GB2438620A

GB2438620A - Insulated loft flooring component

Info

Publication number: GB2438620A
Application number: GB0610643A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Michael Milner; Jenny Clare Milner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-30
Filing date: 2006-05-30
Publication date: 2007-12-05
Also published as: GB0610643D0

Abstract

A loft flooring component which can be quickly laid onto and perpendicular to the existing loft floor joists, 13, to provide various sized boarded loft areas but still allowing the recommended insulation depth to be installed under the boarded area. Furthermore the floor can be easily lifted to allow access for maintenance or renovation. Insulation, 15, is fitted to the top of the joists, 13. Rows of box beam spacers with insulation, 14, in between then provide the additional height to achieve the required insulation depth. The flooring components are affixed to the joists using blocks, 11.

Description

I

INSULATED LOFT FLOORING COMPONENT

The invention relates to a loft flooring component which allows a buildings loft area to be boarded without compromising the insulation depth required.

The recommended insulation depth required in loft spaces has now reached II" which is considerably deeper than most loft floor joists which range in depth from 4" to 8". If the building owner wishes to put boarding down in the loft to store their possessions they are faced with the laborious task of extending the depth of the joists with strips of wood before affixing chipboard or similar flooring. It is not possible to simply squash II" of insulation to fit in the existing joist depth as the insulating properties will be dramatically compromised as the air volume held in the insulation is reduced.

An object of the invention is to provide a loft floor which can be quickly laid onto and perpendicular to the existing loft floor joists and provides space for the recommended insulation depth. Furthermore, the invention can be used to board varying loft areas due to its modular approach. In addition, the invention allows for easy access under the boarded loft floor for replacement of or, further depth increases in loft insulation and to also gain access to wiring, plumbing or perform building renovation and maintenance.

The choice of material for the flooring component would be designed to meet the typical load bearing requirements for loft storage and the harsh environment within the loft space. Where possible the materials chosen would also be deemed to be environmentally friendly.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows end on the parts that form the flooring component FIGURE 2 shows end on one assembled flooring component FIGURE 3 shows end on two flooring components laid side by side FIGURE 4 shows several flooring components assembled on top of loft joists As shown in Figure 1, the flooring component consists of several parts. The floor component top consists of a rectangular board, I, which forms the floor surface. Along the edge of the rectangular board, I, are two rectangular lengths, 2. The floor component box beam spacer consists of two rectangular boards which form the sides, 3, which are separated by a bottom rectangular length, 4 and top rectangular length, 5. There is a hole, 6, in the bottom rectangular length, 4, to except a peg in order to join one floor component box beam spacer to another. Likewise, there is a hole, 7, in the top rectangular length 5. Insulation, 8, is placed in between the bottom rectangular length, 4, and the top rectangular length, 5, to reduce the effect of thermal bridging. On the top edge of the rectangular length, 5, is a groove, 9. The groove, 9, accepts one of the rectangular lengths, 2, from a floor component top and either another rectangular length, 2, from an adjacent floor component top or a rectangular length, 10. The floor component box beam spacer is secured to joists by means of a block, 11, which prevents slippage over the joists. The floor component box beam spacer provides the additional height required from the top of the loft joists to the floor component top to achieve the required insulation depth.

Further insulation depth increases would be possible with the addition of one or more additional box beam spacers, 12, located into groove, 9.

Figure 2 shows one assembled flooring component. Two flooring component box beam spacers are positioned perpendicular to the loft joists, 13. Insulation, 14, is placed between the floor component box beam spacers. The floor component top rests on top of the box beam spacers and is held in place with two rectangular lengths, 10. The floor component box beam spacers are fixed to the joist, 13, using two blocks, 11. The total depth of insulation will be the height of the loft joists, 13, plus the height of the floor component box beam spacer.

As shown in figure 3, two flooring component tops have been positioned side by side and perpendicular to the loft joists, 13. Located in the groove, 9, of the middle box beam spacer are two rectangular lengths, 2, which are part of the two flooring component tops. Located in the groove, 9, of the two outer box beam spacers is one flooring component top rectangular length, 2, and a rectangular length, 10. The outer box beam spacers are affixed to a joist, 13, by blocks, 11.

Figure 4 shows six floor component tops and six floor component box beam spacers positioned on loft joists, 13. In between the loft joists, 13, is insulation, 15. The total depth of insulation will be the depth of the insulation, 15, plus the depth of the insulation, 14. The box beam spacers are positioned in three rows of two box beam spacers. The box beam spacers in each row are joined using pegs positioned in holes, 6 & 7.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A loft flooring component which can be used to quickly provide a storage area of various sizes in a loft without compromising the recommended insulation depth.

2. A device as claimed in Claim I where the loft flooring components can easily be lifted to allow for building maintenance or renovation and insulation replacement.

3. A device as claimed in Claim I or 2 consisting of a floor component top which is set at the necessary height above the top of the loft joists by two floor component box beam spacers so as to provide the required insulation depth.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 3 where insulation is placed between the two floor component box beam spacers and this insulation and the insulation already between and level with the loft joists creates the required insulation depth.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claims where the floor component box beam spacer contains insulation to reduce the effect of thermal bridging.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claims where future insulation depth increases are possible by adding additional floor component box beam spacers to the existing box beam spacers.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claims where one or more floor component tops and two or more box beam spacers can be used to create various sizes of boarded areas.

8. A device as in any preceding claims which is constructed where possible using environmentally friendly materials.

9. A device substantially as herein described as above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.