GB2527385A

GB2527385A - T-Beam saddle

Info

Publication number: GB2527385A
Application number: GB1423156.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-12-23
Filing date: 2014-12-23
Publication date: 2015-12-23
Also published as: WO2015097478A1; GB201322894D0

Abstract

A saddle 20 comprising two spaced apart pockets, the first pocket 21 for engaging a wall and the second 7 for engaging and supporting a planar component, preferably an insulation panel (14, fig 3). Preferably, the saddle is a plastics moulding or formed of wire. Also claimed is a building system comprising at least one T-beam (11, fig 3) spanning two walls, wherein each end of the T-beam is supported on a load bearing thermally insulating component (30, fig 3) between the underside of the T-beam and the wall beneath the T-beam, and a plurality of saddles with first pockets situated between the T-beam and the wall. Preferably, the first pockets lie between the thermally insulating component and the wall. Also claimed is a saddle (1, fig 1) for supporting a beam, the saddle comprising a thermally insulating pad (2, fig 1) including a downwardly projecting element (4, fig 1) for engaging a structural element and an upwardly projecting element (3, fig 1) for engaging a supported beam.

Description

T-Beam Saddle

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to T-beam saddle, to a building fabricated using such T-heam saddles and a method of fabricating a building using such 1-beam saddles.

Background of the Invention

Modern house building frequently uses concrete T-heams in the construction of floors, both at groimd level and at above-ground levels.

the concrete f-beams are laid parallel to one another across spaced apart walls with the horizontal part of the T lying on the wall. Concrete blocks are then dropped into the flanges presented by the hortiontal part of the L :\ long standing problem with floor constructions using T-heams is that of thermal bridging between the upper surface of the wall on which die T-heam is mounted and the underside of the T-heam.

Another problem associated with buildings constructed using concrete T-beam floors that also have cavity walls is concerned with cavity wall insulation, 1pically, the cavity wall insulation is lowered into the space benveen the inner and outer leaf of the cavity wall, past the ends of the T-beams. This often results in the base of the insulation material becoming damp. fIns surface can be uneven due to debris and mortar falling into cavity When insulation is put on this surface, it can result in spaces between insulation board! slab, The effective insulation of buildings is becoming ever l'nore important. It has also been acknowledged that it is desirable for a building to have a certain thermal mass, The thermal mass of a building can store energy, such as from the suli's rays, auct radiate heat energy back into the building later, (:oncrete provides good thermal mass. hence, it is desirable to use concrete as a flooring material, particularly if the problem of cold bridging can he overcome.

It is also desirable to provide a concrete T-beam and block floor that is protected agaills cold bridging and off which a load bearing wall may be constructed,

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a saddle comprising first and second spaced apart pockets, the first pocket configured to engage a wall arid the second configured to cligagc and support a planar component when the first pocket engages a wall.

The said saddle may he formed as a one piece plastics moulding or of wire.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided building system comprising two spaced apart walls and at least one T-heam spanning the spaced apart walls, wherein each end of the T-heam is supported on a load hearing thermally insulating component hetween the underside of the T-heam and the wall beneath the T-beam and a plurality of saddles accordnig to the first aspect of the mvention, the first pockets thereof situated between the underside of fire T-heam and wall.

Preferably, the first pockets of the saddles are situated between the underside of the load beanng thermally insulating component and the wall or between an upper surface of the load bearing thermally insulating component and another component of the building system.

it is preferred that the first pockets are embedded in mortar.

Advantageously, one or more of the lout] bearing thernvdlv iisulati ig components is: an elongate component, a corlier component, a multi-way component or a joining component.

Preferably, the load bearing insulating components include a main body and to one or both sides thereof mortar key members.

:\dvantageously, the mortar key members are: ribs, recesses, holes or protrusions.

Preferably, the planar building component is an insulation niatcrial.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a saddile adapted to support a beam, the saddle including a thermally insulating pad and fire pad including at least one downwardly projecting element adapted to engage a structural element and at least one upwardly projecting element adapted to engage a supported beam.

The at least one downwardly projecting element may comprise a lip.

The at least one upwardly projecting element may comprise a lip.

l'he saddle may comprise two upwardly projecting lips, each extending from an edge of the pad.

The saddle prefturably ffirther includes a pocket configured to receive an edge of an planar component. Ihe pocket may be substantially L'-shaped in cross-section, the planar component may be an insulation hoard.

Ihe saddle may be formed as a single piece plastics moulding.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a building system comprising two spaced apart walls and at least one 1-beam spanning the spaced apart walls, wherein each end of the 1-beam is supported on a saddle of the third aspect of the invention.

Ihe building system may fUrther comprise at least one wall extending between the said spaced apart walls parallel to the V-beams and having mounted thereon at least one saddle according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a load hearing thermally insulating component coniprising a main hody and to one or both sides thereof mortar key memhers, Advantageously, the mortar key members arc: rihs, recesses, holes or protrusions.

Preferahly, the load hearing thermally insulating component is: an elongate coinpoiient, a corner component, a multi-way component or a joining component.

In the hulling system the at least one wall extending between the spaced apart walls lies heneatli a T-beam, and wherein a gap corresponding in stie to the depth of the thermally insulating pad of the saddle beam support is formed between the upper edge of the wall and tile lower edge of the T-bcam, and the building system may fUrther comprise all insulation material configured to fill and filling the said gap.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the Drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of beam saddle according to a first aspect of tile invention; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the beam saddle illustrated in Figure 1 from die underside; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a building system utilising the beam saddles illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4a is a schematic representation of an insulation saddle according to a second aspect of the mvention Figure 4b is a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of an insulation saddle according to the second aspect of the invention; Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a building system utilising the beam saddles illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and the insulation saddle illustrated in Figures 4a or 4b; Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a building system utilising the beam saddles illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 including the insulation component illustrated in Figure 9; Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a building system utilising the insulation saddle illustrated in Figures 4a and 4h and the insulation components illustrated in Figures 9 and 10; Figure 8 is a schematic representation of die building system illustrated in Figure 7 with insulation boards carried in the insuiation sad dies; Figure 9 is a schematic representation of an insulation component according to an aspect of tIme invention; Figure 10 is a schemuatic represemitatioml of an imisulatiomi cormier compomment according to the mnvemmtion; Figure 11 is is a schematic representation of an imisulatiomi component according to the invention for use where two walls cross each other; and Figure 12 is a compommemmt for jolnimlg together insulation comnpomments of the type illustrated imi Figures 9 to 11.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a beam saddle 1, comprising an insulated pad 2 having beam guide walls 3 extending upwardly from opposing edges of the pad 2.

A wall locating lip 4 extends downwardly from an edge of the pad 2 and lies perpdicular to the beam guide walls 3.

An insulation support 5 extends downwardly from the edge of the pad 2 opposite the wall locating lip 4. The insulation supportS comprises two parallel and spaced apart legs 6 which provide a U shaped msulation receiving pocket 7, The free ends of the receiving pocket 7a are joined together by a connector 8.

The insulation pad has an upper surface 2' on which, in use the flat surface of a concrete T-beam lies, The pad 2 is made of all insulating and substantially incompressible material. By substantially incompressible, it is meant that when subject to a load which the pad is designed to support, it will not compress by more than 20'Vo in one hundred years, this being the requirement of building codes in the I Inited Kingdom.

Whilst one hundred years may seem like an extreme time duration, buildings are likely to remain in place for that period of time. Tn fact, the vast majority of any compression that is likely to occur will occur in the first twenty four to seventy two hours of the load being placed on the pad.

It is desirable that one of the surfaces 2', 2" which is the underside of the pad, be rough. In the illustrated example, it is the underside 2' which is rough, in that it presents a matrix of depressions 2a.

In use, the beam saddle is placed on top of a wall with a layer of mortar between the underside of the pad 2 and the top of the wall, as explained in greater detail with reference to figure 3, the depressions 2a allowing the underside of the pad 2 to bed into the mortar, thereby preventing slippage between the wall and the beam saddle 1, Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a part of a building constructed according to a building system of the invention. The system comprises a stem wall 10 upon which are placed beam saddles 1, A plurality of spaced apart parallel lying heams 11 extend between two spaced apart stem walls 10 (only the nearest stem wall 10 is visible in Figure 3.

The beam saddles 1 are attached to the top of the stem wall 10 with a layer of mortar. The lip 4 and legs 6 engage with opposing sides of the stem wall 10.

The stern wall 10 forms part of all inner leaf off a cavity wall, Insulation matenal 14 is placed ill the cavity 15 formed between the outer surface of stern wall 10 and the inner surface of outer leaf 12.

The lower edge 14' of the insulation material 14 is supported in the pocket 7 of the beam saddle 1.

In standard wall construction the insulatron material 14 is lowered into tile cavity 15 until it reaches groimd level 16. Overtime the insulation material draws tip moisture from the ground and becomes damp.

Ihe beam saddle of the invention holds the insulation material 14 clear of the ground, thereby preventing the insulation from becoming damp.

One embodiment of the beam saddle was tested for density, compressive strength. and thermal diffusivity Thermal conductivity was calculated using the formula: thermal conductivity = thermal diffusivity / (Density x Specific heat capacity). The beam saddle was formed of a thermoplastic manufactured from recycled expanded polystyrene. Tile results are shown in Table 1 beli)w: Property Value 1 Density 1,050 kg! m Compressive 100 MPa strength Specific heat 1,300 JI capacity kg/K Thermat 0.15 WImI conductivity K Thermat diffusivity 0.11 mm Figure 4a illustrates another saddle for use in the system of construction of the invention. The beam saddles 1 lift the T-beams 11 above the plane 10' of the upper surface of the stern wall 10. The endmost T-beam sits above the stem wall 10 that runs parallel with the T-beam as shown in Figure 5, This cavity also needs to be insulated.

The saddle 20 includes a pad 21 from which extend a lip 4 and an insulation support 5, which includes spaced apart legs 6 and a L'-shaped insulation receiving pocket 7. Ihe pad may include mortar keying elements, such as holes, recesses, protrusions, ribs, etc. the difference between the saddle 20 and the saddle 1 is that the pad 21 is not insulating. [he spaced apart legs 6 may be replaced by one leg 6' as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 41) illustrates an alternative form of the insulation saddle shown in Figure 4a, Instead of being fornied of plastics, the saddle 20' shown in Figure 4b is formed of wire. The saddle 20' provides an msulation support 5', which includes spaced apart legs 6' and a I-shaped insulation receiving pocket 7'. The insulation saddle 20' includes an inverted U-shaped wall mounting pocket 23, which is conSgured to sit on a wall. Both the insulation receiving pocket 7' and tile vall mounting pocket 23 include an outwardly projecting hp 24, 25. the lip allows the pockets 7', 23 to engage a piece of insulation board, or a wall respectrvely and cause the sue of the pocket to expand to aliow the insulation board 14 and wall 10 respectively to eigage the bases of the U-shaped pockets 7', 23 of the sad dIe 20'. Vhcrc the pocket 23 of saddle 20' is to be placed in a beet of mortar, whilst it is preferrect that a lip 25 extend downwardly, this is not strictly necessary, smce the horizontal wires from which the lip 25 extends downwards will be held in a bed of mortar and where the load bearing thermally insulating component 30, 40, 60 is pressed into the bed of mortar, the horizontal wires will be pressed down thereby For the same reasons, the lip 4 may be omitted. the pad 21 may include holes or other m)rtar keying elements.

Figure. 5 illustrates an end view of the part of a building illustrated in Figure Il. A stem wall 10" extends between the stem wdls 10. Each saddle 20 is held in place on the stem w2dl 10" by the lip 4, the legs 6 and a strip of insulating material 25 placed between the pad 21 and the underside of the T-heam 11.

The beam saddle 1 and insulation saddle 20 arc both formed from a plastics material in a moulding process.

The T-heam saddle of the invention provides a harder against thermal hridging hetween the stem wall and the f-beam. \/hen provided with an insulation support, the support holds the insulation in the correct position, away from sources of damp.

Figure 6 illustrates a building system similar to that shown in Figure 3. the difference lies in the placement of an insulating and load heanng component 30 along the plane 10' of the stcm wall 10 hctwccn the pads 2 of the beam saddles 1, The nature of the component 30 will he described in greater detail hclow with reference to Figures 9 to 10, However, at this point it should be noted that the function of the component 30 is to provide insulation, and therehy avoid a thermal hridge, hetween the stem wall 10 and huilding components situated ahove the plane 10' of the stein wall 10 and to provide a load hearing memher that may he part of a load bearing wall. In this context the material from which the component 30 is formed must he substantially incompressible as described with reference to the pad 2 of the beam saddle 1.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative building system where insulation saddles of die type shown in Figure 4b are used (these saddles could be replaced with the saddles shown in Figure 4a of course).

The insulation saddles 2)1)' arc placed in a bed of mortar on the upper surface of the stem walls 10, 1". 30, and corner components 40 are joined together by nning components 50 and arc pressed into the bed of mortar. A bed of mortar is applied to the upper surface of the components 30, 40 and the concrete T-heams 11 and the flat beam 11' are put into position.

It will he appreciated that a void will he formed between the underside of the block 17, the upper surface of the component 30 and the vertical faces of tile flats of the adjacent T-bcams II and the fiat beam 11". In order to best provide a load bearing structure so that a wall may be built off the blocks 17 in line with the stem walls 10, 10" it is preferred that the aforementioned space is filled with load bearing material.

This may he bricks of blocks built off the bed of mortar placed on the tipper surface of the components 30, 41). Alternatively, load bearing elements, corresponding in length to the distance between the vertical faces of the flats of adjacent I-beams may be fabricated, for example from,

S

The building systems illustrated iii Figures 6 to 8 remove cold bridging and nevertheless allow a load bearing wall to be built in line with the stem walls 10, 10" but off the beam and block Hoot Figures 9 to 12 show the components forming the thermal barrier in more detail. Figure 9 shows the component 30, which comprises a main body 31 and a plurality of spaced apart ribs 32 extending from the upper and lower surfaces of the main body 31. The ribs 32 provide for the conponent 30 to key into mortar, Figure 10 shows a corner element 40, while Figure 11 shows a component 60 that is used where four walls meet or two walls cross. Again, these components comprise a main body 31 and ribs 32, Of course, other multi-way components may be envisaged, for example a f-shaped component that would be useful where a building has internal load bearing walls. The afore-mentioned components are formed of the same material as component 30. Tlus is typically a plastics material and advantageously a recycled expanded polystyrene preferably having the properties shown in Table 1.

Figure 12 illustrates another component of the system, in this case a joining component 50. this component is configured so that an end of the components 30, 40, 60 may be joined together. Ihe component 50 includes lower and upper elements 51, 52, each of which includes a plurality of spaced apart recesses 53 for receiving ribs 32. The lower and upper elements 51, 52 are joined together iw a wall 54. In use tIme bed of mortar beneath or on top of die lower or upper elements is thitumer than where tIme joining components 50 are not present.

It will he appreciated that the building systemus of tIme immvenfion provide for the efficient insulation of buildings, avoiding thermal bridging an supporting insulation materials in the correct position.

Claims

Claims 1. A saddle comprising first arid second spaced apart pockets, the first pocket configured to engage a wall arid the second configured to engage and support a planar component when die first pocket engages a wall.
2. A saddle according to Claim ii, wherein the said saddle is formed as a one piece plastics moulding.
3. A saddle according to Claim 11, wherein the said saddle is formed of wire.
4. A building system comprising two spaced apart walls and at least one It-beam spanning the spaced apart walls, wherein each end of the T-hcam is supported on a load bcanng thermally insulating component between the underside of the F-beam and the wall beneath the U-beam and a plurality of saddles as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, the first pockets thereof situated hctwccn the underside of the T-beam and wall.
5. A building system according to Claim 4, wherein the first pockets of the saddles are situated between the underside of the load bearing thermally insulating component and the wall or between an upper surface of the load hearing thermally insulating component and another component of the huilding system.
6. A building svsteni according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein the first pockets are embedded iii mortar.
7. A building system according to any of Claims 4 to 6, wherein one or more of the load hearing thermally insulating components is: an elongate component, a corner component, a multi-way component or a joining component.
8. A building system according to any of Claims 4 to 7, wherein the load bearing insulating components include a main hody and to one or hoth sides thereof mortar key members.
9. A building system according to Claim 8, wherein the mortar key members are: ribs, recesses, holes or protrusions.
10. A building system according to ally of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the planar building component is an insulation niatertal.
11. A saddle adaptec] to support a beam, the saddle including a thermally insulating pad aiid die pad including at least one downwardly projecting element adapted to engage a structural element and at least one upwardly projecting element adapted to engage a supported beam.
12. A saddle according to Claim 11, wherein the at least one downwardly projecting element comprises a lip.
13. A saddle according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein the at least one upwardly projecting element compnses a lip.
14. A saddle according to Claim 13, comprising two upwardly projecting lips, each extellding from an edge of the pad.
15. A saddle according to any of Claims 11 to 14, further including a pocket configured to receive an edge of an planar component.
16. A saddle according to Claim 15, wherein die pocket is substantially U-shaped n cross-section,
17. A saddle according to Claim 15 or 16, wherein the plallar component is an insulation board.
18. A saddle according to any of Claim 11 to 17, wherein the thermally insulating pad includes an tipper surface for supporting a beam and a lower surface for engaging a wall and wherein either or both of said surfaces are adapted to bond with a mortar,
19. A saddle according to Claim 18, wherein said surfaces are roughened or include at least one depression or at least one projection.
20. A saddle according to any preceding claim, the saddle formed as a single piece plastics moulding.
21. A building systeni compnsing two spaced apart walls and at least one T-heain spanning the spaced apart walls, wherein each end of the [-beam is supported on a saddle as claimed in any of claims 11 to 20.
22. A buildling system according to Claim 21, wherein the saddle is a saddle of Claim 15 and wherein a planar building component is supported in the said pocket.
23. A building system according to Claim 22, whereiii the planar building component is an insulation material,
24. A building system according to any of Claims 20 to 23, further comprising at least one wall extending between the said spaced apart walls parallel to the 1-beams and having mounted thereon at least one saddle as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, the at least one saddle supporting a planar building component.
25. A building system according to Claim 24, wherein the at least one wall extending between the spaced apart walls lies beneath a T-beain, and wherein a gap corresponding in size to the depth of the thermally insulating pad of the saddle beam support is formed between the upper edge of the wall and the lower edge of the C-beam, and an insulation material configured to fill and filling the said gap.
26. A building system according to Claim 25, wherein the insulation material configured to fill and ifiling the said gap is a load bearing thermally insulating component.
27. A saddle adapted to support a beam substantially as shown in, and as described with reference to, Figures 1-3 and 5 of the Drawings.
28. A saddle substantially as shown in, and as described with rckrcncc to, Figures 4a and 4b of the 1.) rawings.
29. A building system substantially as shown ill, and as described with rcfhrcncc to, Figures 3, 5 and 6 of the Drawings.
30. A building system substantially as shown ii', and as described with reference to Figures 7 and 8 of the Drawings.31. l.oatl bearing thermally insulating components substantially as shown in and as described with reference to, Figures 9 to 12 of die Drawings.