Bulilding Construction Kit

Abstract

A building construction kit comprises a plurality of ground beams ( 10 ), for example of concrete, positionable and securable relative to one another to form a rigid foundation frame, a plurality of storey-height external wall panels ( 30 ) supportable on and securable to the beams of the foundation frame to form an external building shell and a plurality of floor units ( 70 ) which can be supported on and secured to the beams ( 10 ) or to the panels ( 30 ) to form a floor at, respectively, ground level or an upper level. Each external wall panel ( 30 ) comprises a galvanised steel frame ( 31 ) with a weatherproof cladding ( 35 ), for example of glass-reinforced concrete, at an intended outer side of the panel so that the shell formed by the panels provides a sturdy structure which is weatherproof without the need for a further weather-resistant finish.

1 . A building construction kit comprising
 a) a plurality of ground beams positionable and securable relative to one another to form a substantially rigid foundation frame,   b) a plurality of storey-height external wall panels supportable on and securable to the beams of said foundation frame to form an external building shell of at least one storey in height, each external wall panel having an intended outer side at the outside of said shell and comprising a metallic frame with a weatherproof cladding at said intended outer side, and   c) a plurality of floor units for forming one of a floor at ground level and a floor at an upper level, the floor units when intended to form said floor at ground level being supportable on and securable to the beams of said foundation frame and when intended to form said floor at an upper level being securable to the wall panels of said shell.   
   
   
       2 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cladding of each external wall panel comprises waterproof, non-combustible and rot-resistant material. 
   
   
       3 . A kit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the material is glass-reinforced concrete. 
   
   
       4 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising tie elements fixing the frame and the cladding of each external wall panel to one another at a spacing. 
   
   
       5 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each external wall panel incorporates thermal insulation material between the frame and cladding thereof. 
   
   
       6 . A kit as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein each external wall panel has an air cavity between the insulation material and the cladding. 
   
   
       7 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein some of the external wall panels incorporate window and door apertures. 
   
   
       8 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising damp-proof membranes positionable between the external wall panels and the beams of said foundation frame. 
   
   
       9 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of storey-height internal wall panels supportable on and securable to the beams of said foundation frame to form a party wall division of said shell. 
   
   
       10 . A kit as claimed in  claim 9 , comprising a further plurality of internal wall panels supportable on and securable to said party wall division to form a party wall division of an intended roof space above said shell. 
   
   
       11 . A kit as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the internal wall panels are positionable in pairs in back-to-back relationship and at a mutual spacing to form said party wall division or divisions. 
   
   
       12 . A kit as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each of the internal wall panels comprises a metallic frame and a facing at at least one side of the panel. 
   
   
       13 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the ground beams comprises concrete. 
   
   
       14 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ground beams have securing points to enable securing of the beams to an underlying foundation. 
   
   
       15 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ground beams have securing points to enable securing of the wall panels thereto. 
   
   
       16 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ground beams have inserts co-operable with securing means for securing the floor units thereto. 
   
   
       17 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ground beams have rebates for receiving edge portions of the floor units. 
   
   
       18 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ground beams are positionable to form said foundation frame to have a polygonal boundary with at least one crosspiece extending between opposite sides of said boundary. 
   
   
       19 . A kit as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the ground beams are positionable to form said foundation frame to have intermediate tie elements extending between the at least one crosspiece and said boundary. 
   
   
       20 . A kit as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the ground beams are positionable to form said foundation frame to have intermediate tie elements extending between opposite sides of said boundary. 
   
   
       21 . A kit as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein each of the ground beams intended to lie at said boundary has a venting duct for venting a void under said floor at ground level. 
   
   
       22 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each floor unit comprises a metallic joist with a floor surface covering. 
   
   
       23 . A kit as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the joist of each floor unit comprises a lattice girder. 
   
   
       24 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each floor unit when intended to form said floor at ground level is provided at an underside thereof with thermal insulation material. 
   
   
       25 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each floor unit when intended to form said floor at ground level is elongate with opposite ends and is provided at said opposite ends with thermal insulation material. 
   
   
       26 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising flanged support brackets locatable between vertically adjacent wall panels of said shell to provide securing points for floor units forming said floor at an upper level. 
   
   
       27 . A building constructed in part from a kit as claimed in  claim 1 .