Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02507861 2005-05-18
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the construction of sound attenuating building
barriers
such as walls, partitions and the like, which are partially prefabricated in a
factory, and are deliverable to a construction site in sections ready for
installation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the construction of building elements such as walls, floors, ceilings,
partitions,
herein, and the like, it is well known that sound tends to travel relatively
easily
through partitions, when made of conventional construction. This can create
problems both in commercial and industrial and also in residential
construction.
In residential construction it is particularly troublesome in the construction
of
semi-detached or row houses and in the construction of condominiums. It is
also
troublesome in commercial buildings where complete privacy maybe required in
a particular space, for example, a medical office, a private meeting room, or
the
like.
In the past, efforts have been made to reduce the sound transmission through
partitions and building fabric by the use of sound attenuating batting, and a
variety of other materials have been proposed.
Where cost was unimportant, soundproofing to a large extent has been achieved
in the past, but, only by the use of expensive construction techniques and
costly
materials. Poured concrete, concrete block walls, and even layers of lead
1
CA 02507861 2005-05-18
sheeting incorporated in partitions, have been used. The general principle and
intent behind these more costly techniques was that provided the partition was
thick enough, it would be substantially soundproof. These solutions, however,
were not practical particularly in residential construction and of course, in
most
commercial construction. For example, in residential construction, there are
practical limits on the thickness of the partition that can be used, without
reducing the size of the room. In commercial office construction, and in
highrise
buildings, there are restrictions on the load which can be placed on the floor
of a
building. For these reasons generally speaking, and especially in condominiums
and in commercial highrise construction, partitions in buildings are made as
thin
and as light as possible, so as to reduce the floor loading. Only very limited
privacy can be achieved using these lightweight construction techniques.
Clearly, there is a need for a sound attenuation construction for building
elements such as partitions, which is both cost effective, relatively
lightweight
and "space effective°', i.e. it can be installed without causing any
noticeable
reduction in the space available. It must also be such that it can use readily
available material, and that it can be put up by conventionally trained
construction labour, using conventional tools, with a minimum of special
training.
A sound attenuating partition is described in Canadian Patent Application No.
2,157,659 Filed June 13, 1995, which discloses significant advantages.
However, it was designed to be constructed on site and required a number of
CA 02507861 2005-05-18
construction frames and layers each of which was built on site, using costly
construction labour and time.
It is apparent that if the partition can be at least partly preassembled in a
factory
and delivered to a job site ready for installation, there will be significant
savings.
Prefabrication of sound attenuating partitions would provide several benefits
to
an employer. There would be less labour costs on site for construction of the
walls or partitions, and there would not be a need for specially skilled
workers on
site, thus reducing skilled labour costs. Use of prefabricated partitions
would
~ 0 allow faster completion times on any particular construction project, thus
enabling the contractor to schedule more contracts and increase productivity
and
profits.
Prefabrication or partial prefabrication of sound attenuating walls or
partitions in
a factory, allows for higher quality control of the end product and in a
faster mass
production of the product which then lowers the production cost of each unit.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
2a The invention seek to provide the foregoing improvements by the use of a
partially prefabricated sound attenuating parkition construction, and other
sound
attenuating structures. The sound attenuation partition comprises two separate
spaced apart prefabricated panel assemblies defining opposite sides of the
3
CA 02507861 2005-05-18
partition, with a hollow interior. The panel assemblies are received in
respective
pairs of upper and lower generally L-shaped receivers mounted to the building
fabric, to receive the respective panel assemblies therein. Sound attenuating
sheets of a flexible material are incorporated in one of the panel assemblies.
The sound attenuating sheet is loosely attached to its panel assembly, for
maximum effect. The other partially prefabricated panel assemblies preferably
includes a sound attenuation acoustical batting insulation mounted within the
hollow interior. When installed there is a predetermined airspace between said
acoustical batting insulation and said sound attenuating sheet.
IN THE ~RAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective partially cut away illustration of a partition wall
illustrating the invention;
Figure 2 is a section along line 2-2 of Fig 1;
Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Fig 2, shown partially
assembled;
Figure 4 is a front elevation of a panel assembly, partially cut away.
DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that the invention is there illustrated
in the
form of a partition construction for use in a building having walls (10), a
ceiling
(12) and a floor (14). The invention illustrated herein is not confined to
walls
either interior or exterior, but is of application to any vertical or
substantially
.........".. ,. . ,. "."".... " ., ;.::~ a ...~.,:~.~yrtr .rte~:~ -,:a=c-
~:v.~,a~,~-..w..a~=~..~ . . ,. ,: , ,."..:..,......,",.., .. ,. ..... .....
.....
CA 02507861 2005-05-18
vertical construction elements or barriers where it is desired to produce
substantial sound attenuation. With some modifications it may also be used in
floors and ceilings.
~s illustrated in Fig. 1, the invention is illustrated as a partition, in this
case a
wall, and comprises a first sound attenuation panel assembly (20)
and a second sound attenuation panel assembly (22). Each of the first and
second sound attenuating panel assemblies (20) and (22) has an interior side
(24) and an exterior side (26). The first panel assembly (20), as illustrated
in the
present embodiment of the invention, comprises two rectangular panels (30) and
(32) of material, in this case gypsum drywall panelling. The two panels (30),
(32)
are preassembled and framed by a vertical side channels (34) which
encompasses the vertical edges of the two panels {30, 32).
The panels (30) and (32) are of a width typically of about two feet and are
offset
from one another, so that the edge of one panel projects beyond the edge of
the
other panel. The channel (34) is shaped with two side walls (36) and a
generally dog leg wall (38) (Fig 3). In this way the two panels (30) and (32)
and
the channels (34) provide vertical edges of generally zig-zag shape in
section,
which are of a type known as "shiplath". When assembled edge to edge (Fig 3)
2~ the zig-zag formations of the channels (34) overlap and provide an
effective
sound barrier.
. . _ . . rv~ .. .o , ."~.~~~ .~N ~~,~.~~~.mn~, ,-,~.x ~_,.~_.m . . .__ .
CA 02507861 2005-05-18
The overlapping of the channels (34) also provide what is in effect a form of
composite vertical stud, between the pairs of panels (30) and (32), holding
the
panels (30) and (32) at intervals, in this case two foot intervals.
The panels (30) and (32) along their upper and lower edges, have no need of
such channels for reasons to be described.
First panel assembly (20) further comprises a curtain sheet of sound
attenuation
material (40).
Curtain sheet (40) is a form of rubberised sheet material having the ability
to
provide substantial attenuation of sound waves. Curtain sheet (40) is held in
position by channel wails (36) along opposite side edges of panels (30, 32).
This
places such sound attenuation curtain sheets (40) on the inwardly facing
surfaces of the first panel assembly (20) .
The curtain sheets (40) are secured only along their respective vertical
edges,
and are otherwise free of attachment to panel (32) . This renders such curtain
sheets (40) somewhat loose and flexible, which enhances their ability to
attenuate sound waves.
The second panel assembly (22) also comprise two rectangular panels (42) and
(44) of wallboard material, held together along their vertical side edges by
channels (46), similar to channels (34).
Panels (42) and (44) are offset from one another and, with the channels (46)
they provide a zig-zag shape in section. In this way when placed edge to edge
the panel assemblies (22} abut to form a 'ship lath" type of joint.
6
... . .. , ..., n . ~,.,m~ ~ "~ ~. ~ x: ~~-~.:Y.,u~,..,.:...~~.~~a.~.m,
.,H..... _ ._.... _ . _.
CA 02507861 2005-05-18
The two channels (46} which abut in each such joint provide a form of stud for
supporting the panel assemblies (22) , as described above.
A piece of batting material (48) , having sound attenuation properties, is
secured
on the inwardly facing surface of panel {44) of second panel assembly (22).
Batting (48) is cut somewhat short at the top and bottom , for reasons to be
described.
In order to form the first and second panel assemblies (20, 22) into a
composite
partition, generally L shaped mounting receiver strips ( 50 are provided.
Receiver strips (50) are typicaNy steel roll formed sections, of a thickness
adequate to hold the panel assemblies at the top and bottom thereof in
position.
Receiver strips (50) are secured to the floor and ceiling respectively ,along
the
line of the partition in two parallel spaced apart lines . The strips (50) are
mounted so that they are open outwardly to opposite sides of the eventual
partition.
To erect the actual partition the first panel assembly (20) is cut to the
height
spacing between upper and lower L shaped receiver strips (50) and is then
placed in position between them , resting along its upper and lower edges on
the
L shaped receiver strips (50). Dry wall screws (not shown ) fasten the first
pane!
assembly 20 ) at top and bottom to the L shaped receiver strip (50).
2D Further such first panel assemblies (20) are then placed side by side, in
side in edge to edge abutting relation. The channels (34) interfit in a
shiplath
fashion to provide joints between the first panel assemblies (20) of great
strength.
CA 02507861 2005-05-18
The adjacent channels (34) are then secured together by dry wall screws (not
shown). In this way each pair of adjacent interfitted channels (34) and (34)
form
composite studs, at two foot centres, giving great structural strength to the
partition system.
When erected in this way the sound attenuating curtain sheet (40) of each
first
panel assembly (20) faces inwards and wilt not be visible from the exterior of
the
partition. In order to cover the junction line between two adjacent channels
(34),
a further strip (52) of sound attenuating sheet material is fastened by
adhesive to
each pair of adjacent first panel assemblies (20). Such strip (52) reaches
from
top to bottom, and is of a width sufficient to overlap each channel (34) by a
margin sufficient to permit adhesive bonding to the underlying sound
attenuating
sheets (40) on each first panel assembly (20).
An optional addition might be the addition of horizontal strips (not shown) of
sound attenuating material along the top and bottom of the first panel
assemblies. In practice,howerrer,this has not been found to be needed in most
cases. Once this has been completed, the second panel assemblies (22) are
then erected. This is done in essentially the same way as for the first panel
assembly (20).
The second panel assembly (22) is cut to fit the height spacing betweem upper
and lower L-shaped strips (50). As explained above the batting (48) has
already
s
CA 02507861 2005-05-18
been cut short at the top and bottom. The second panel assembly (22) is then
placed in position between the top and bottom L-shaped strips (50). It is
fastened in position by dry wall screws (not shown) to the L-shaped strip
(50).
Further,such second panel assemblies (22) and then placed in edge abutting
side edge to side edge relation. The adjacent channels (46) overlaps and are
fastened together by dry wall screws (Not shown).
The exterior of the entire partition is then covered in, preferably on both
sides, by
further sheets of dry wall panelling (54).
Such further sheets are applied in transverse horizontal fashion, so as to
enable
such sheets (54) to be screwed with dry wall screws (not shown) to the
channels (34, 46) holding the first panel assemblies (20) and the second panel
assemblies (22). The usual wall finishing steps of taping and patching and
filling
can then be completed.
The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
which
is given here by way of example only. The invention is not to be taken as
limited
to any of the specific features as described, but comprehends all such
variations
~0 thereof as come within the scope of the appended claims.
9
