Membrane for use in the construction of buildings

Abstract

A membrane ( 1 ) for use in the construction of buildings is described. The membrane ( 1 ) is provided with an alignment means ( 2, 3 ) to align the membrane ( 1 ) with a structure ( 7 ) of a building to which the membrane is to be attached. The distance (A) between the edge of the membrane ( 1 ) and the alignment means ( 2 ) may be equal to that specified by local building regulations for overlap between the membrane ( 1 ) and the building structure.

1 . A membrane for use in the construction of buildings, the membrane provided with at least one alignment means to align the membrane with a structure of a building to which the membrane is to be attached. 
   
   
       2 . The membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment means extends substantially parallel to an edge of the membrane. 
   
   
       3 . The membrane of  claim 2  wherein the alignment means extends substantially parallel to an edge of the membrane at a distance of between 20 mm and 200 mm from the edge of the membrane. 
   
   
       4 . The membrane of  claim 3  wherein the alignment means extends substantially parallel to an edge of the membrane at a distance of between 50 mm and 150 mm from the edge. 
   
   
       5 . The membrane of  claim 1  wherein the alignment means includes a visual indicator. 
   
   
       6 . The membrane of  claim 5  wherein the alignment means is printed on the membrane. 
   
   
       7 . The membrane of any  claim 1  wherein the alignment means comprises at least one mark or line. 
   
   
       8 . The membrane of  claim 7  wherein the alignment means comprises a series of lines or marks. 
   
   
       9 . The membrane of  claim 7  wherein the alignment means includes at least one line of text and/or other indicia. 
   
   
       10 . The membrane of  claim 5  wherein the alignment means is produced by a change in opacity of the membrane. 
   
   
       11 . The membrane of  claim 10  wherein the alignment means comprises a transparent or translucent window in a relatively opaque membrane. 
   
   
       12 . The membrane of  claim 1  wherein the alignment means includes a non-visual indicator. 
   
   
       13 . The membrane of  claim 12  wherein the alignment means includes a tactile indicator. 
   
   
       14 . The membrane of  claim 13  wherein the tactile indicator is embossed or depressed on the membrane. 
   
   
       15 . The membrane of  claim 1  wherein the alignment means is a combination of a visual and a non-visual alignment means. 
   
   
       16 . The membrane of  claim 1 , wherein there is only one alignment means spaced either 50 mm or 150 mm from the edge. 
   
   
       17 . The membrane of  claim 1  wherein the membrane has two or more alignment means. 
   
   
       18 . The membrane of  claim 17  wherein the two or more alignment means are substantially similar. 
   
   
       19 . The membrane of  claim 17  including: 
     (a) A first alignment means extending substantially parallel to but spaced from an edge of the membrane; and, 
     (b) a second alignment means extending substantially parallel to but spaced from an opposite edge of the membrane. 
   
   
       20 . The membrane of  claim 19  wherein the first alignment means extends substantially parallel to an edge of the membrane at a distance of substantially 50 millimetres from the edge of the membrane, and the second alignment means extends substantially parallel to an opposite edge of the membrane at a distance of substantially 150 millimetres from the edge of the membrane. 
   
   
       21 . The membrane of  claim 17  including: 
     (a) A first alignment means extending substantially parallel to but spaced from an edge of the membrane; 
     (b) a second alignment means extending substantially parallel to but spaced from an opposite edge of the membrane; and, 
     (c) at least one further alignment means extending substantially parallel to the first two alignment means and created between the first two alignment means. 
   
   
       22 . The membrane of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the alignment means extends parallel to and spaced apart from an edge of the membrane, wherein the spacing is selected to be substantially equal to a minimum distance specified by a building regulation for overlap between adjacent building membranes. 
   
   
       23 . The membrane  claim 1  wherein at least one of the alignment means extends parallel to and spaced apart from an edge of the membrane, wherein the spacing is selected to be substantially equal to a minimum distance specified by a building regulation for a building membrane to overlap from a bottom plate of a building structure. 
   
   
       24 . The membrane of  claim 1  wherein the membrane is preformed. 
   
   
       25 . A method of applying a membrane according to  claim 1  to a building structure, the method comprising positioning the membrane on a surface of the building structure so that the alignment means is aligned with an indicator on the surface, and attaching the membrane to the surface. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the indicator is a horizontal edge or surface of the building structure. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the indicator is an edge of another membrane already attached to the building. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25  when used to apply the membrane to an external surface of a building frame. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 25  when used to apply the membrane to an internal surface of a building. 
   
   
       30 . A method of manufacturing a membrane for use in the construction of buildings, the method including the step of providing the membrane with at least one alignment means to assist in aligning the membrane with a surface of a building. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  including the step of selecting a distance between an edge of the membrane and at least one of the at least one alignment means to be substantially equal to a minimum distance specified by a building regulation, code or compliance document, for overlap between adjacent building membranes. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30  including the step of selecting a distance between an edge of the membrane and at least one of the at least one alignment means to be substantially equal to a minimum distance specified by a building regulation, code or compliance document for a building membrane to overlap from a bottom plate of a building structure. 
   
   
       33 . The membrane of  claim 8  wherein the alignment means includes at least one line of text and/or other indicia. 
   
   
       34 . The membrane of  claim 18  including: 
     (a) A first alignment means extending substantially parallel to but spaced from an edge of the membrane; and, 
     (b) a second alignment means extending substantially parallel to but spaced from an opposite edge of the membrane. 
   
   
       35 . The membrane of  claim 18  including: 
     (a) A first alignment means extending substantially parallel to but spaced from an edge of the membrane; 
     (b) a second alignment means extending substantially parallel to but spaced from an opposite edge of the membrane; and, 
     (c) at least one further alignment means extending substantially parallel to the first two alignment means and created between the first two alignment means.