Wall Systems

Abstract

A modular wall system ( 1 ) for constructing temporary buildings such as warehouses comprises a plurality of elongate panel members ( 2 ) arranged to extend horizontally between a pair of upright support members ( 3, 4 ). The panel members ( 2 ) are stacked one on top of another in a vertical plane to form a wall of the desired height wherein adjoining edges of adjacent panels ( 2 ) are provided with interlocking tongue and groove formations ( 7, 8 ). At least some of the panel members ( 2 ) are provided with an elongate reinforcing member ( 20 ) extending lengthwise of an internal longitudinal chamber ( 13 ) to assist withstanding wind forces. The reinforcing members ( 20 ) are constructed and arranged to have a higher resistance to forces applied in a direction (C) normal to a vertical plane of the wall than parallel to the vertical plane of the wall.

1 . A wall system comprising a plurality of elongate panel members arranged to extend horizontally between a pair of upright support members wherein the panel members are stacked one on top of another in a vertical plane to form a wall of a desired height, wherein panel members are formed with at least one internal longitudinal chamber, wherein at least some of panel members are provided with an elongate reinforcing member extending lengthwise of the chamber, and wherein the reinforcing member are constructed and arranged to have a higher resistance to forces applied in a direction (C) normal to the vertical plane of the wall than parallel to the vertical plane of the wall.  
   
   
       2 . A wall system according to  claim 1  wherein each reinforcing member comprises a plurality of generally parallel plates connected by webs whereby the reinforcing member is of increased strength in a plane (A) substantially parallel to the plates than at right angles (B) thereto.  
   
   
       3 . A wall system according to  claim 2  wherein each reinforcing member is arranged so that plates extend generally parallel to a plane (A) normal to the vertical plane of the wall.  
   
   
       4 . A wall system according to  claim 2  wherein each reinforcing member is of approximately W-shape in transverse section.  
   
   
       5 . A wall system  claim 2  wherein each reinforcing member is made of rolled sheet metal.  
   
   
       6 . A wall system according to  claim 1  wherein the panel members ( 2 ) are made of plastics material.  
   
   
       7 . A wall system according to  claim 6  wherein the panel members are plastics extrusions.  
   
   
       8 . A wall system according to  claim 1  wherein the panel members are of generally hollow rectangular section with spaced parallel side walls and longitudinally extending edge formations that co-operate to locate adjacent panel members relative to each other on assembly of the wall.  
   
   
       9 . A wall system according to  claim 8  wherein each panel member is provided with mating tongue and groove formations on opposed edges.  
   
   
       10 . A wall system according to  claim 8  wherein the panel members ( 2 ) are divided internally into a plurality of chambers by one or more partition walls ( 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ) extending between the side walls ( 5 , 6 ).  
   
   
       11 . A wall system according to  claim 8  wherein panel members are provided with a longitudinal slot in at least one side wall that can be used to attach a member to the wall.  
   
   
       12 . A wall system according to  claim 11  further comprising at least one bracket located and retained in slot for attaching a member to the wall.  
   
   
       13 . A wall system according to  claim 8  further comprising glazing located in the wall.  
   
   
       14 . A wall system according to  claim 13  wherein the glazing is located by glazing members arranged to extend above and below a glazing panel with the glazing members adapted to co-operate with edge formations of adjacent panel members.  
   
   
       15 . A wall system according to  claim 14  wherein the glazing members are formed by part of a panel member.  
   
   
       16 . A wall system according  claim 1  wherein the support members are adapted for inserting the panel members one-by-one between the support members at a lower end thereof and raising the panel members to allow a next panel member to be inserted until the desired height of the wall is achieved.  
   
   
       17 . A wall system according to  claim 1  wherein end portions of the panel members are received in vertical channels of the support members.  
   
   
       18 . A wall comprising a plurality of modules, each module comprising a plurality of elongate panel members arranged to extend horizontally between a pair of upright support members wherein the panel members are stacked one on top of another in a vertical plane to form a wall of a desired height, wherein longitudinal edges of adjacent panel members are provide with male and female formations that engage to locate the adjoining panel members, wherein the panel members are formed with at least one internal longitudinal chamber, wherein at least some of the panel members are provided with an elongate reinforcing member extending lengthwise of the chamber, wherein each reinforcing member comprises a plurality of substantially parallel plates connected by webs, and wherein the plates are arranged to extend between opposed side walls of the chamber to provide a higher resistance to forces applied in a direction normal to the vertical plane of the wall than parallel to the vertical plane of the wall.  
   
   
       19 . A method of constructing a modular wall including the steps of: 
 providing a pair of elongate support members each having a longitudinal channel in at least one face thereof,    locating the support members in spaced, upright relationship with the channel of one support member opposite the channel of the other support member,    providing each channel with an entry portion at a lower end of the support member;    providing a plurality of elongate panel members sized to fit between the support members with end portions of the panel members received in the channels;    inserting end portions of a first panel member through the entry portions of the channels to locate the end portions in the channels with the first panel member extending between the support members;    raising the first panel with the end portions in the channels to permit end portions of a second panel member to be inserted through the entry portions of the channels to locate the end portions in the channels with the second panel member extending between the support members below the first panel member; and    positioning further panel members between the support members by raising panel members located between the support members to permit end portions of each further panel member to be inserted through the entry portions of the channels to locate the further panel member between the support members until a desired wall height is achieved.    
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 19  including the step of providing at least some of the panel members with an internal longitudinally extending reinforcing member configured to have a higher resistance to forces applied in a direction normal to a vertical plane of the wall than parallel to the vertical plane of the wall.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 19  including the step of providing each panel member with longitudinally extending edge formations configured to engage edge formations of adjacent panel members above and/or below the panel member to locate adjacent panel members relative to each other.