Fixing System for Cladding

Abstract

A fixing system for securing cladding boards to the framing of a building in a partially overlapping relationship, each board having front and rear faces with a recess being provided in and along the rear face. The fixing system comprises a plurality of fixing devices, supported by the framing, that are spaced apart relative to one another and arranged in rows, each row of fixing devices being arranged to support a board or row of boards and each fixing device having an engagement portion that is arranged to engage with a section of the recess of a board to, in co-operation with a number of other fixing devices of that row also engaging with a section of the recess, support the board in place on the framing. Also, the fixing system comprises a plurality of fixing components that are arranged to extend through the front face of each board within the overlapping region of adjacent boards and into the framing to secure each board to the framing in co-operation with the fixing devices.

1 . A fixing device for holding cladding boards in place on framing, each board having front and rear faces, a recess being provided in and along the rear face, and being arranged to be installed on the framing in a partially overlapping relationship with other like boards, the fixing device being arranged to co-operate with a number of like fixing devices such that the fixing devices are supported by the framing and are spaced apart relative to each other and arranged in rows, the fixing device being a wedge-shaped component comprising an engagement portion that is arranged to engage with a section of the recess of a board to, in co-operation with the other fixing devices of that row also engaging with a section of the recess, hold the board in place on the framing. 
     
     
         2 . A fixing device according to  claim 1  wherein the fixing device is arranged to be securely attached directly or indirectly to the framing. 
     
     
         3 . A fixing device according to  claim 1  wherein the fixing device comprises a substantially wedge-shaped cross-sectional profile formed by a base end from which a rear face and a front face extend, the front face being inclined relative to the rear face such that the front and rear faces meet to form a pointed top-end opposite the base end and wherein the front face is designed to abut a rear face of the board and has an engagement portion that protrudes from the front face at or toward the base end for engaging with a recess in the rear face of the board. 
     
     
         4 . A fixing device according to  claim 3  wherein the engagement portion is a tapered protrusion the end-point of which is arranged to extend upward and outward at an angle from the front face of the fixing device, the recess of the boards having a complementary inclined surface for receiving the tapered protrusions in a hook-like engagement relationship to enable the boards to be held on the framing by the fixing devices. 
     
     
         5 . A cavity batten for holding cladding boards up against framing, the batten being securable to the framing and being arranged to, in co-operation with a number of like battens, receive and retain boards thereon, each board having front and rear faces and being arranged to be fixed to the battens in a partially overlapping relationship relative to one another, a recess being provided in and along the rear face of each board, the batten comprising: an elongate base member that is arranged to be secured to the framing; and a number of fixing devices spaced apart along the length of the base member that form rows of fixing devices when a number of battens are secured to the framing, each fixing device being a wedge-shaped component comprising an engagement portion that is arranged to engage in a section of the recess of a board to, in co-operation with a number of other fixing devices of that row also engaging with a section of the recess, hold the board in place against the framing. 
     
     
         6 . A cavity batten according to  claim 5  wherein the fixing devices are spaced apart along the length of the battens by a uniform predetermined distance that is calculated based on the height of the boards and a uniform desired board overlap distance so that each row of boards has a corresponding row of fixing devices. 
     
     
         7 . A cavity batten according to  claim 5  wherein the fixing devices are integrally formed with the base member of the batten. 
     
     
         8 . A cavity batten according to  claim 5  wherein the fixing devices are individually attached directly to the base member of the batten. 
     
     
         9 . A cavity batten according to  claim 5  wherein the fixing devices are integrally formed in integral strips that are fixed to the base member of the batten. 
     
     
         10 . A cavity batten according to  claim 9  wherein the batten further comprises a top plate that is attached to the base member along its length, the top plate being provided with a number of integral fixing devices spaced apart along its length. 
     
     
         11 . A cavity batten according to  claim 5  wherein each fixing device comprises a substantially wedge-shaped cross-sectional profile formed by a base end from which a rear face and a front face extend, the front face being inclined relative to the rear face such that the front and rear faces meet to form a pointed top-end opposite the base end and wherein the front face is designed to abut a rear face of the board and has an engagement portion that protrudes from the front face at or toward the base end for engaging with a recess in the rear face of the board. 
     
     
         12 . A cavity batten according to  claim 11  wherein the engagement portion of each fixing device is a tapered protrusion the end-point of which is arranged to extend upward and outward at an angle from the front face of the fixing device, the recess of the boards having a complementary inclined surface for receiving the tapered protrusions in a hook-like engagement relationship to enable the boards to be held on the framing by the fixing devices. 
     
     
         13 . A fixing strip for holding cladding boards up against framing, the strip being securable to the framing and being arranged to, in co-operation with a number of like strips, receive and retain boards thereon, each board having front and rear faces and being arranged to be fixed to the framing in a partially overlapping relationship relative to one another, a recess being provided in and along the rear face of each board, the strip comprising: an elongate base member that is arranged to be secured to the framing; and a number of integral fixing devices spaced apart along the length of the base member that form rows of fixing devices when a number of strips are secured to the framing, each fixing device being a wedge-shaped component comprising an engagement portion that is arranged to engage in a section of the recess of a board to, in co-operation with a number of other fixing devices of that row also engaging with a section of the recess, hold the board in place against the framing. 
     
     
         14 . A fixing strip according to  claim 13  wherein the fixing devices are spaced apart along the length of the strips by a uniform predetermined distance that is calculated based on the height of the boards and a uniform desired board overlap distance so that each row of boards has a corresponding row of fixing devices. 
     
     
         15 . A fixing strip according to  claim 13  wherein each fixing device has a substantially wedge-shaped cross-sectional profile formed by a base end from which a rear face and a front face extend, the front face being inclined relative to the rear face such that the front and rear faces meet to form a pointed top-end opposite the base end and wherein the front face is designed to abut a rear face of the board and has an engagement portion that protrudes from the front face at or toward the base end for engaging with a recess in the rear face of the board. 
     
     
         16 . A fixing strip according to  claim 15  wherein the engagement portion of each fixing device is a tapered protrusion the end-point of which is arranged to extend upward and outward at an angle from the front face of the fixing device, the recess of the boards having a complementary inclined surface for receiving the tapered protrusions in a hook-like engagement relationship to enable the boards to be held on the framing by the fixing devices.