which are intended to define door or window openings, a door or window sub-frame 84 may be

incorporated into the concrete material 74. A portion of a window sub-frame 84 is shown in Figure 15. In this example, the window sub-frame 84 is formed of extruded material, such as extruded aluminium, and comprises a frame portion 85 engageable with a cavity 86 formed in a wall, and a window jamb 87 which rests against a window assembly 88.

As shown in Figure 9, adjacently disposed walls formed using the insulating form elements 60 may include sealant 90 disposed therebetween. Similarly, as shown in Figure 10, sealant 90 may be disposed between walls panels 72 defining a corner.

In order to accommodate other features, such as vertical reinforcing columns, the insulating form elements 10, 60 may be modified as required. For example, as shown in Figure 11, adjacent form elements 60 may be modified at side portions 64, 66 so as to accommodate a square section reinforcing column 96.

A slab constructed according to the above described embodiments may also be incorporated into a building of the type comprising one or more walls formed by connecting wall members together and disposing settable material such as concrete between the connected wall members.

As shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14, a connection strip 100 is embedded in an insulating wall member 102 during fabrication of the insulating wall member 102. The connection strip 100 includes a furring strip 104 and a channel 106 connected together by webs 108. The furring strip 104 is arranged to facilitate fixing of items such as plasterboard to the wall. The channel 106 is arranged to receive and connect to a connection member 110 shown in Figure 13. The connection strip 100 and connection member 110 may be formed of any suitable material, such as polypropylene. The insulating wall member 102 may be formed of any suitable material such as expanded

polystyrene (EPS) .

The connection member 110 comprises 2 runners 112

connected together by cross members 114. As shown more particularly in Figure 13c, the runners 112 each have first and second runner portions 116, 118 which define 2 channels 120 therebetween. As shown more particularly in Figure 13b, each second runner portion 118 comprises a central runner element 122 spaced from 2 side runner elements 124, with each side runner element having a locking barb 126 and being capable of flexing so as to enable the connection member to lock with a connection strip 100 during use.

In this example, the connection strips 100 are embedded in insulating wall members 102 during manufacture of the insulating wall members such that the furring strips 104 are disposed slightly below the surface and the channels 106 of the connection strips 100 are exposed.

In the example shown in Figure 14, two insulating wall members 102 are disposed adjacent each other with exposed channels 106 facing inwardly, and the runners 112 of the connection members are connected to the channels 106 by receiving the second runner portions 118 in the channels 106. The width of each channel 106 is such that insertion of a second runner portion 118 causes the locking barbs 126 to flex inwardly until the locking barbs reach respective gaps between the central and side runner elements 122, 124. At this position, the locking barbs 126 flex outwardly to lock the connection members 110 relative to the connection strips 100.

End members 130 are then engaged at longitudinal ends of the wall and settable material such as concrete is poured into a cavity 132 defined by the wall members 102 and the end members 130.

An alternative system comprising one or more walls formed by connecting wall members together and disposing settable material such as concrete between the connected wall members is shown in Figures 16 to 21. It will be

understood however that, where appropriate, features of the system shown in Figures 12 to 15 are interchangeable with the features of the system shown in Figures 16 to 21. Like and similar features are indicated with like

reference numerals . Figure 16 shows an alternative wall section 150 of the type arranged to receive settable material such as concrete between spaced wall members 152.

In this example, the wall members are relatively thin compared to the insulating wall members 102 of the system shown in Figures 12 to 15. In the present embodiment, the wall members are about 12mm thick, although it will be understood that any suitable thickness is envisaged. In this example, the wall members are formed of magnesium oxide board or aluminium composite board, although it will be understood that any suitable material is envisaged.

Each of the wall members 152 has a plurality of connection strips 154 fixed to the wall member 152 in any suitable way, for example by adhesive bonding. As with the system shown in Figures 12 to 15, the connection strips 154 are disposed in a substantially parallel orientation and are substantially equally spaced. Each of the connection strips 154 includes a channel 156, best shown in Figure 18. The channel 156 is equivalent in function to the channel 106 of the system shown in Figures 12 to 15 in that the channel 156 is arranged to receive and connect with a connection member 110 in order to connect the wall members to each other in spaced parallel relationship .

The wall system also includes a frame member 160, shown in Figure 17, for preventing egress of settable material into window and door openings, and for use at wall

terminations. The frame member 160 includes side strips 164 against an outer surface of which the wall members 152 abut during use. The frame member 160 in this example is formed of aluminium material, although it will be

understood that any suitable material is envisaged. A portion of a wall formed in accordance with the present system is shown in Figure 18. For reasons of clarity, settable material is not shown. The wall portion includes a first pair of wall members 152a, 152c that define a first wall section, and a second pair of wall members 152b, 152d that define a second wall section. The first and second wall sections are connected together endwise using joining strips 166, shown more particularly in Figure 19. Each joining strip 166 is generally elongate and includes a generally flat elongate strip member 168 bisected by an elongate dividing ridge 170, and a locking member 172 on an opposite side of the strip member 168 to the dividing ridge 170. In this example, the locking member 172 is of generally V-shaped transverse cross sectional shape and is connected to the strip member 168 at an apex of the V.

The joining strip 166 receives wall members 152 such that the wall members abut against the strip member 168 and the dividing ridge 170. Longitudinal ends of the connection strips 154 abut against a side of the strip member 168 opposite to the dividing ridge 170, and a tip of the connection strip 154 sits in a trough defined between the strip member 168 and the locking member 172. In this way, the locking member 172 serves to hold the first and second wall sections together in a transverse direction. In order to enable the connection strips 54 to sit flush with both a wall member 152 and a joining strip 166, the longitudinal ends of the connection strips 154 may be recessed.

A corner member 180 is shown in Figure 20 The corner member 180 is fixed during use to adjacent wall members 152 desired to be connected to each other with an angle between then that is not 180°. The corner member 180 includes a hinge portion 182, in this example implemented by providing an elongate section of reduced thickness extending longitudinally and generally centrally of the corner member 180. The corner member 180 may be held in a configuration bent about the hinge portion 182 by

providing the corner member 180 with elongate locking channels 184 and engaging locking projections 186 of a suitable locking device 188 in the locking channels 184. An example of a suitable such locking device is shown in Figure 21.

It will be understood that the length of the connection strips 100, 154 and the connection members 110 may vary depending on the size of the wall members 102, 152, the intended application and so on. Similarly, it will be understood that the cross members 114 may be of any suitable length depending on the intended application, the desired cavity width, and so on.

It will also be understood that a wall having combinations of wall members 102, 152 is envisaged. For example, a wall of the type including settable material such as concrete between connected wall members may be constructed that has at least one insulated wall member 102 of the type shown in Figures 12 and 14 connected to a wall member 152 of the type shown in Figures 16 and 18. It will also be understood that the shape and size of the wall members may vary depending on the wall portion being constructed and the intended application. For example, corner wall members are also envisaged. End portions of the wall members may also include a tongue and groove type arrangement so as to allow adjacently disposed wall members to mate together. It will be understood that by connecting together and stacking wall members of various sizes and configurations, then filling the wall sections with settable material, walls of various dimensions can be erected.

It will also be understood that by using connection members of different lengths, walls of various thicknesses can be erected.

It will also be understood that by connecting together and stacking wall members of various materials and

thicknesses, walls of various thermal insulation ratings can be erected.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A solid insulating form for constructing an insulated panel of a building, the form comprising thermally insulating material and at least one channel extending inwardly from a first side of the form;

2. A solid insulating form as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solid insulating form comprises a plurality of solid insulating form elements.

3. A solid insulating form as claimed in claim 2, wherein the form elements are arranged such that

adjacently disposed form elements mate with each other so as to prevent egress of settable material through the form during formation of an insulated panel.

4. A solid insulating form as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the channel comprises at least one side wall which tapers such that when settable material is disposed on the first side of the form and the settable material in the channel subsequently sets, the settable material forms a mechanical lock with the insulating form.

5. A solid insulating form as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the form comprises at least one slot for receiving a respective furring member.

6. A solid insulating form as claimed in claim 5, wherein the or each furring member is in the form of a furring strip and has a substantially Z-shaped or C-shaped cross section.

7. A solid insulating form as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the form comprises at least one utility chase for accommodating utility items such as electrical cables and/or plumbing pipes.

8. A solid insulating form as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the form comprises polystyrene material .

9. An insulated panel for a building, the panel

comprising a solid insulating form according to any one of claims 1 to 8, and settable material disposed on the first side of the form, the settable material forming a

mechanical lock with the insulating form.

10. An insulated panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the insulated panel further comprises reinforcing means incorporated into the settable material.

11. An insulated panel as claimed in claim 10, wherein the reinforcing means comprises at least one reinforcing bar disposed in at least one channel and/or at least one reinforcing mesh.

12. An insulating panel as claimed in claim 10 or claim

11, wherein the insulating panel comprises a door or window sub frame.

13. A slab or a wall for a building, the slab or wall comprising at least one insulated panel as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12.

14. A slab or wall as claimed in claim 13, wherein the slab or wall comprises a plurality of insulated panels with sealant material disposed therebetween.

15. A building system comprising: an insulated panel as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12; and

a wall section comprising:

therebetween, each wall member having a connection strip fixed thereto;

settable material disposed between the first and second wall members .

16. A building system as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one of the wall members comprises insulating material .

17. A building system as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of the wall members comprises insulating material.

18. A building system as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16, wherein at least one of the wall members is about 12mm thick.

19. A building system as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein at least one of the wall members has a connection strip fixed to a surface of the wall member.

20. A building system as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein at least one of the wall members has a connection strip fixed to the wall member by incorporating the connection strip into the wall member.

21. A building system as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 20, comprising a joining strip arranged to engage with adjacently disposed wall members of respective adjacently disposed wall sections so as restrict movement of the wall sections in a direction generally transverse of the wall sections .

22. A building system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the joining strip comprises a strip member and a locking member that with the strip member defines oppositely disposed troughs, each trough receiving a connection strip of a wall member so as to thereby restrict movement of the wall member associated with the connection strip in a direction generally transverse of the wall sections.

23. A building system as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 21, comprising a corner member fixed to adjacently disposed wall members and having a hinge portion, and a locking device engageable with the corner portion so as to lock the corner portion in a bent configuration, the angle defined by the corner member being at least partially defined by the length of the locking device.

24. A method of constructing an insulated panel for a building, the method comprising:

providing a solid insulating form of substantially planar configuration, the form comprising at least one channel extending inwardly from a first side of the form, and the channel being configured such that when settable material is disposed on the first side of the form and the settable material subseguently sets, the settable material forms a mechanical lock with the insulating form;

disposing settable material on the first side of the form; and

allowing the settable material to set.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, comprising providing a plurality of solid insulating form elements that fit together to form the solid insulating form.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25, comprising arranging the form elements such that adjacently disposed form elements mate with each other so as to prevent egress of settable material through the form during formation of an insulated panel.

27. A method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 26, comprising providing the channel with at least one side wall which tapers such that when settable material is disposed on the first side of the form and the settable material in the channel subsequently sets, the settable material forms a mechanical lock with the insulated form.

28. A method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 27, wherein the form comprises polystyrene material.

29. A method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 28, comprising incorporating reinforcing means in the settable material.

30. A method of constructing a building comprising:

constructing an insulated panel according to the method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 29; and

constructing a wall section comprising:

providing a plurality of connection members;

disposing settable material between the first and second wall members .

31. A method as claimed in claim 30, wherein at least one of the wall members comprises insulating material.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein each of the wall members comprises insulating material.

33. A method as claimed in any one of claims 30 to 32, comprising fixing a connection strip to a surface of the wall member.

34. A method as claimed in any one of claims 30 to 33, comprising fixing a connection strip to the wall member by incorporating the connection strip into the wall member.

35. A method as claimed in any one of claims 30 to 34, comprising providing a joining strip, and engaging the joining strip with adjacently disposed wall members of respective adjacently disposed wall sections so as restrict movement of the wall sections in a direction generally transverse of the wall sections.

36. A solid insulating form, an insulating panel, a method of constructing an insulated panel or a method of constructing a building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.