A building element

Abstract

A building element formed as a sandwich of outer panels (22) made from high strength thin-walled geopolymer concrete (GPC) and a high insulation core material (21) of high-density polystyrene providing thermal efficiency. The outer panels are offset from the core material to provide an edge interconnecting mechanism with adjacent elements and, furthermore, the core material (21) includes surface features/profile (26) that abut/mate with corresponding features in the adjacent core material. A building system utilising the element in block or panel form provides simple and fast construction, without the need of skilled labour. Furthermore, since the insulating core provides a locking and locating interconnection means between the elements this effectively results in a zero-loss system due to bridging. When combined with a compressive vertical tie bar system the outcome is a wall construction of exceptional strength and accuracy.

1 . A building element comprised of:
 an insulating core material; and   outer panels formed from geopolymer concrete located directly against opposite sides of the insulating core material;   wherein the insulating core material includes a surface feature on a side edge thereof, a side edge being a surface of the insulating core material not located directly against an outer panel, for, in use, providing interconnection with a corresponding surface feature on an adjoining side edge of core material of an adjacent building element; and   wherein the outer panels are bonded and/or fastened to opposite sides of the core material in an offset configuration providing an overhang with at least one side edge of the core material, for an adjacent building element to, in use, interconnect therewith.   
     
     
         2 . The building element of  claim 1 , wherein a side edge of the core material, opposite to the overhang, is exposed from between the outer panels. 
     
     
         3 . The building element of  claim 1 , wherein there is an overhang over two side edges of the core material. 
     
     
         4 . The building element of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating core material is a brick shape. 
     
     
         5 . The building element of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating core material is formed from polystyrene. 
     
     
         6 . The building element of  claim 1 , wherein the surface feature is a series of ridges, longitudinally or laterally. 
     
     
         7 . The building element of  claim 6 , wherein the surface feature is located on an upper side edge and lower side edge of the core material such that, in use, stacked building elements interconnect with each other. 
     
     
         8 . The building element of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating core material is bonded to the outer panels by an adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The building element of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating core material is fastened between the outer panels by a fastening rod or pin extending laterally from a first panel to a second panel, through the core material. 
     
     
         10 . The building element of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating core material includes at least one bore therethrough, for receiving a tie bar or fastening rod. 
     
     
         11 . A system of building construction, implementing a plurality of building elements according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of building elements are arranged with side edges of the core material abutting to assemble a wall.   
     
     
         12 . The system of building construction of  claim 11 , further including:
 a base beam, upon which a first row of the plurality of building elements is arranged; and   a capping beam located over the assembled wall;   wherein at least one tie bar is fixed to provide tension between the base beam and capping beam for compression on the building elements.   
     
     
         13 . The system of building construction of  claim 12 , wherein a second level wall of building elements is assembled upon the capping beam and a further level capping beam is located over the second level wall, including a tie bar fixed to provide tension between the capping beam and further level capping beam for compression on the building elements. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a plurality of walls are constructed, forming a building structure, each wall including a base beam and a capping beam, the base beams being connected to form a base ring beam and the capping beams being connected to form a capping ring beam. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein an opening for a window is formed in the wall, being surrounded by a plurality of building elements, and including a capping plate at at least one edge of the opening, wherein at least one tie bar is fixed to provide tension between the capping plate and the base beam and/or capping beam. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , further including end piece and/or corner elements to cooperate with an edge of one or more of the plurality of building elements, to provide an adjoinment with an adjacent wall.