Modular building system

Abstract

A modular building construction system uses either concrete or steel framed wall panels ( 10 ) to which are secured roof receiving elements ( 12, 14 ) formed by steel girders aligned lengthways close to an upper section of a concrete wall panel ( 10 ). An roof structure ( 16 ) has pairs of upper and lower projections ( 18 a and 18 b ) respectively, which are received in corresponding openings in the roof receiving elements ( 12, 14 ). With the interengagement of the roof structure ( 16 ) and the concrete wall panels ( 10 ) one of which is used at each side of the roof structure ( 16 ), the building is structurally sound with the walls ( 10 ) being held in upright configuration by the roof structure ( 16 ) and the roof structure ( 16 ) being held up by the concrete wall panels ( 10 ). Temporary propping to the wall panels can be removed at this stage.

1 . A modular building system comprises at least one wall section and at least one roof section, wherein said at least one wall section and said at least one roof section include interengaging projections and openings operable to link said sections together to form a composite structure.  
   
   
       2 . A modular building system as claimed in  claim 1 , which comprises at least two wall sections, with one wall section for each of two sides of said roof section, the two sections and one roof section forming a cell of the modular building system.  
   
   
       3 . The modular building system as claimed in either  claim 1  or  claim 2 , in which end walls are provided and, with the roof section, have interengaging projections and openings to link the end walls and said at least one roof section together.  
   
   
       4 . The modular building system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each wall section is adapted to be fabricated prior to attachment to said roof section.  
   
   
       5 . The modular building system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the wall section is adapted to receive the roof section only when the wall section is in a substantially upright orientation.  
   
   
       6 . The modular building system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each wall section comprises at least one roof receiving opening.  
   
   
       7 . A modular building system as claimed in claimed  6 , in which roof receiving openings are located on upper and lower levels.  
   
   
       8 . The modular building system as claimed in  claim 6  or  claim 7 , in which the roof receiving openings are located in at least one projection of the wall section, which projection is formed by a beam or bracket secured to a main body of the wall section.  
   
   
       9 . The modular building system as claimed in any one of  claims 6  to  8 , in which the roof section includes at least one projection adapted to engage said at least one opening in the wall section.  
   
   
       10 . A joint for a modular building system comprising at least one prefabricated wall section and at least one prefabricated roof section, said joint comprises interengaging projections and openings for incorporation into corresponding wall and roof sections, the joint being adapted to allow joining of the prefabricated wall and roof sections to form a composite structure.  
   
   
       11 . A method of forming a building comprises: 
 forming at least one wall section;    forming at least one roof section;    tilting-up said at least one wall section to an upright orientation;    temporarily supporting said at least one wall section;    lifting the prefabricated roof section; and    lowering the prefabricated roof section onto the wall section;    wherein the wall section and roof section are held together by means of interengaging projections and openings thereof to thereby form a composite structure.