Building elements

Abstract

A building panel 20 is disclosed which is of sandwich construction having metal sheet structures 21, 22 interconnected by a core 23. The panel 20 includes profiled edge regions 24, 25 enabling the panel to interlock with a like panel. In one form a paper covering 27 is bonded to the metal sheet structure so that panel has a surface characteristic similar to that of plasterboard. A reinforcing element 40 is also disclosed which is arranged to be connected at the join between abutting panels to improve the load bearing capability of the panel 20.

1 . A composite building panel for use as exterior cladding, the panel being of sandwich construction comprising a core, an exterior facing sheet and an interior facing sheet, the facing sheets being fixed to respective ones of the opposite major surfaces of the core, wherein the interior facing sheet has a metal substrate and a paper coating bonded to the substrate.  
   
   
       2 . A building panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior facing sheet comprises a steel sheet substrate having a corrosion resistant metal coating applied thereto.  
   
   
       3 . A building panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior facing sheet has a cross-sectional profile displaying crests and troughs which are displaced from a centre plane of the sheet.  
   
   
       4 . A building panel according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the facing sheets includes opposite edges which are shaped to form at least part of the edge regions of the panel, each edge region being formed to include a connecting element which extends along that edge region and which allows for interconnection of the panel with another panel.  
   
   
       5 . A building panel according to  claim 4 , wherein one of the edge regions of the exterior facing sheet projects beyond the edge region of the panel to form a tail portion, and wherein when the panel is interconnected with another panel at that edge region, the tail portion overlaps the exterior facing sheet of the other panel.  
   
   
       6 . A building panel according to  claim 4 , wherein the edge regions are formed so that when the panel is interconnected with another panel, the exterior and interior facing sheets of interconnected panels are aligned and in substantially abutting relationship to enable a continuous surface to be obtained on both the exterior and the interior of the panel on the application of conventional finishing techniques to the facing sheets of the interconnected panels.  
   
   
       7 . A building panel according to  claim 6 , wherein the conventional finishing technique for the exterior facing sheet includes rendering, painting, or spraying a surface coating to that facing sheet.  
   
   
       8 . A roofing panel of sandwich construction comprising a core, an exterior facing sheet, and an interior facing sheet, the facing sheets being fixed to respective ones of the opposite major surfaces of the core, wherein the interior facing sheet has a sheet metal substrate and a paper coating bonded to the substrate, and wherein the exterior facing sheet, comprises a sheet steel substrate that incorporates a corrosion resistant metal coating.  
   
   
       9 . A roofing panel according to  claim 8 , wherein the exterior facing sheet has an outer surface that is pre-painted.  
   
   
       10 . A roofing panel according to  claim 8 , wherein the exterior facing sheet has a cross-sectional profile that displays crests and troughs displaced from a centre plane of the sheet.  
   
   
       11 . An elongate building element formed as a hollow section and having spaced apart first and second ends, opposite side surfaces and opposite end surfaces extending between the ends, the element being formed from first and second parts, the parts extending between the first and second ends and interfitting in a manner that allows the size of the hollow section to be varied.  
   
   
       12 . An elongate building element according to  claim 11 , wherein each part is channel shaped having a web and opposing flanges, wherein on interfitting of the parts, the flanges of one part is lapped with the flanges of the other part so as to form the opposite side surfaces, and the webs of the parts form the opposite end surfaces.  
   
   
       13 . An elongate building element according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the webs is profiled so as to form a connecting element which extends along that web.  
   
   
       14 . An elongate building element according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the parts is formed from a metal sheet substrate and a paper covering bonded to the substrate.  
   
   
       15 . A method of constructing a partition having an exterior and interior surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of panels, each panel being of sandwich construction and comprising a core, an exterior facing sheet, and an interior facing sheet, the facing sheets being fixed to respective ones of opposite major surfaces of the core, the interior facing sheet having a metal sheet substrate and a paper covering bonded to the substrate:    interconnecting the panels so that the exterior and interior major surfaces of the interconnected panels are aligned and in substantially abutting relationship; and    applying finishing techniques to both the interior and exterior major surfaces of the interconnected panels to form continuous interior and exterior surfaces across the interconnected panels.