Building structure and modular construction method

Abstract

A building structure comprising one or more modular panels ( 5 ); a wall locating member ( 12 ) positioned between a base ( 2 ) and the one or more modular panels ( 5 ); a top member ( 19 ) placed on top of the modular panels ( 5 ); and a plurality of tie rods ( 14 ). The modular panels ( 5 ) when adjoining to form a wall create longitudinal cavities ( 16 ) within the wall. The plurality of tie rods ( 14 ) extend through said longitudinal cavities ( 16 ) and secure said top member ( 19 ), walls ( 3 ) and wall locating member ( 12 ) to the base ( 2 ).

1 . A building structure comprising: 
 one or more modular panels;    a wall locating member positioned between a base and the one or more modular panels;    a top member placed on top of the modular panels; and    a plurality of tie rods;    wherein, said modular panels when adjoining to form a wall create longitudinal cavities within the wall; and    wherein, the plurality of tie rods extend through said longitudinal cavities and secure said top member, walls and wall locating member to the base.    
     
     
         2 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the top member is a capping member.  
     
     
         3 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the top member is a compression member.  
     
     
         4 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the top member comprises a capping member and a compression member.  
     
     
         5 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the modular panels comprise recesses on opposing longitudinal sides of the adjoining panels, thereby defining, in use, the longitudinal cavity between the adjoining modular panels.  
     
     
         6 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the wall locating member and the top member are both C section channelling.  
     
     
         7 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein an upright channel member is fixed to one face of a modular panel for locating modular panels to form a comer or internal wall.  
     
     
         8 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the tie rods are releasably engageable with mounts provided at predetermined positions along the base.  
     
     
         9 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the modular panels are of a laminated construction.  
     
     
         10 . The building structure of  claim 9 , wherein the modular panels are formed from foamed plastics laminated panels having at least one outer skin member.  
     
     
         11 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the modular panels comprise an additional longitudinal aperture, located inwardly from the longitudinal recess, for accommodating a tie rod in the formation of a comer or join.  
     
     
         12 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a floor structure, which may optionally be of modular construction, also employing laminated panels.  
     
     
         13 . The building structure of  claim 12 , wherein the laminated panels for the floor comprise a ribbed outer steel skin, a foamed plastic core and a ribbed inner skin, and preferably the floor is lined with composite flooring, waterproof ply or timber floor.  
     
     
         14 . The building structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a roof structure supported by the walls.  
     
     
         15 . The building structure of  claim 14 , wherein the roof structure is also of modular construction, and employing further laminated panels.  
     
     
         16 . The building structure of  claim 15 , wherein the laminated panels for the roof comprise a ribbed outer steel skin, a foamed plastic core and a ribbed inner skin and are preferably lined with fibre-cement board, plasterboard, random grooved ply or timber.  
     
     
         17 . A method of construction including the steps of: 
 placing one or more wall locating members on a base;    erecting one or more modular panels on the wall locating members to form one or more walls;    engaging adjacent modular panels to define longitudinal cavities between longitudinal recesses formed on upright sides of said modular panels;    placing a top member on the upper edge of the modular panels;    inserting tie rods through the top member and longitudinal cavities;    connecting the tie rods to the base to secure the top member, modular panels and wall locating member thereto, to form walls.    
     
     
         18 . The method of construction of  claim 17 , wherein the step of placing the top member on the upper edge of the modular panels comprises the steps of; 
 placing a capping member on the upper edge of the modular panel; and    placing a compression member on top of the capping member.    
     
     
         19 . A modular panel for use in the building structure of  claim 1  or method of construction of  claim 17 , wherein said modular panel comprises: 
 a core of foamed plastics material;  
 at least one outer skin member bonded to said core;  
 two longitudinal recesses on opposing longitudinal sides of the modular panel which define, in use, a longitudinal cavity extending along the junction between adjoining modular panels.  
 
     
     
         20 . The modular panels of  claim 19 , wherein the modular panel further comprises an additional longitudinal cavity, sized so as to receive a tie rod; wherein the longitudinal cavity is located toward an end of the modular panel but in from the longitudinal recess.