Building panel

Abstract

In a first aspect there is disclosed building panel (100) for forming a load-bearing structure. The building panel (10) comprises a backing member (102) and a strengthening element (104) mountable to the backing member (102). The building panel (100) further includes a void former (110) mountable to the backing member (102) and disposed adjacent to the strengthening element (104) for forming a void (112) in the structure wherein the backing member (102), the strengthening element (104) and the void former (110) are configured to receive a mixture curable to form the structure.

1 . A building panel for forming a load-bearing structure, the building panel comprising:
 a backing member;   a strengthening element mountable to the backing member; and   a void former mountable to the backing member and disposed adjacent to the strengthening element for forming a void in the structure;   wherein the backing member, the strengthening element, and the void former are configured to receive a mixture curable to form the structure.   
     
     
         2 . A building panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture is a concrete mixture. 
     
     
         3 . A building panel according to  claim 1 , comprising a reinforcing mesh spaced apart from the strengthening element to provide tensile strength to the structure. 
     
     
         4 . A building panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the backing member is comprised of a fire-resistant material to substantially protect the structure from fire damage. 
     
     
         5 . A building panel according to  claim 4 , wherein the backing member is in the form of a timber board having a predetermined thickness, wherein the timber board is configured to char when exposed to a fire hazard thereby substantially protecting the structure from fire damage. 
     
     
         6 . A building panel according to  claim 5 , wherein the timber board has a predetermined length and width, wherein the void former extends substantially along the entire predetermined length of the timber board and at least along a majority of the predetermined width of the timber board. 
     
     
         7 . A building panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the strengthening element is in the form of a steel beam having a uniform transverse cross-sectional profile and extending substantially along the entire predetermined length of the timber board. 
     
     
         8 . A building panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the strengthening element comprises a number of truss elements arranged in a repeating manner along the entire predetermined length of the timber board. 
     
     
         9 . A building panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the void former is comprised of polystyerene, polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam, rock wool or plastics, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of constructing a suspended composite floor slab comprising:
 arranging at least one building panel according to any of  claims 1  to  12  across floor supports;   pouring a concrete mixture over the at least one building panel; and   curing the concrete mixture to form a concrete structure.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 a building panel for forming a load-bearing structure having a backing member and a strengthening element mountable to the backing member such that the strengthening element and the backing member enclose a volume therebetween,   wherein the volume defines a void; and   wherein the backing member and the strengthening element are configured to receive a curable mixture for forming the structure.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the strengthening element is in the form of a folded steel sheet having a uniform transverse cross-sectional profile and extending substantially along the entire predetermined length of the timber board. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the cross-sectional profile of the folded steel sheet is substantially trapezoidal. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising
 composite floor slab including the building panel; and   a concrete mixture poured over the at least one building panel.   
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the strengthening element is in the form of a folded steel sheet having a uniform transverse cross-sectional profile and extending substantially along the entire predetermined length of the timber board. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the cross-sectional profile of the folded steel sheet is substantially trapezoidal. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the curable mixture is a concrete mixture. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a reinforcing mesh spaced apart from the strengthening element to provide tensile strength to the structure. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the backing member includes a fire-resistant material to substantially protect the structure from fire damage. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the backing member is in the form of a timber board having a predetermined thickness, wherein the timber board is configured to char when exposed to a fire hazard thereby substantially protecting the structure from fire damage.