Floor insulation clip and method

Abstract

A floor (4), insulation board (5) is laid onto the subfloor between an inner leaf (2) of walls. Lengths of upstand are provided by elongate rectangular strips of insulation board (6). The upstand (6)

Description

Technical field

[0001] , The present invention is concerned with the installation of underfloor insultation in building construction, especially rigid insulation board such as but not limited to PIR (polyisocyanurate), XPS (extruded polystyrene insulation) and EPS (expanded polystyrene insulation). In such constructions a structural ground or above ground sub-floor is provided. Examples of sub-floor construction types include block and beam, solid concrete slab and raft concrete slab but the invention is not limited to any particular sub-floor construction. The sub-floor extends between the upright building sub-walls. A damp-proof membrane is laid either under or over the subfloor and lapped up the sub-walls to extend past the sub-floor to the damp proof course level, this is usually but not limited to 150mm above ground level. The sub-walls will extend some height above the sub-floor to the damp proof course level. Superstructure walls will then rise above the damp course. Insulating board elements in the form of sheets or blocks are then laid onto the sub-floor to tile the floor forming an insulating floor layer covering the whole sub-floor. An insulating perimeter upstand is formed from further insulation elements in the form of rectangular section elongate strips, usually, but not necessarily limited to 25mm thick. These elongate strips are placed on top of the insulation board to all perimeter sub-walls forming a shallow well of insulation. This achieves the desired thermal insulation performance. Screed is then applied into the well of insulation to form the finished floor structure. The function of the insulating perimeter upstand is to stop cold bridging between the screed and the sub-wall. Prior Art

[0002] , k problem arises in that the insulation elements are light weight so that, prior to the screed being installed, workers moving across the insulation elements easily move the elements, this in turn disturbs and damages the insulated perimeter upstand moving it from its desired location against the sub-wall. The use of adhesives and adhesive tape to retain the upstand insulation has been tried but has been found to be ineffective as the sub-walls, insulation elements and damp-proof membrane are frequently damp and dusty such that adhesion is problematic. The use of fastenings such as screws, pins or nails driven through the upstand insulation is also undesirable as each fastening penetrates the damp proof membrane creating a path for moisture to enter. Also, a fixing such as a screw, nail or pin has a small surface area to engage the upstand insulation element and consequently fails to prevent the movement of the perimeter upstand.

[0003] , The present invention seeks to provide an apparatus and method of securing an insulation upstand which mitigates the disadvantages of the prior art discussed above. Summary of the Invention First Aspect

[0004] , According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an upstand clip for securing an upstand insulation element, said upstand insulation element disposed against a sub-wall and overlying a layer of floor insulation elements forming an insulating floor to form an insulating well said clip comprising: an upstand engaging part to bear against a surface of the upstand insulation element and an anchor part to anchor the clip against at least one of the wall or the underlying floor insulating element. poos]. Preferably the upstand engaging part is substantially “L” shaped to have a first limb to bear against a well facing vertical surface of the upstand member and a second limb to bear against an overlying horizontal surface of the upstand member. The anchor part may comprise a wall engaging part which is preferably a limb extending at an angle, up from the wall proximate end of the second limb. The wall engaging part may be sufficiently thin for a fastening to be driven directly through the wall engaging part or may be provided with one or more holes to receive a fastening such as a nail, pin or screw. The wall engaging part may be secured by a “U” shaped staple which extends around the wall engaging part to be driven into the wall and secure the clip and hence the insulating upstand member in place. The wall engaging part extends sufficiently to secure to the superstrucuture wall above any damp proof membrane installed beneath the insulating floor and rising up the inside of the sub-floor.

[0006] , In order to more readily accommodate different widths of upstand the first limb may include a resiliently deformable portion which is inclined from the junction with the second limb at an acute angle. The resiliently deformable portion can deform to accommodate variations in the thickness of the upstand member.

[0007] , The clip may have a substantially rectangular cross section such that the width of the limbs which bear against the insulating upstand member and the wall is much greater than the thickness.

[0008] . The clip may include a cross limb to bear against the well facing surface of the insulating upstand member.

[0009] , Preferably the clip is fabricated from plastics or metal.

[0010] , In an alternative form of the clip the clip may comprise an upstand engaging part and an anchor part adapted to engage with the insulating floor element. The anchor part may comprise a limb extending substantially perpendicular to the upstand engaging part in order to bear horizontally against the upper surface of the insulating floor element. The weight of the clip may be sufficient to anchor the upstand element, however this technique is liable to be costly in terms of materials, transport and packaging so that it is preferred to secure the anchor part into the insulating floor element by means of a spike or screw. The spike or screw may be driven through the anchor part for example through at least one hole and preferably two holes pre-formed in the anchor part, however it is preferable that the spike is formed as an integral part of the anchor part to minimise the cost of manufacture and the number of components required for each upstand clip. The upstand engaging part may be a simple upright strut which presses against the upstand. Preferably the upstand engaging part has a spike of screw which can be driven into the upstand to secure the clip to the floor insulation elements. Preferably the spike is an integral element of the upstand engaging part. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the clip comprises an upstand engaging part which is similar to the anchor part so that there is no need for the user to identify which part is which before deployment and securing the upstand is a simple matter of simultaneously driving the clip into the junction of the upstand element and the floor element. The effectiveness of the spike may be enhanced by the provision of a barb. In one preferred embodiment the spikes on each of the upstand engaging part and the floor element engaging part are substantially parallel and inclined at substantially 45 degrees to each of the parts in order to facilitate pressing the clip simultaneously into the upstand element insulation and the floor insulation element. [ooh]. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of securing an upstand insulation member comprising the steps of: locating the upstand insulation against a sub-wall; disposing an upstand clip with an upstand engaging part pressed against a surface of the upstand insulation element and an anchor part engaging one of the wall or a floor insulation element; securing the anchor part by means of a fastening.

[0012] , Where the anchor is wall engaging the method may include the step of driving any one of a nail, pin or self tapping screw through the wall engaging part to secure the clip to the wall above the damp proof membrane and damp course. Where the anchor part is engageable with the insulating floor element the step of securing may require a separate fastening to be driven through or around the anchor and into the underlying floor insulation, however it is preferable that the fastening is provided by an integral element such as a spike which will minimise the labour of securing the anchor part.

[0013] . The step of applying the screed floor and letting the screed floor cure with the clips in place. Where the anchor part is wall engaging, the wall engaging part may remain in place and be covered by wall board or other wall finishing surfaces. If it is undesirable to leave the wall engaging parts in place the step of cutting or snapping off the wall engaging parts.

[0014] , Where the anchor part is adapted to be secured to the underlying floor insulation element the fastening spike or screw is dimensioned to be too short or blunt to penetrate the damp proofing membrane. Brief description of figures

[0015] , A floor insulation clip and method in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric south west cut away view of a floor under construction, with insulation in place, together with an enlarged fragmental view; Figure 2 is an isometric south west cut away view of a floor under construction with screed; Figure 3 is an enlarged isometric south west view of a clip as shown in figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged isometric north east view of the clip in figure 3; and Figure 5 is an isometric south west view of a floor under construction showing insulation and a second embodiment of the clip with an enlarged detail view; Figure 6 shows a NE isometric view of a third embodiment of the clip; Figure 7 shows a side elevation of a fourth embodiment of the clip; Figure 8 shows a NW isometric view of the fourth embodiment of the clip; and Figure 9 shows a fifth embodiment of the clip. Detailed description of figures

[0016] , Figure 1 shows a cutaway view of a part of a building having a wall comprising an outer wall leaf 1 and an inner wall leaf 2 separated by a cavity. A horizontal damp proof course 3 is laid between an underlying sub-wall 2.land an overlying superstructure wall 2.2. A conventional sub-floor 4 is installed to extend between the inner leaves of the sub-wall 2.1. A waterproof membrane 4.1 is laid onto the sub-floor and overlaps the inner leaf 2 at the damp proof 3. Insulating elements comprising insulation boards 5 are laid to tile the sub-floor 4 and form floor insulation. Insulating elements comprising elongate rectangular section strips 6 of insulation board material are laid onto the floor insulation 5 to form an upstand which is pressed against the interior surface of the sub-wall 2.1. The floor insulation and the upstand form a shallow well between the interior facing surface of the upstand 6 and the upper surface of the insulation boards 5.

[0017] , To retain the upstand in place prior to applying the screed floor, upstand retention clips 7 are deployed. Each clip has an upstand engaging part which, when oriented for use, is formed by a substantially vertical limb 8, and a horizontal limb 9. The vertical limb 8 is arranged to engage the well facing vertical wall of the upstand. The horizontal limb 9 is arranged to engage the upper surface of the upstand. The clip has an anchor part provided by wall engaging part 10 which extends vertically up from the end of the horizontal limb 9 distant from the vertical limb 8. The wall engaging part 10 is perforated by two holes 11 whereby a fastening screw, nail or pin 12 can be driven through the hole and into the superstructure wall 2.2 to secure the clip in place without penetrating the dampcourse 3 or membrane 4.1.

[0018] , The horizontal limb 9 is of a length chosen to exceed the width of the upstand. A portion 13 of the vertical limb 8 descending from the horizontal limb is inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal so that resilient deformation of the horizontal and vertical limbs can more readily accommodate variations in distance from the wall to which the upstand clip is secured and the well facing surface of the upstand. To prevent the clip from indenting the upstand a lowermost portion 14 of the vertical limb is formed perpendicular to the horizontal limb 9.

[0019] , Clips are preferably disposed on the joints between lengths of upstand until the entire floor area is surrounded by upstand. Screed 6.1 is now applied into the well to form the screed floor layer as shown in figure 2. The horizontal limb 9 and wall engaging part 10 will now project above the level of the screed. In many applications the horizontal limb 9 and wall engaging part 10 can remain in place and be obscured by overlying wall board (not shown) and / or decorative flooring (not shown), however if this proves to be a problem the horizontal limb 9 and wall engaging part 10 can be snapped or off or cut off at 15 where the clip projects above the screed.

[0020] . Figure 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the clip which is generally similar to the first embodiment but has a horizontal cross limb 16 extending to each side of the vertical limb 8 in order to better span the join between adjacent lengths of upstand.

[0021] , Figure 6 shows a third embodiment of the clip which has an upstand engaging part 10 and an anchor provided by a floor insulation engaging part 17. In this case the parts 10 and 17 are identical and extend at right angles from a junction 18. The end of each part is bent at a right angle and serrated to form a spike 19 and a spike 20. The spikes project from the parts so that in use the spikes are driven into the insulating foam elements forming the floor insulation and the upstand insulation, in order to secure the insulation elements in place.

[0022] , Figures 7 and 8 show a fourth embodiment of the clip generally similar to the third embodiment, but differing in that the spikes 19,20 project at close to 45° from the ends of the upstand engaging part 10 and the floor insulation engaging part 17 to be readily driven into the insulating material of the insulation board 5 and the upstand element 6. The spikes include barbs 21,22 to resist pulling out of the foam insulation after insertion. The clip is symmetrical about the junction of the floor insulation engaging part and the upstand engaging parts and like the third embodiment can be stamped from a single sheet of material, possibly in a single process step.

[0023] , Figure 9 shows a fifth embodiment of the clip fabricated from a single sheet of material to form an inverted “T” shape with an insulating floor engaging anchor part 17 and an upstand engaging part 19. The anchor part 17 is formed as two similar wings 23, 24 which project laterally from each side of the base of the upstand engaging part 19. Spike formations 25 depend from the ends of each wing. In use the clip is held under the upstand so that one of the wings 23, 24 presses against the underside of the upstand and the whole is pressed against the sub-wall while the upstand is pressed down onto the floor insulation so that the spike formations 25 are driven into floor insulation.

Claims

1.An upstand clip for securing an upstand insulation element during the construction of a thermally insulated floor, wherein the thermally insulated floor comprises a horizontal sub-floor extending between upstanding sub-walls and a damp proofing membrane extends up the inside surface of the sub-walls, a dampcourse overlies the sub-wall and a superstructure wall extends up from the dampcourse;a horizontal insulating layer is formed of insulating elements covering the sub-floor and an upstand formed of insulating elements is laid onto the edges of the horizontal insulating layer and against the sub-wall to form a well for the reception of a floor screed said upstand clip comprising:an upstand engaging part to bear against a surface of the upstand insulation element and an anchor part to anchor the clip against at least one of the wall or the underlying floor insulating element.2.An upstand clip according to claim 1 wherein the upstand engaging part is substantially “L” shaped having a first limb to bear against a well facing vertical surface of the upstand element, a second limb to bear against an overlying horizontal surface of the upstand element.3.An upstand clip according to claim 2 wherein the anchor part is a wall engaging part and the wall engaging part is a limb extending at right angles, up from the wall proximate end of the second limb.4.An upstand clip according to claim 3 wherein the wall engaging part extends to bear against the superstructure-wall above the dampcourse whereby the clip can be secured to the wall without penetrating the membrane or dampcourse.An upstand clip according to claim 4 in combination with a fastening, wherein the wall engaging part which can extend above the membrane is sufficiently thin for the fastening to be driven directly through the wall engaging part into the wall.6.An upstand clip according to claim 5 provided with one or more holes to receive the fastening.7.An upstand clip according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the first limb may include a resiliently deformable portion which is inclined from the junction with the second limb at an acute angle.8.An upstand clip according to any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the clip includes a cross limb extending perpendicular to the upstand engaging part.9.An upstand clip according to claim 1 wherein the anchor part is a limb extending from the upstand engaging part to bear against a floor insulation element underlying the upstand when the upstand element is engaged.10.An upstand clip according to claim 9 wherein the floor insulation engaging part includes a spike to be driven into the floor insulation to secure the clip.11.An upstand clip according to claim 10 wherein the upstand engaging part includes a spike to be driven into the upstand.12.An upstand clip according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the spike includes a barb to resist retraction of the spike.13.An upstand clip according to any one of claims 9 to 12 wherein the upstand engaging part and the anchor part are identical to facilitate orientation in installation.14.An upstand clip according to claim 13 wherein each part comprises a limb extending from a junction with the other part, substantial perpendicular to the other part and being integrally formed together with each spike.15A method of securing an upstand insulation element during the construction of a thermally insulated floor, wherein the thermally insulated floor comprises a horizontal sub-floor extending between upstanding sub-walls and a damp proofing membrane extends up the inside surface of the sub-walls, a dampcourse overlies the sub-wall and a superstructure wall extends up from the dampcourse, a horizontal insulating layer is formed of insulating elements covering the sub-floor and an upstand formed of insulating elements is laid onto the edges of the horizontal insulating layer and against the sub-wall to form a well for the reception of a floor screed comprising: locating the upstand insulation against a sub-wall;securing the upstand in place using a clip to anchor the upstand to one of the sub wall or the horizontal insulating layer.16.A method according to claim 15 comprising: disposing an upstand clip with an upstand engaging part pressed against a surface of the upstand insulation and a wall engaging part pressed against the superstructure-wall;securing the wall engaging part by means of a fastening to the superstructure-wall.17.A method according to claim 15 comprising the step of anchoring the clip by driving a spike of the clip into each of the upstand and the horizontal insulation layer.18.A method according to claim 15 or claim 16 comprising filling the well with screed leaving the clips in place.19.A method according to claim 16 and 18 comprising, cutting or snapping any one or more of the clips at the junction of the first and second limbs to leave no part of the clip projecting above the screed.12

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