GB2168092A

GB2168092A - Roof

Info

Publication number: GB2168092A
Application number: GB08520339A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jacqueline Margaret Ashfield; Michele Ashfield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-11-19
Filing date: 1985-08-14
Publication date: 1986-06-11
Also published as: AU5001585A; GB8429194D0; GB2167100A; GB8520339D0; ZA858798B; GB2168092B

Abstract

A roof, or a portion thereof is resiliently secured to a sub-structure (4) of a building, and comprises: panels (1); a strip which is overlapped by and supports the panels (1) on at least a portion of the edge regions (3) thereof; and an intermediate layer (10) of a resilient sealing material which spaces the panel (1) from the strip such that the panel (1) is capable of relative movement with respect to the strip whilst sealing the panel (1) with respect to the strip (2). <IMAGE>

Description

GB2168092A 1

SPECIFICATION

A roof and a method of providing a building with a roof This invention relates to a roof and a method of providing a building with a roof, and is more particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with a roof formed from a single 10 panel which panel is capable of relative movement with respect to a sub-structure of the building, and also with a roof formed from a plurality of panels which are resiliently secured together such that the panels are capable of 15 relative movement with respect to each other and with respect to the substructure of the building.

The use of glass-reinforced-plastics for constructing a roof of a building, particularly a flat 20 building is well known. One example of such a roof is disclosed in GB 2078277A. This roof is rigid and allows no relative movement of the panels of the roof.

Roofs constructed from other materials, 25 such as corrugated iron, are also well known and techniques by which such roofs may be allowed to move relative to the sub-structure of the buildings to which they are attached are known. For example, British Patent Specifi- 30 cation No. 1553876 discloses a clip which permits side to side movement of the panels of the roof whilst the clip of British Patent Specification No. 1543290 permits up and down movement of the panels of the roofs.

35 The clips are rigid metal articles and the construction of a roof using such clips is time consuming.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a roof, or a portion 40 of a roof, of a building, the roof, or roof por tion comprising:

a panel; a strip which is overlapped by and supports the panel along at least the portion of the 45 edge regions thereof; and an intermediate layer of a resilient sealing material which spaces the panel from the strip such that the panel is capable of relative movement with respect to the strip whilst sealing the panel with respect to the strip.

The strip serves a dual function. Thus, the strip acts to support the panel along its edges regions, providing a basis about which the panel may flex by virtue of the intermediate 55 layer of the resilient material. The strip also serves to hold the panel above the sub-structure of the building such that air may circulate under the panel.

In preferred embodiments of the present in- 60 vention, the roof or roof portion comprises:

an array of said panels, each panel being resiliently secured to an adjacent panel of the array along adjacent edge regions thereof; and at least one strip which is overlapped by, 65 and is fixed to, said adjacent edge regions to secure the adjacent panels together; wherein the at least one strip and the edge regions of the panels which overlap the at least one strip are spaced-apart by the inter- 70 mediate layer of the resilient sealing material; and wherein the panels are capable of relative movement with respect to each other and with respect to the at least one strip, whilst a strip is provided between those components 75 between which there may be relative move ment.

Each panel of the array can, in effect, move slightly in all directions. Thus, whereas wind can have a drastic effect on prior art roofs,

80 the present roof is capable of moving slightly in response to the wind or any other external influence on the roof. Thus, the lifetime of the roof of the present invention is considerably increased over prior art roofs because the

85 amount of wear and tear is reduced by virtue of the panel, or panels, of the array being capable of moving slightly.

Preferably, the strips are disposed between the array of panels and the sub-structure of 90 the building and, in a preferred embodiment, the periphery of the array is supported and overlapped by a further strip or strips via which the panels are resiliently securable to the substructure. Again, the further strip is 95 spaced apart from the peripheral region of the array by an intermediate layer of the resilient material which allows a degree of relative movement between the panel and the strip.

In preferred embodiments of the present in- 100 vention, the roof is resiliently secured to the sub-structure of the building by a fixing means which extends through an aperture in the edge region of the panel and an aperture in the strip, and which is fixed to the sub-structure, 105 whilst allowing said relative movement. The fixing means may be, for example, a screw, a bolt, or a pin which extends through the said apertures. Conveniently, a sleeve, preferably made of nylon, is provided between the aper- 110 ture of the panel and the aperture of the strip and the fixing means passes through the sleeve. The fixing means may comprise a head which has a diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture in the panel such that 115 the head holds the panel down. Conveniently, the outer diameter of the screw is less than the inner diameter of the sleeve and the outer diameter of the sleeve is preferably less than the inner diameter of the apertures, such that there are spaces between the apertures, sleeve and fixing means. The spaces are preferably filled with the resilient material.

The resilient material is preferably a rubber sealant. Conveniently, the rubber sealant will 125 be a liquid prior to assembly of the roof, which liquid sets to a solid form after assembly of the roof. One such, presently preferred, rubber sealant is a material known by the Registered Trade Mark SIKAFLEX.

130 The panel or panels of the roof may be GB2168092A 2 made of fibreglass. However, the construction of the roof is not to be limited to such a material as many other materials may be used, for example a glass reinforced plastic, other 5 plastics materials, metal or any other suitable rigid or semi-rigid material.

The roof may be constructed as a "warm roof" in which case an insulating layer is pro vided between the at least one strip and the 10 sub-structure of the building. The insulating layer is preferably a closed cell foam but may be any other form of insulating material.

The roof of the present invention is gener ally formed of a single, large panel which large 15 panel is formed of a number of smaller panels 80 joined at their edge regions. One advantage of the roof is that it can be constructed in situ.

Although, as mentioned above, the roof may be formed of a number of panels, it is to be 20 appreciated that the roof may comprise a single panel which is resiliently fixed to strips and to a sub-structure of the building along its outer periphery such that the panel is capable of relative movement with respect to the 25 strips and with respect to the sub-structure of 90 the building.

The roof may be constructed to co-operate with other features of the roof. Thus, for example, where a drain pipe, a flue, a sky 30 light or vent protrudes through the roof, the roof may be designed to accommodate this feature with the feature being sealed into the roof by provision of a hole in a panel of the roof or between adjacent panels of the roof, 35 through which hole the feature extends.

Around the aperture is preferably placed, to support the edge regions of the panel forming the aperture, a strip, the strip and the edge regions of the aperture being spaced apart by 40 an intermediate layer of the resilient material.

The edge region of the panel around the aper ture is preferably fixed to the substructure of the building by virtue of fixing means extend ing through holes in the panel and the strip as 45 hereinbefore described. The gap between the feature and the panel and strip may be filled with the rubber sealant.

The roof of the present invention may be applied to flat, domed or low pitched roof 50 structures. Furthermore, the roof may be coated with a layer of polyester flow coating to further seal and waterproof the roof. The roof may be installed in wet conditions. By the use of a fireproof insulator, the roof may 55 be constructed to fire safety standards. 120 In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of roofing a building, which method comprises positioning at least one strip above a sub 60 structure of the building; providing a resilient sealing material on the at least one strip; dis posing a panel over the resilient material on the at least one strip; and securing the panel and the at least one strip to the sub-structure 65 of the building such that the panel is capable 130 of relative movement with respect to the strip and -sub-structure.

In one embodiment of this method, an array of panels are disposed over at least one strip 70 such that adjacent edge regions of adjacent panels overlap the at least one strip; the method further comprising the step of providing a resilient sealing material between the adjacent edges of the panels. As a final step in 75 the aforementioned method, the panel, or each panel, may be coated on its weather side with a waterproof gel coating.

As can be appreciated, the method of the present invention allows a roof to be rapidly and efficiently constructed in situ, with sheets of the material from which the panel or panels are constructed being formed at a work shop away from the location of the building to be roofed.

A presently preferred size of sheet is 8X4 ft. (2.5 X 1.25m). Such sheets are approximately 2mm in thickness. The strips are preferably constructed in lengths which are about 1 ft (300mm) wide, again constructed as a 2 mm thickness. The apertures in the edge regions of the panels and in the strips through which the fixing means extend are conveniently drilled at 2 ft (600 mm) intervals, approximately 3 inches (75 mm) from the edge 95 of the panel or strip.

Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows the mode of construction of 100 one embodiment of roof of the present inven tion; Figure 2 shows a section through a part of a roof according to the present invention; Figure 3 shows the arrangement of the 105 strips for a roof according to the present in vention; Figure 4 shows a section through another roof of the present invention; Figure 5 shows in close detail the mode of 110 fixing together of the panels of a roof accord ing to the present invention; Figure 6 shows a section through a roof according to the present invention, the roof cooperating with a sky light protruding 115 through the roof; Figure 7 shows a section through the end of a roof according to the present invention; Figure 8 shows a section through a roof of the present invention cooperating with a vent; and Figure 9 shows a section through a roof according to the present invention, cooperating with a drain.

With reference to Fig. 1, a prospective view 125 of part of a roof according to the present invention is shown. Two panels 1 are fixed to a trip 2 which overlaps the edge regions 3 of the panels 1. The strip 2 is disposed above a sub-structure 4 of a building to which the roof is applied.

3 GB 2 168 092A 3 The panels 1 are provided in their edge regions 3 with apertures 5 which align with apertures 6 in the strip 2. With reference now to Fig. 2 in association with Fig. 1, the panels 5 1 having edge regions 3 are again shown. Through the apertures 5, 6, is placed a nylon sleeve 7 and through the hole defined by the sleeve 7 is passed a fixing means.8, for example a screw. The upper end of the screw 10 is provided with a washer 9 which overlaps the panel around the aperture 5 to support the fixing means which holds the panels 1 to the strip 2 and subsequently to the sub-structure 4 of the building. An intermediate layer 15 10 is provided in the space between each panel 1 and between the edge regions 3 of the panels 1 and the strip 2. The intermediate layer 10 of a resilient material permits the panels 1 to flex relative to each other and 20 relative to the strip 2.

An entire roof may be contructed from an array of such panels 1 and, if this is desired, the roof is contructed by initially laying down an arrangement of strips as shown in Fig. 2. The bold lines show the strips 2 and the dotted lines show the position of panels (not shown) positioned over the strips 2. The apertures 6 in the strip are shown. In preferred embodiments, these apertures will be at 30 approximately 2ft. (600mm) intervals. Along the periphery of the arrangement, the panel (not shown) will not abut other panels. At the periphery, the panels (not shown) are secured resiliently to the strip 2 defining the periphery 35 of the arrangement of strips and that peripheral strip is secured to the sub-structure of a building.

With regard to Fig. 4, the section of a roof comprises panels 1 which are secured to- 40 gether at the position indicated by reference numeral 11 in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 2. However, this embodiment of the present invention additionally comprises an insulating layer 12 through which the fixing 45 means 8 must pass before being secured to the sub-structure 4 of the building. The insulating layer is preferably of a closed cell foam material.

At the periphery of the roof and, for 50 example, adjacent to a wall as shown with reference 13, the roof is secured in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the overhanging detail 14 may be considered as a panel, the overhanging portion 14 being se- 55 cured to the adjacent panel 1 as shown in Fig. 2. Similarly, the arrangement shown for securing the roof to the wall 13 comprises an L- shaped section which is adjacent a panel, the L-shaped section 15 being resiliently se- 60 cured to the adjacent panel 1 in a manner as shown in Fig. 2. The overhanging flashing 16 protects the L-shaped portion 15 whilst allowing air to enter freely the space between the insulting layer 12 and the panels 1. Treated 65 battens 30 and 31 serve to support the sec- tions 14 and 16 respectively. The gap between the panel and the insulating layer is equal to the height of the strip and is preferably about 2mm. In the cold roof application 70 shown in Fig. 2, the sub-structure or decking 4 may be covered with a membrane which seals the decking or sub-structure 4.

In Fig. 5, a closer detail of the means by which two adjacent panels are fixed together 75 is shown. The edge regions of three of the panels overlap the strip 2 which, in a "cold roof" application, is positioned above the decking 4 of a building which is being roofed. The apertures 5 and 6 define a passage in 80 which a sleeve 17 sits. The outside diameter of the sleeve 17 is less than the internal diameter of the apertures 5, 6. A washer 18 overlies the aperture 5 and supports the head 19 of the fixing means, for example a screw 85 20. The outer diameter of the fixing means 20 is less than the inner diameter of the sleeve 17. The spaces between the panels 3 and the strip 2 and the spaces in the apertures are filled with the resilient sealing material 10 90 which is preferably a rubber sealing material, for example that sealing material known by the Registered Trade Mark SIKAFLEX.

When the joint is constructed, the strip is laid down, and preferably tacked, to the deck- 95 ing of the building to be roofed. A layer of the liquid resilient sealing material is applied over the strip and the panel is then positioned above the strip 2 such that pre-drilled apertures 5, 6 overlap. The sleeve 17 is placed 100 through the apertures 5, 6 and the fixing means 20 is passed through the sleeve, through the layer of insulating material 12 and into the decking 4. The action of screwing the panel to the strip squeezes the liquid resilient 105 sealing material 10 into all the empty spaces around the sleeve and fixing means. Further liquid resilient sealing material may be applied over the head of the fixing means once the panel 3 and strip 2 have been screwed down.

Figs. 6 to 9 show how the roof of the present invention may be adapted to cooperate with existing features of a roof. In Fig. 6, the roof cooperates with a sky light 2 1. The panels are pre-formed such that when positioned during construction the panels abut the sky light. Under the panels 3 is laid a strip 2 to which the panel 3 is secured in a manner as described with reference to Fig. 2. Resilient sealing material is provided around the sky 120 light to seal the skylight. The panels 3 have upturns 33 which lie below overlapping portions 34 of the skylight, there being a passage therebetween for the movement of air. In Fig. 7, a valley gutter 22 is secured in posi- 125 tion as if it were a panel as described above. The overhanging drip off flashing 23 can also be considered as another panel which is fixed to the valley guttering in a manner as described above.

130 With regard to Fig. 8, a flue 24 is accom- GB2168092A 4 modated in the roof. A rubber collar 25 having a groove 26 which cooperates with the edge of the panel surrounding the flue seals the flue 24 in the roof.

In Fig. 9, a draingage portion 27 is sealed into the roof in a manner as described hereinbefore, the draingage portion 27 having lips 28 which drain into an existing drain of the building. The drain is thus an integral drain of 10 the roof.

Whilst the arrangement shown in Figs. 6 to 9 have an insulating layer between the strips and the decking of the building, it is to be appreciated that this layer could be omitted in 15 a cold roof arrangement.

Claims

1. A roof, or a portion of a roof, resiliently securable to a substructure of a building, the 20 roof or roof portion comprising:

a panel; a strip which is overlapped by and supports the panel along at least a portion of the edge regions thereof; and an intermediate layer of a resilient sealing material which spaces the panel from the strip such that the panel is capable of relative movement with respect to the strip whilst sealing the panel with respect to the strip.

2. A roof, or a portion of a roof, according to Claim 1, comprising:

an array of said panels, each panel being resiliently secured to an adjacent panel of the array along adjacent edge regions; and at least one strip which is overlapped by, and is fixed to, said adjacent edge regions to secure the adjacent panels together; wherein the at least one strip and the edge regions of the panels which overlap the at 40 least one strip are spaced-apart by the intermediate layer of the resilient sealing material; and wherein the panels are capable of relative movement with respect to each other and with respect to the at least one strip, whilst a 45 seal is provided between those components between which there may be relative movement.

3. A roof, or a portion of the roof, according to Claim 2, wherein the strip or strips are 50 disposed between the array of panels and the sub-structure.

4. A roof, or a portion of a roof, according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the edge regions of the panels which define the periphery of the 55 array are supported by and overlap a further strip or strips via which the panels are resiliently securable to the sub-structure.

5. A roof, or a portion of a roof, according to any preceding claim, wherein the roof is 60 resiliently securable to the sub-structure of the building by a fixing means which extends through an aperture in the edge region of the panel or panels and an aperture in the strip, and which is fixed to the sub- structure, whilst 65 allowing said relative movement.

6. A roof, or a portion of a roof, according to any preceding claim, wherein a sleeve is aligned in the said apertures and the fixing means extends through the sleeve.

7. A roof, or a portion of a roof, according to Claim 6, wherein a substantial portion of the outer diameter of the fixing means is less than the inner diameter of the sleeve.

8. A roof, or a portion of a roof, according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the outer diameter of the sleeve is less than the inner diameter of the said apertures.

9. A roof, or a portion of a roof, according to any preceding claim, wherein the intermedi- 80 ate layer of resilient sealing material is a rub ber sealant.

10. A roof, or a portion of a roof, according to Claim 9, wherein the rubber sealant is a liquid prior to assembly of the roof, the liquid 85 rubber sealant solidifying after assembly of the roof, or roof portion.

11. A roof, or a portion of a roof, accord ing to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the rubber seal ant is SIKAFLEX@.

12. A roof, or a portion of a roof, accord ing to any preceding claims, wherein the panel or panels is/are made of fibreglass.

13. A roof, or a portion of a roof, accord ing to any preceding claim, further comprising 95 an insulating layer between the strip, or the at least one strip, and the sub-structure.

14. A method of roofing a building, which method comprises positioning at least one strip a sub-structure of the building; providing 100 a resilient sealing material on the at least one strip; disposing a panel over the resilient material on the at least one strip; and securing the panel and the at least one strip to the sub-structure of the building such that the 105 panel is capable of relative movement with respect to the strip and to the sub-structure.

15. A method of roofing a building according to Claim 14, wherein an array of panels is disposed over at least one strip such that ad- 110 jacent edge regions of adjacent panels overlap the at least one strip; and further comprising the step of providing a resilient sealing ma terial between the adjacent edges of the panels.

115

16. A method according to Claim 14 or 15, in which the roof provided on the building is as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 13.

17. A roof, or a portion of a roof, substantially as hereinbefore described, with refer- 120 ence to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

18. A method according to Claim 14 of roofing a building, substantially as hereinbefore described.

Printed in the United Kingdom for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Dd 8818935, 1986, 4235. Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.