GB2388852A

GB2388852A - Membrane for lining an internal surface of an external wall

Info

Publication number: GB2388852A
Application number: GB0211795A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Peter Foulkes
Original assignee: BASEMENT SYSTEMS UK Ltd
Current assignee: BASEMENT SYSTEMS UK Ltd
Priority date: 2002-05-22
Filing date: 2002-05-22
Publication date: 2003-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 2022-05-22
Also published as: GB2388852B; GB0211795D0

Abstract

A membrane (3) having a plurality of closed hollow protuberances (17) spaced over one of its sides, the membrane being arranged, in use, so that the protuberances are adjacent an external wall (1). Preferably the membrane comprises a plastics layer (18, Figure 5) into which the protuberances are embossed and a planar reflective foil layer (19, Figure 5) which closes the protuberances. Fixing elements (23) having an enlarged head (24), to which a cladding layer (14) can be attached, may be used to secure the membrane to the wall. Preferably the membrane is used to line walls which are below ground, such as in a basement.

Description

WALL LINING

This invention relates to the lining of wall surfaces, in particular the internal surface of an external wall.

Particularly in the situation in which an external wall of a structure is at least partly below ground level, for example in a basement, a cellar, or tunnel, it is desirable to provide a barrier to the entry of moisture to the interior of the structure through the wall. In one aspect the present invention provides a lining for the internal surface of an external wall, comprising a membrane having a multiplicity of closed hollow protuberances which are mutually spaced apart and distributed over the whole of the side of the membrane facing towards the internal surface of the wall.

In another aspect the invention provides a method of lining the internal surface of an external wall, comprising attaching to the wall a membrane having a multiplicity of closed hollow protuberances which are mutually spaced apart and distributed over the whole of the side of the membrane facing towards the internal surface of the wall.

Preferred and optional features of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

( The invention will be described further by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure] is a cut-away perspective view of a basement structure including an external wall provided with a lining according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged section through the lining at the location of a fixing element; Figure 3 is an end view of a head portion of the fixing element; Figure 4 is an elevation of a membrane of the lining, viewed from the side facing the wall; and Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken on line V-V in Figure 4.

The basement structure shown in Figure 1 has an external wall 1, which is below ground level and is in contact with the soil outside. The wall I may be constructed in any conventional way, for example being made of concrete cast-in-situ, Clockwork, masonry, or brickwork, on a concrete footing 2. A membrane 3, which will be described in more detail below, is fixed to the internal surface 4 of the wall I. The lower edge 6 of the membrane is above the lower edge 7 of the wall and below the upper edge 8 of a drainage section 9, which has a flange 11 spaced from the membrane 3 by integral projections 11a and a duct 12 with apertures 12a to receive any water that may flow down either side of the membrane 3. The duct 12 is connected to a sump (not shown) provided by a cast-in-situ concrete floor 13 which covers the duct 12. A cladding 14, constructed of plasterboards 14a, has its lower edge 16 below the level of the upper edge 8 of the flange I 1 of the drainage section 9.

As best seen in Figure 2, the membrane 3 has a multiplicity of closed hollow protuberances 17, which are mutually spaced apart and distributed over the whole of the inside ofthe membrane 3 facing towards the internal surface 4 ofthe wall 1. Referring to Figures 2, 4, and S. the membrane 3 comprises a first layer 18 of embossed plastics material and a second layer 19 of reflective aluminium foil. The embossments 21 of the first layer 18 are substantially cylindrical and have substantially planar peaks which are

( directly adjacent (but not necessarily all in contact with) the internal surface 4 of the wall I. The second layer 19, which is substantially planar, closes the open sides of the embossments 21 so that the closed embossments constitute the protuberances 17.

The air (or other gas) trapped in the hollow protuberances 17 provides an effective barrier to the conduction of heat across the membrane 3. The reflective layer 19 provides a barrier to heat loss by radiation from the interior of the basement. The spaces between the protuberances 17 not only ensure an air gap adjacent to the internal surface 4 of the wall I but also provide meandering paths for water which tends to seep through the internal surface 4 from the permeable wall 1.

By way of example, the protuberances 17 are distributed in a hexagonal array, as shown in Figure 4. The minimum distance, s, between neighbouring protuberances 17 is less than the transverse dimension, d, of each of the neighbouring protuberances measured in the same direction. Preferably s is a quarter to a half of d. The protuberances 17 occupy more than 30% of the area of the membrane 3, preferably at least 40% and at the most 75%. In the preferred example illustrated, the maximum and minimum transverse dimension of the protuberances are approximately equal and are about I cm. The protuberances have a height less than their minimum transverse dimension; in the example illustrated, the protuberances have a height of about 4 mm, but a lesser or greater height is acceptable, for instance in the range 3 to 6 mm.

The embossed layer 18 may be made of any suitable material, for example low density polyethylene. Preferably, the layers I 8 and 19 are sufficiently thin and flexible that the membrane can be rolled up for transportation to the installation site.

As can be seen from Figures I and 2, a sheet of the membrane 3 is attached to the wall I by fixing elements 23 which extend through the membrane. Sufficient fixing element 23 are provided to support the membrane 3 and to hold it in contact with the internal surface 4 of the wall I. The fixing element 23 have enlarged heads 24 to which the cladding 14 is attached by a layer of adhesive 26; for this purpose the surface of the head 24 is provided with a rough surface texture 27 and/or holes 28 (which may be

blind holes). In the example illustrated, the head 24 is a circular disc 00 mm in diameter and 3 mm thick, with through-holes 28 which have a diameter of 7 mm.

In installing the lining ofthe wall 1, the membrane 3 is offered up to the internal surface 4 and temporarily held while bores 29 (only one of which is shown, in Figure 2) are drilled through the membrane 3 into the wall 1. The fixing element 23 has a barbed stem 31 which is pushed through the resulting aperture in the membrane 3 into the bore 29. The aperture is sealed by a ring of sealant 32 (e.g. butyl rubber) inserted between the membrane 3 and an annular shoulder 33 on the fixing element. The head 24, shoulder 33, and stem 31 are preferably integrally formed as a plastics moulding. The head 24 is spaced from the membrane 3 by the shoulder 33 so as to ensure a gap between the cladding 4 and the membrane 3, for the purposes of thermal insulation.

The gap is preferably at least as thick as the overall thickness of the membrane 3, and the optimum gap thickness is about 20 mm.

As can be seen in Figure I, sheets of the membrane 3 are arranged side by side and joined by a sealing strip 34 adhesively applied to the aluminium foil surface of the membrane. The strip 34 is preferably a self-adhesive strip of aluminium foil.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For instance, although various dimensions have been given by way example, the skilled reader will appreciate that those dimension may be varied to suit the prevailing circumstances. Whilst the protuberances have been shown as being round, which is preferable, they could be other shapes and in particular could be elongate, for example extending in a generally vertical direction or in a direction oblique to the vertical. Other reflective materials than aluminium foil could be used in the membrane; in particular, either one or both of the two layers could be made of metallized plastics sheet material.

The cladding is not limited to plasterboard and could be fixed to the fixing element by mechanical fixing means instead of or in addition to the adhesive.

Claims

( CLAIMS:

I. A lining for the internal surface of an external wall, comprising a membrane having a multiplicity of closed hollow protuberances which are mutually spaced apart and distributed over the whole of the side of the membrane facing towards the internal surface of the wall.
2. A lining as claimed in claim 1, in which the membrane comprises a reflective foil.
3. A lining as claimed in claim 2, in which the reflective foil comprises aluminium.
4. A lining as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the reflective foil is substantially planar.
5. A lining as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the closed hollow protuberances are delimited by embossed sheet material.
6. A lining as claimed in claim 5, in which the embossed sheet material comprises plastics material.
7. A lining as claimed in claim claim 1, in which the membrane comprises a first layer having a multiplicity of embossments which protrude towards the said internal wall and are open at the side facing away from the said internal wall, and a second layer which closes the open sides of the embossments so that the closed embossments constitute the said closed hollow protuberances.
8. A lining as claimed in claim 7, in which the first layer comprises plastics material.
9. A lining as claimed in claim 7 and 8, in which at least one of the layers comprises reflective material.
10. A lining as claimed in claim 9, in which the reflective material comprises a]ummum.
1 1. A lining as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, in which the second layer is substantially planar.
12. A lining as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the minimum distance between neighbouring protuberances is less than the transverse dimension of each of the neighbouring protuberances measured in the same direction.
13. A lining as claim in claim 12, in which the said minimum distance is at most half of the said transverse dimension.
14. A lining as claimed in claim 13, in which the said minimum distance is at least a quarter of the said transverse dimension.
15. A lining as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the protuberances have substantially planar peaks.
16. A lining as claimed in claim 15, in which the substantially planar peaks are round.
17. A lining as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the protuberances are substantially cylindrical.
18. A lining as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the protuberances have a height less than their minimum transverse dimension.
19. A lining as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the protuberances have a height of 3 to 6 mm.

(
20. A lining as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the protuberances have a maximum transverse dimension of about I cm.
21. A lining as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the protuberances occupy more than 30% of the area of the membrane.
22. A lining as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the membrane is attached to the wall by fixing elements which extend through the membrane.
23. A lining as claimed in claim 22, in which each fixing element has an enlarged head to which a cladding layer is attached.
24. A lining as claimed in claim 23, in which the head is spaced from the membrane so as to ensure a gap between the cladding layer and the membrane.
25. A lining as claimed in claim 23 or 24, in which the surface of the enlarged head facing the cladding layer has a rough surface texture and/or holes.
26. A lining as claimed in any of claims 22 to 25, in which, where the fixing element extends through an aperture in the membrane, the aperture is sealed by a ring of sealant inserted between the membrane and an annular shoulder on the fixing element.
27. A lining as claimed in any preceding claim, applied to a wall below ground level.
28. A method of lining the internal surface of an external wall, comprising attaching to the wall a membrane having a multiplicity of closed hollow protuberances which are mutually spaced apart and distributed over the whole of the side of the membrane facing towards the internal surface of the wall.
29. A method as claimed in claim 28, in which the membrane is attached to the wall by inserting fixing elements into the wall through the membrane.
30. A method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising attaching a cladding to the fixing elements.
31. A method as claimed in claim 30, in which there is a gap between the cladding and the membrane.
32. A lining substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
33. A method of lining the internal surface of an external wall, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.