Unitised Building System

Abstract

The invention provides a method of building a building having a plurality of levels using. The building includes a plurality of building unit assemblies ( 2 ) wherein each building unit assembly is structurally self supporting and has at least one sidewall ( 4 ), a floor ( 8 ) and a roof ( 10 ), the method including the steps of: lifting the building unit assemblies ( 2 ) into position in the building so that each level of the building includes a predetermined number of units ( 2 ); connecting adjacent units ( 2 ) to one another in each level; and connecting units ( 2 ) in one level to corresponding units in at least one adjacent level that is vertically above or below the one level. In one form the building unit assembly ( 2 ) includes a building unit including two sidewalls ( 4 ) and ( 6 ) floor ( 8 ) and roof ( 10 ) with structural frame segments ( 16, 18, 20, 22 ) attached thereto.

1 - 65 . (canceled) 
     
     
         66 . A method of building a building having a plurality of levels using a plurality of building unit assemblies wherein each building unit assembly is structurally self supporting and has at least one sidewall, a floor and a roof, the method including the steps of:
 lifting the building unit assemblies into position in the building so that each level of the building includes a predetermined number of units;   connecting adjacent units to one another in each level; and   connecting units in one level to corresponding units in at least one adjacent level that is vertically above or below the one level.   
     
     
         67 . The method of building a building as claimed in  claim 66 , which further includes:
 attaching structural frame segments to at least one sidewall of a building unit to form a building unit assembly; and   stacking the building unit assemblies so as to form the levels of the building with the structural frame segments in one level being vertically aligned with structural frame segments in at least one adjacent level whereby substantially all vertical load of the building unit assemblies are transmitted through the structural frame segments.   
     
     
         68 . The method of building a building as claimed in  claim 67 , wherein lateral loads can be borne by one or more cores. 
     
     
         69 . The method of building a building as claimed in  claim 67 , wherein the structural frame segments are attached to the sidewalls of a building unit such that when the building unit is placed laterally adjacent to another structural frame segment in a predetermined relative alignment, a structural frame segment of the building unit assembly is located side by side with a structural frame segment on the laterally adjacent building unit assembly; and the method includes the step of connecting together the structural frame segments which are located side by side to one another. 
     
     
         70 . A building having a plurality of levels, the building including: a plurality of building unit assemblies, each of which is structurally self supporting and has at least one sidewall, a floor and a roof; and structural frame segments attached to the at least one sidewall thereof, groups of the building unit assemblies being stacked to form the levels in the building, and wherein the building unit assemblies are stacked with the structural frame segments in one level being vertically aligned with structural frame segments at least one adjacent level whereby substantially all vertical loads are transmitted through the structural frame segments and lateral loads can be borne by the building unit assemblies. 
     
     
         71 . The building as claimed in  claim 70 , wherein a plurality of levels include at least one building unit assembly placed in a first orientation and at least one second building unit assembly placed orthogonally to said first orientation such that said building unit assemblies in the first and second orthogonal orientations act as bracing to bear lateral loads. 
     
     
         72 . A building having a plurality of levels, at least some of said levels including a plurality of self supporting building units each including a structural frame segment connected thereto that is being adapted to support the vertical load of another level above said level, wherein:
 the building includes at least one higher level and one lower level, wherein the structural strength of the frame segments of the building units on the lower level is greater than the structural strength of corresponding frame segments in the higher level.   
     
     
         73 . The building as claimed in  claim 72 , wherein the building includes a group of higher levels and a group of lower levels wherein the structural strength of corresponding structural frame segments within the group of lower level are substantially equal and the structural strength of corresponding structural frame segments within the group of higher levels is substantially equal. 
     
     
         74 . The building as claimed in  claim 72 , wherein the building units are arranged within a level so as to define spaces between neighbouring self supporting building units in which the structural frame segments are located. 
     
     
         75 . The building as claimed in  claim 74 , wherein the structural frame elements all have substantially the same width transverse to the spaces between neighbouring self supporting building units in which they are located. 
     
     
         76 . A structural frame segment for fitment to a self supporting building unit, the structural frame segment including:
 at least one load bearing column element; and   mounting means on each end thereof for fastening the structural frame segment to another similar self supporting building unit or building element.   
     
     
         77 . The structural frame segment as claimed in  claim 76 , wherein the structural frame segment has a mounting means shaped to match a mounting means of a horizontally adjacent structural frame segment in use. 
     
     
         78 . The structural frame segment as claimed in  claim 76 , wherein the mounting means includes an angled guide surface for guiding the mounting means into correct alignment of a correspondingly shaped mounting means in use. 
     
     
         79 . A method of constructing a building unit for use in building a building having a plurality of levels, the method including:
 (a) constructing a self supporting unit including a floor, roof and at least one sidewall, to thereby define an interior of the unit and an exterior of the unit; and   (b) attaching at least one frame segment to the exterior of the unit for structurally supporting a building unit assembly arranged above the building unit assembly in use.   
     
     
         80 . The method as claimed in  claim 79 , wherein the method further includes:
 (c) performing a stress relieving step prior to step (b).   
     
     
         81 . The method as claimed in  claim 79 , wherein the method includes defining at least one datum point exterior to the self supporting unit with reference to the one or more structural frame segments. 
     
     
         82 . The method as claimed in  claim 81 , wherein the method further includes fitting out at least part of the interior of the building unit with reference to the at least one datum point. 
     
     
         83 . A method of laying out a building having a plurality of levels including:
 designing a layout of said levels;   defining a structural column grid that is common to a plurality of vertically contiguous levels; and   defining a plurality of units in each level, between the columns of the column grid such that the column grid lies in a space between horizontally adjacent units.   
     
     
         84 . The method as claimed in  claim 83 , which further includes:
 adjusting the layout to accommodate the column grid and spaces between the horizontally adjacent units.   
     
     
         85 . A method in the construction of a building; the method including:
 laying out a building using a method as claimed in  claim 83 ; and   manufacturing a plurality of self supporting building units corresponding to the units of the layout, wherein each self supporting building unit has at least one associated structural support segment attached thereto which aligns with the defined column grid.