Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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"A METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING"
Introduction
The invention relates to construction of buildings, especially single-storey
buildings for domestic
or light commercial use.
An object of the invention is to achieve erection of a building with a shorter
on-site time
requirement, and/or to achieve improved versatility.
Summary of the Invention
We describe a method of constructing a building frame comprising the steps of:
providing primary frames each spanning width of the building or a portion
thereof,
each primary frame comprising:
opposed wall frames of wall frame members, and
at least one ceiling joist;
providing a foundation;
mounting on the foundation a base plate at the location of at least one side
wall,
said base plate or plates extending in a longitudinal direction;
mounting each primary frame in turn on the at least one base plate and the
foundation in succession at desired longitudinal inter-frame spacings, while
temporarily supporting the primary frames to keep them at a vertical
orientation,
mounting roof trusses onto the primary frames, or the roof trusses being
integral
with the primary frames; and
interconnecting the primary frames and the roof trusses in the longitudinal
direction
to provide a building frame over the foundation.
Preferably, the base plates are elongate, extending for longitudinal length of
the building.
Preferably, there are at least two parallel base plates (20) extending in
parallel for each wall frame.
Preferably, at least some primary frames comprise a tie interconnecting the
frame's opposed wall
frame members for temporary additional strength of the primary frame during
construction.
Preferably, the tie is at floor level. Preferably, the tie is removably fixed
in the primary frame, and
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is removed before the building is completed. Preferably, at least one tie
which has been removed
is used as an inter-frame brace support at least until the primary frames and
the roof trusses form
the building frame.
In some examples, at least some primary frames each comprise at least one
outer stud, at least one
intermediate stud, at least one floor plate member interconnecting the outer
and intermediate studs.
In some examples, at least some primary frames comprise at least one diagonal
brace between the
outer stud and the intermediate studs. In some examples, there is a gap
between the inner stud and
the intermediate stud sufficient to provide a space for insulation when the
primary frames have
been erected. In some exatnples, the primary frame is mounted with the
horizontal floor plate
member mounted on the base plate, at its innermost end, where it is also fixed
to the inner stud
and to the intermediate stud.
In some examples, there are at least two parallel base plates for each
building side, and each wall
frame comprises a horizontal floor plate member which spans said base plates.
Preferably, the
primary frame is mounted with the outer end of the floor-level member is
mounted on a base plate,
and the outer stud resting on the floor plate member.
In some examples, the method comprises the further step of pouring a concrete
floor after erection
of the primary frames. In some examples, the method comprises the further step
of fixing at least
one three-dimensional bracket to the slab, a base plate, and a primary frame.
In some examples, at least some primary frames comprise a sloped member
provided to align with
the lower end of a rafter of the roof truss. In some examples, the erected
primary frames are inter-
connected with horizontal braces at joist level.
Preferably, at least some primary frames are provided in a first part
comprising one wall frame
and a second part comprising the opposed wall frame, and said parts are joined
together on site. In
some examples, each said part comprises roof members. The method may comprise
providing
outer base plates at building opposed wall locations and also at least one
inner base plate between
said outer base plates, and each said frame part rests on both outer and inner
base plates. In some
examples, there are at least two inner base plates, and each frame part is
placed on an outer base
plate and an inner base plate.
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In some examples, the first and second parts are joined by a central bridging
part. In some
examples, said central bridging part forms a frame for a roof apex.
In some examples, the method comprises tying the first and second parts with a
lateral tie. In some
examples, said tie includes a joint with a bracket. In some examples, the
bracket comprises
opposed plates which clamp opposed surfaces of tie members at the joint.
In some examples, at least some base plates include transverse notches and a
primary frame fits in
each notch. In some examples, at least some primary frames include downward
extensions for
engaging a lateral surface of a base plate.
We also describe a method of constructing a building or a building extension
comprising the steps
of:
providing primary frames each comprising a wall frame of wall frame members
and
at least one ceiling joist;
providing a foundation;
mounting on the foundation a base plate at the location of at least one side
wall,
said base plate or plates extending in a longitudinal direction;
mounting each primary frame in turn on the at least one base plate and the
foundation in succession at desired longitudinal inter-frame spacings, while
temporarily supporting the primary frames to keep them at a vertical
orientation,
mounting roof trusses onto the primary frames, or the roof trusses being
integral
with the primary frames; and
interconnecting the primary frames and the roof trusses in the longitudinal
direction
to provide a building frame over the foundation.
In some examples, the frame comprises a single wall frame and is mounted both
on the base plate
and against a wall-mounted base plate to form a lean-to extension. In some
examples, at least one
wall-mounted base plate has a horizontal ledge for engaging he frame. In some
examples, the
primary frame comprises both a horizontal tie and a vertical tie which are
joined, and said ties are
removed after erection of the frames.
We also describe a method of constructing a building comprising the steps of:
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providing primary frames each comprising a wall frame of wall frame members
and
at least one ceiling joist;
providing a foundation;
mounting each primary frame in turn on the foundation in succession at desired
radial spacings and each frame extending from a central vertical axis, while
temporarily supporting the frames to keep them at a vertical orientation,
mounting roof trusses onto the primary frames, or the roof trusses being
integral
with the primary frames; and
interconnecting the primary frames and the roof trusses to provide a building
frame
over the foundation.
In some examples, the frames are secured to the foundation by brackets. In
some examples, at least
some of said brackets each comprises a base web for engaging the foundation
and a pair of
upstanding flanges, and engaging a loser edge of a frame between said flanges.
We also describe a building frame comprising:
a plurality of primary frames each spanning width of a building and having
opposed
wall frame members and at least one ceiling joist;
each primary frame being adapted for mounting on a foundation base plates in
succession at desired longitudinal spacings,
a floor-level tie interconnecting the opposed wall frame members for temporary
additional strength of the primary frame during construction, the tie being
removably fixed in the primary frame,
elongate base plates arranged to be fixed to a slab for engagement with the
series
of primary frames.
In some examples, there are at least two parallel base plates for extending in
parallel on a slab on
each side of the primary frames. In some examples, at least one floor-level
tie is adapted for
longitudinal bracing of primary frames.
In some examples, at least some primary frames each comprise at least one
outer stud, at least one
intermediate stud, at least one floor plate member interconnecting the outer
and intermediate studs.
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In some examples, the frame comprises and at least one diagonal brace between
the outer and
intermediate studs.
In some examples, the primary frame is adapted to be mounted with the
horizontal floor plate
5 member mounted at its inner end on a base plate, where it is also fixed
to the inner stud and to the
intermediate stud.
In some examples, there are at least two parallel base plates for each lateral
primary frame side,
and each wall frame comprises a horizontal floor plate member which spans said
base plates.
In some examples, the primary frame is adapted to be mounted with the outer
end of the floor-
level member is mounted on a base plate, and the outer stud resting on the
floor plate member.
Additional Statements
A method of constnicting a building frame is described. Initially a concrete
slab is poured
according to the design specification, with sufficient strength to both
provide a building ground-
level floor and a foundation around the perimeter. A number of primary frames
are provided, each
spanning the width of the building and having opposed wall frame members and
at least one ceiling
joist. Each primary frame is mounted in turn on base plates on the concrete
slab in succession at
desired longitudinal spacings, while temporarily interconnecting the primary
frames to keep them
at a vertical orientation. Roof trusses are then mounted onto the primary
frames, and the primary
frames and the roof trusses are interconnected to provide a building frame on
the slab.
In various aspects we describe a method of constructing a building frame
comprising the steps of:
providing primary frames each spanning width of the building or a portion
thereof between
and including opposed walls, and having opposed wall frame members and at
least one
ceiling joist;
mounting each primary frame in turn on base plates on a concrete slab in
succession at
desired longitudinal spacings, while temporarily supporting the primary frames
with a
brace to keep them at a vertical orientation,
mounting roof trusses onto the primary frames, or the roof trusses being
integral with the
primary frames; and
interconnecting the primary frames and the roof trusses to provide a building
frame over
the slab.
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Preferably, the base plates are elongate, extending for the length of the
building.
Preferably, the base plate comprises an elongate plate fixed to the slab along
the length of each
wall frame before placement of the primary frame.
Preferably, there are at least two parallel base plates extending in parallel
for each wall frame.
Preferably, at least some primary frames comprise a floor-level tie
interconnecting the opposed
wall frame members for temporary additional strength of the primary frame
during construction,
the tie is removably fixed in the primary frame, and is removed before the
building is completed.
Preferably, at least one tic which has been removed is used as said temporary
support until the
primary frames and the roof trusses form the building frame. Preferably, at
least some primary
frames each comprise at least one outer stud, at least one intermediate stud,
at least one floor plate
member interconnecting the outer and intermediate studs, and at least one
diagonal brace between
the inner and intermediate studs, and an inner stud.
Preferably, the primary frame is mounted with the horizontal floor plate
member mounted on the
base plate, at its innermost end, where it is also fixed to the inner stud and
to the intermediate stud.
Preferably, there are at least two parallel base plates for each lateral
primary frame side, and each
wall frame comprises a horizontal floor plate member which spans said base
plates.
Preferably, the primary frame is mounted with the outer end of the floor-level
member mounted
on a base plate, and the outer stud resting on the floor plate member.
We also describe a building frame comprising:
a plurality of primary frames each spanning width of a building and having
opposed wall
frame members and at least one ceiling joist;
each primary frame being adapted for mounting on concrete slab base plates in
succession
at desired longitudinal spacings,
a floor-level tie interconnecting the opposed wall frame members for temporary
additional
strength of the primary frame during transport from an off-site location and
construction,
the tie being removably fixed in the primary frame,
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roof trusses connectable to, or integral with, the primary frames, and
elongate plates arranged to be fixed to a slab for engagement with the series
of primary
frames.
Preferably, there are at least two parallel base plates for extending in
parallel on a slab on each
side of the primary frames.
Preferably, at least one floor-level tie is adapted for longitudinal bracing
of primary frames as a
temporary support before the primary frames and roof trusses have been
interconnected to form
the building frame.
Preferably, at least some primary frames each comprise at least one outer
stud, at least one
intermediate stud, at least one floor plate member interconnecting the outer
and intermediate studs,
and at least one diagonal brace between the inner and intermediate studs, and
an inner stud.
Preferably, the primary frame is adapted to be mounted with the horizontal
floor plate member
mounted at its inner end on a base plate, where it is also fixed to the inner
stud and to the
intermediate stud.
Preferably, there are at least two parallel base plates for each lateral
primary frame side, and each
wall frame comprises a horizontal floor plate member which spans said base
plates.
Preferably, the primary frame is adapted to be mounted with the outer end of
the floor-level
member is mounted on a base plate, and the outer stud resting on the floor
plate member.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description
of some
embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the
accompanying drawings
in which:
Fig. 1 is a front view of a number of structural assemblies which are used to
construct a
building;
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Fig 2 is an enlarged detail of the right-hand side location, D1, in Fig. 1,
showing
interconnection of the wall members and the slab in the internal side;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, D2, showing interconnection of the wall members
on the right-
hand outer side with the slab;
Fig. 4 is an overview perspective view showing building construction underway;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view and an enlarged detail of a raft foundation and
base plates for
the start of a method of a construction method of another example;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing placement of a primary frame to form a
part of a gable
wall, and Fig. 7 is a detail showing use of a temporary support for the frame;
Fig. 8 shows the situation after placement of a number of additional frames in
sequence,
together with an enlarged detail showing a three-dimensional support bracket
for each
frame;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view after placement of more frames, omitting the
runners linking
them along the top, and with an enlarged detail of the top and side part of a
frame where a
member forms an extension of a rafter;
Fig. 10 shows in diagrammatic form addition of diagonal braces to the inside
surfaces of
the outer studs, and also vertical braces;
Fig. 11 shows addition of an apex to the first frame, and Fig. 12 shows
addition of an apex
to all of the frames, together with a temporary support;
Figs. 13 and 14 are perspective views showing erection of a primary frame in
three parts,
a first wall part, a second wall part, and a central part with an apex; and
base plates located
centrally at support points on a raft foundation;
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Fig. 15 shows an alternative method of connection of the central part with
additional
structural strength provided by overlapping members as one example, and metal
brackets
are another example;
Figs. 16 and 17 show erection of further primary frames ("M Frames") along the
length of
the foundation;
Fig. 18 is a pair of perspective views showing connection of a high-level tie
linking the
first and second parts, and a joint being made with use of a coupler; and Fig.
19 is a front
view of a completed frame with the high-level tie in place;
Fig. 20 is a perspective view of two frames erected over the base plates, in
this case having
two high-level ties, making provision for two floor levels;
Fig. 21 is a perspective view showing an alternative pair of base plates,
having notches for
improved engagement with the primary frames;
Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing erection of a number of primary frames
to construct
a "lean-to" extension, in this case having base plates on the foundation and
wall plates on
a wall; Fig. 23 shows interconnection to the wall plates, and Fig. 24 shows a
frame after
removal of horizontal and vertical temporary ties;
Fig. 25 shows a number of primary frames erected, also to construct an
extension, in this
case having a flat roof, Fig. 26 is a front view of the frame, Fig. 27 shows
connection to a
wall-mounted base plate, and Fig. 28 shows the situation after removal of
horizontal and
vertical temporary ties;
Fig. 29 is a perspective view of a primary frame comprising the first and
second parts,
without a central part (steel brackets could also be used to join the first
and second parts);
Fig. 30 is a perspective view showing erection of a primary frame first part
on a round
foundation, in which the second parts are on diagonally opposed sides
extending from a
central vertical axis, Fig. 31 shows the situation after erection of a number
of the frames,
and Figs. 32 and 33 show use of a fixture to secure the frames to the
foundation;
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Fig. 34 shows a method of construction which is broadly similar, but with
fewer frames
and on a hexagonal foundation (in other examples any other polygon shape is
used), each
frame extending to a corner of the foundation; and
5
Fig. 35 is a perspective view of a bracket for joining aligned members
together for example
where first and second frame pars are joined.
Referring to Fig. 1, this drawing shows a number of components 1 which are
used to erect a
10 building. Fig. 1 illustrates what the components include and how
they are interconnected.
The components shown in Fig. 1 are a primary frame 2, a roof truss 3, and a
temporary floor-level
tie 4. They are shown mounted on a concrete slab raft foundatonl 0 on which
there arc base plates
for wall structural frames. The base plates are timber 50mm x 100mm members.
In other
examples, the base plates may be of metal, and in some cases they are notched
as described below.
In some examples the roof truss is modular, being supplied separately for ease
of transport and
joined to the primary frame on site.
All structural members above the level of the base plate are of wood, but in
other examples some
or all may be of metal or other suitable building material. The base plate
itself may be pair of
parallel timber beams for each side as illustrated, but in other examples may
be steel.
The primary frame 2 has members for forming the structural frames of opposed
walls, and a ceiling
joist. So, when a number of about say 20 of the frames 2 are mounted in series
they form the
structure of the walls and ceiling of a building.
In more detail the wall frame members on each lateral side are in this
example:
outer stud 30,
intermediate stud 31,
floor plate member 32 interconnecting the outer and intermediate studs 30 and
31,
diagonal brace 33 between the inner and intermediate studs 30 and 31, and
inner stud 34.
The gap between the inner stud 34 and the intermediate stud 31 is to allow a
space for insulation
when the frames have been erected.
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The wall structural members may have a different arrangement. For example. the
diagonal brace
33 may be replaced by a pair of shorter braces forming a K-shape with the stud
31.
The primary frame 2 also comprises a ceiling joist 35 spanning the primary
frame and
interconnecting the opposed wall frame members 30-34. There may be spacers
along the length of
the joist 35 for abutting the lower surface of the truss member closest to it.
These spacers may be
in the form of runners which run longitudinally, parallel to the base plates
20, to interconnect the
primary frames in the longitudinal direction.
The roof truss 3 comprises roof joist 40, rafters 41, and braces 42. It is of
itself of conventional
construction. It may be manufactured off-site in an integrated manner with the
primary frame, or
it may be manufactured and transported separately for inter-connection on
site. The separate
manufacture is especially versatile for choice of the characteristics of the
roof, such as pitch. As
noted above there may be spacers such as longitudinal inter-connection runners
between the joists
35 and 40.
Not shown in Figs 1 to 3 are three-dimensional brackets which engage the slab
10, a base plate 20,
and a frame 2 to secure the frame 2 temporarily in the upright position.
Referring also to Fig. 4, a method of constructing a building using the
components 1 includes the
following structural steps.
Step 1
Prepare site and pour the foundation slab 10 according to the design
specification, with provision
for damp and radon barriers/membranes as is conventional, insulation, and
reinforcement bars as
required. The slab 10 needs to have the structural characteristics for
providing an internal ground-
level floor and foundation-level strength around the perimeter.
Step 2
Install the base plates 20. These are elongate beams running the length of the
building, as best
shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4, and they are fixed to the slab by bolting.
There are two in
parallel for each wall.
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1")
Step 3
Mount a first primary frame 2 together with the temporary tie 4 to the base
plates 20, and provide
a temporary support (Fig. 7) to keep upright. The temporary support may be of
any suitable
arrangement, engaging the primary frame and/or the apex truss.
The primary frame 2 is mounted to the foundation and base plate 10 as shown in
Figs. 2 and 3.
The inner stud 34 rests on the foundation 10, and is temporarily fastened to
the tie 4. The tie 4 is
provided during off-site manufacture, and is under tension as the wall frames
have a tendency to
push laterally outwardly. The horizontal wall plate member 32 is mounted on
both of the base
plates 20, and at its inner end it is fixed to the inner stud 3 and to the
intermediate stud 31. This
arrangement is particularly robust.
On the outer side of the wall members, the interconnections are as shown in
Fig. 3, Detail 2. The
outer end of the floor-level member 32 is mounted on a base plate 20, and the
outer stud rests on
the member 32 at this location.
The fixing of members together is by way of any suitable fastener, preferably
of metal, in one
example of the type marketed by Simpson . The fasteners are indicated
generally by the numeral
50.
Step 4
Referring also to Fig. 4 a second primary frame 2 with attached roof truss 3
is mounted to the base
6/20 at a longitudinal separation of 600mm, with repetition of steps 1 to 3.
The separation may be
of any desired distance according to the building design. For example, the two
frames at each end
may be closer together say 300mm apart, to form a gable wall, while the others
are at spaces of
say 600mm or 900mm.
This is in turn repeated for a number of additional frames at 600mm
separations until the desired
length of the building is reached. The primary frames 2 and the roof trusses 3
are interconnected
longitudinally by roof members including runners along the tops of the joists.
These steps provide a structural frame for the building, with the slab 10
providing the floor and
foundation, the primary frames 2 providing the wall frames, and the trusses 3
providing the roof
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structure. The building is then completed in conventional manner according to
the design, using
the building frame provided by the above steps.
The major advantages of the invention are that building construction is
particularly fast and cost-
effective due to the extent of off-site manufacture, while there is excellent
versatility in choice of
features such a roof pitch, wall thickness, strength, and insulation. In
particular, there is good frame
strength because of the integration of the frame members as described, the
frame being accurately
manufactured off-site. Excellent insulation properties are achieved without
need for a considerable
amount of insulating material, due to the thickness/depth of the wall frame.
The wall frames also
allow for easy installation of utility services.
The method lends itself to straight-forward building design and use of
software, and it is envisaged
that existing roof truss manufacturing facilities could easily be adapted to
manufacture of the
frames. The method allows construction to be faster as a result of the pre-
connection of the framing
components with truss plates, and it is lightweight due to the triangulation
joints.
The short lead time for manufacture opens the possibility of building
manufacture and erection
under emergency conditions for situations such as disaster relief.
Another Example (Figs. 5 to 12)
Referring to Figs. 5 to 12 an alternative method is described. As shown in
Fig. 5 a raft foundation
110 is provided, and there are two base plates 120 on each side as shown. It
is preferred that the
raft foundation has a power-floated finish to help ensure accuracy of all
construction.
Figs. 6 and 7 show erection of a first frame, 100, at one end, with detail of
how it engages the rail.
The structure of the frame 100 is broadly similar to that of the frame 1, with
a similar set of three
studs and a brace at each side. There is a downwardly-extending protrusion 122
to fit inside the
inner base plate 120 and a three-dimensional bracket is secured in place here,
and a temporary
support 125 is provided to keep the frame 100 upright.
Fig. 8 shows erection of further frames 100, and one or more runners 135 are
secured to the frames
in the longitudinal direction (parallel to the base plates 120) along the tops
of the frames 100. This
drawing shows a three-dimensional bracket 130 for providing support across the
rail 120, the base
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110, and the frame 100. It is fixed in position outside the inside rail 120 in
this example. There
may be a number of these used per frame 100.
Fig. 9 shows the situation after erection of further frames 100, with enlarged
detail shown of a
sloped member 140 at a corner, for alignment with a rafter of a roof truss to
be fixed in place. At
this stage additional members may be secured to the outer studs to provide a
frame for a window
or door which is wider than the space between two frames 100. Fig. 10 shows
the site after erection
of all of the frames, and there are a number of bracing runners 135.
Interrupted lines 145 and 150
show the positions of additional braces which are fixed as desired to ensure
sufficient strength.
The braces 150 are secured preferably to the inside surfaces of the outer
studs. There are also one
or more vertical uprights 145 to provide additional temporary support.
As shown in Fig. 11 roof trusses 160 are fixed to the frames 100, with the
rafters aligned with the
sloped members 140. This drawing shows a temporary support 170 for an end
frame, and in other
examples this may extend to contact the roof truss. The situation with all of
the frames 100 in place
is shown in Fig. 12. This drawing shows the temporary ties 4 still in place;
these are then removed
once all of the combined frames 100 and trusses 160 are interconnected.
It will be appreciated that in the invention individual frames are used in an
innovative way to
construct a house frame. The frames can be used for small and large house
construction, including
bungalows, dormers and two-storeys. The construction method is also adaptable
to most forms of
extensions.
The base plates can be fixed with any desired separation, preferably in the
range of 500mm to
1000mm apart and parallel to the sides of the foundation. There may be
additional base plates,
located more centrally on the foundation. The specific location of the base
plates will be in
accordance with engineers' specifications and will vary depending on various
loadings and
regulations in different countries. The frames are fixed to the base plates
and concrete by nailing
and various brackets, again according to the loadings. The brackets are
preferably three-
dimensional, to engage the frame, the base plate, and the foundation.
As described in detail below, the primary frame may be different, and it may
be provided in
multiple parts which are joined together on site.
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Dormer house Construction Example
Referring to Fig. 13, a primary frame is provided in first and second parts
200, one for each side
of the foundation. Each frame part 200 comprises a wall frame akin to that of
the frame 1, and this
5 engages a pair of base plates 222 in a similar manner. In addition, there
are a pair of central base
plates, and each frame part 200 has an upright 20 corresponding to this
location. Such additional
base plates 211 may be provided for single-part primary frames such as the
frames 1. Each frame
part has a horizontal structural member203 at mid-height, and a temporary
floor-level tie 202. As
shown in Fig. 14 a third, central, frame part 230 is fixed to the first and
second parts 200 to span
10 the gap between them and provide a roof apex.
Fig. 15 shows a variation on the central part connection, with splints 231 at
joints providing
additional connection structural strength (metal bracket may additionally or
alternatively be used
as described in more detail blow). Figs. 16 and 17 show a number of further
full frames 240 to
15 construct a frame for a dormer bungalow, having been erected on the
foundation 210 in the
longitudinal direction. The spacings are as desired. For example, there may be
a small spacing of
say 300mm between the two frames at each end, these frames together providing
the gable wall
frames. Other spacings are according to engineer specifications according to
loadings and window
and door opes. On large sites it may be possible to assemble the complete
frame 240 on the ground
and mechanically lift it into position. The frames 240 can be fitted at
centres varying from 600mm
to 900mm. To accommodate manufactured boards the centres may have spacings of
900mm,
900mm and 600mm centres, adding up to 2400mm (manufactured board size). In one
example all
centres are 900mm and 2700mm boards could be used.
The frame structure is manufactured and assembled with truss clip connectors.
The floor joists
202 are fixed in position to tie the structure together. A combination of
nails, truss clips and bolted
brackets will be used in accordance with engineers' specifications. Where
mechanical lifting
equipment is available on site the complete frame 240 could be assembled on
the horizontal and
lifted into position.
Fig. 18 shows a bracket 260 to join horizontal ties 250 at any desired lateral
joint or where extra
strength is required for example for stairwell opes. The bracket 260
advantageously has a pair of
plates 261 for engaging and clamping opposed tie surfaces. In this case the
two opposed parts 261
of the bracket are bolted together by bolts 262, but they could be snap-fitted
or fastened by any
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other known means. The engineers' specifications for racking strength will be
adhered to in order
to achieve full structural integrity.
Following the racking work the horizontal floor ties 202 are preferably
removed to reveal a
finished concrete unimpeded walk space. Horizontal bracing or diagonal bracing
may be applied
as shown in Fig. 10 for example.
Bungalow Construction
Referring to Fig. 19, a frame 300 is configured for bungalow construction, and
has first and second
lateral parts 301 and a central part 302 providing the apex. Again, there are
floor-level ties and
vertical upright ties over a central base plate on the foundation. There is an
upper horizontal tie
303, which includes one joint using a bracket 260.
Two Storey
Fig. 20 shows primary frames also assembled from three parts, in this case the
frame having a
similar layout to the others described herein.
Alternative Base Plate
Fig. 21 shows base plates 400 having a series of transverse notches 402 for a
friction fit with the
frames, at 600mm to 900mm separations. The frame has downward projections 411
to engage side
surfaces of the base plate. There may be any desired configuration of frame
projections to increase
the surface-to-surface engagement of the frame with the base plates. Also, in
one example the
base plate notches have dimensions of 100mm in the longitudinal direction and
are 75mm wide
(75mm high, 100mm wide). This arrangement gives an accurate on-site spacing of
the frames; it
will provide a stronger fixing point for the base plate in the centre of the
building.
Extensions
Referring to Fig. 22 a frame 500 has the overall configuration of the first or
second part 200
described above. This is used on its own to provide a primary frame for a -
lean-to" extension,
engaging foundation base plates 510 and wall-mounted base plates 520. The
latter includes a lower
base plate 521which has a ledge and an upper base plate 522. The frame 500 has
a wall frame
portion akin to that of any of the above embodiments, and it engages the base
plates 510 in the
same way. The difference is that it also engages the wall-mounted base plate
system 522 so that it
forms a lean-to extension frame when the frames are erected in series. Each
frame 500 has a floor-
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level horizontal tie 511 and a vertical tie 512, both of which are for
integrity of the frame during
construction but removal as shown in Fig. 24 when the structure is complete.
Flat Roof Extension Frame
Figs. 25 and 26 show frames 600 mounted in series on base plates 601, and also
engaging wall-
mounted base plates ("wall plates") 602 on a wall at ceiling height. The roof
structure comprises
a pair of parallel beams joined by struts to provide a flat roof structure,
which engages the wall-
mounted base plate 602. There are horizontal and vertical temporary ties 612
and 613. As shown
in Fig. 27 the frame is notched to engage the single wall-mounted base plate
602. A firring slope
piece can be included on top of the frame, and the frame is factory notched to
sit in wall plate
position as shown in Fig. 27. The vertical and horizontal ties 612 and 613 are
removed when the
structure is complete, as shown in Fig. 28.
Small House Frame Construction
Fig. 29 shows that frame parts 700 akin to the frame parts 200 can be used for
small house design
without a central part. The foundation, 710, has only the building wall base
plates and no central
base plates. The ceiling joists span to the outer walls and the vertical and
horizontal ties can be
removed. An additional support beam could be inserted running the length of
the middle of the
build. A metal bracket could also be used as a midpoint jointing system, and
this frame system is
also suitable for dormer and two-storey buildings.
In any example, straw bales could be used as the insulation to build between
the frames, further
demonstrating the flexibility of the frames' use.
Figs. 30 to 33 show that the frames 700 could be mounted on a circular
foundation 520 in an
arrangement extending radially from a central vertical axis. In this case a
pair of inter-connected
frames 700 extend diagonally and there are no longitudinal base plates. The
frames 700 are secured
to the foundation 700 by fasteners 730 having a foundation-engaging web 733
and a pair of
upstanding flanges 731 and 732 framing a channel to receive the frame. In
other examples simple
L-shaped brackets may be used in at least some locations. When the structure
is complete the
horizontal ties can be removed to give clear walk space.
Fig. 34 shows that the frames 700 could be erected on a hexagonal foundation
750, and again a
pair of aligned frames 700 extend across the full diagonal dimension. In
general, the frames can
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be used to provide a wide variety of structure shapes, or combinations of
different shapes, and any
polygon shape in plan could be used.
It will be appreciated that the frames and their method of use provide the
core structure of a
building in a simple, fast manner with excellent structural integrity. There
is excellent versatility
as described above. The same size frame can be chosen for any of a wide range
of houses of
varying widths. Where the frame is provided in multiple parts the opposed
first and second parts
may be of a standard size, with versatility being provided by choice of
central part, and indeed
choice of whether to use a central part. The height of the frame can be
adapted to accommodate
bungalow, dormer, or two-storey buildings.
The frames can be easily adapted to build extensions, with flat or pitched
roofs. There is versatility
in terms of the shape in plan of the building, and we have described
rectangular, round, and
hexagonal as examples. The frames also work on most shape concrete pad
foundations. The frames
provide the structure for constniction of the internal partitions. The
spacings of the frames also
allow for the provision of door and window openings to suit standard building
components. The
construction method allows for the creation of spaces such as wardrobe spaces.
By way of
example, 800mm x 800mm shower units could be fitted off a main bathroom,
creating extra space.
kitchen larder units and appliances could be built in between the 900mm truss
spaces, creating a
lot of extra space. The frames and their methods of use allow for a lot of
creativity for design of
interiors and provides for space-saving opportunities within the walls of the
building.
Referring to Fig. 35 an elongate backet 800 may be used for providing
additional strength in joints
of parallel members, or any other joint such as butt joints. The bracket 800
comprises elongate
plates 801 and 802 and transverse legs 803 and 804 which extend from the plate
801 to be fastened
to the opposed plate 802. Such a bracket provides a strong clamping force, and
could be used for
example to secure two frame parts directly together in the arrangement for
example of Fig. 29.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments described but may be varied in
construction and
detail. For example, while we have described removal of floor-level ties,
these may in other
examples be retained to form part of a floor structure. Also, we have
described removal of some
vertical ties, but there are more likely to be required in many examples, to
provide part of the
building frame. Also, where we have described a primary frame being in two
parts joined directly
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together, they may have flat-roofed top structures instead of an apex truss,
to suit the building
design.
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