Cavity wall barrier

Abstract

A cavity wall barrier for a building, suitable for placement spanning across a wall cavity of a timber framed structure to both prevent access for vermin and insects, and prevent spread of fire in the

Description

Field of the Invention This invention relates to a cavity wall barrier for buildings, especially timber framed buildings. More particularly, the invention concerns cavity wall barriers which, when installed, not only prevent access of a wide range of insects and vermin to the spacing defined between the cavity walls of a building, particularly a timber framed building, but also intumesce in the presence of excessive heat caused, for example, by a fire to prevent it’s spread to other areas of the building. Background to the invention Barriers for inhibiting the presence of vermin such as mice within the spaces between the cavity walls of buildings are known. However, such barriers do not effectively prevent the presence of flies, wasps, and other relatively small insects within cavity wall spaces. The present invention sets out to provide an improved cavity wall barrier which prevents the entry to the cavity of both relatively large vermin such as rats and mice and also smaller species such as wasps and flies, and which, equally importantly, also acts as an effective fire barrier. Statement of Invention In one aspect the invention provides a cavity wall barrier for a building, the barrier comprising a first layer of mesh material of a first lattice size, a second layer of mesh material of a second lattice superimposed on the first layer, the first lattice size being different to the second lattice size, the superimposed mesh layers forming a shaped barrier having a floor and at least one side wall, the side wall having, on one side, a layer of intumescent material attached thereto, and on the other side, means to secure the side wall to a wall of a building. Brief description of the accompanying drawings The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 are respectively plan and perspective views of a cavity wall barrier in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cavity wall barrier of figures 1 and 2 with the backing liner partially removed; Figure 4 is a perspective of the cavity wall barrier secured to a building; and Figures 5 and 6 are respectively plan and perspective views of a cavity wall barrier constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; Detailed description of preferred embodiment. The cavity wall barrier illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 barrier is designed for the bottom edge cavity of timber framed buildings outer cladding sections and prevent fire penetration through the walls of the building. The barrier 2 comprises a first layer 4 of mesh material, preferably made form metal. The mesh is constructed as a square lattice, with apertures having sides of around 7mm. The size of the lattice may vary but are chosen to be small enough to act as a barrier to vermin. Superimposed over the first layer mesh 4 is a second mesh layer 6, also made of metal. The second mesh later 6 is constructed as a square lattice but with much smaller dimension apertures, typically around 1mm to 2mm. This mesh size is chosen to be small enough to act as a barrier to insects such as wasps and flies. The superimposed mesh layers 4, 6 are bent or otherwise form an L-shape barrier with a floor 8, which is orientated horizontally in use, and an upstanding wall 10 forsecurement in use to secured to a vertical panelled wall 12 of a building in use (see figure 4), with the floor 8 extending outwardly and perpendicularly from the wall 12 along its length. The inside surface of the mesh wall 10 of the barrier 2 has a strip of intumescent material 14 adhered, or otherwise fixed, thereto. The opposing side of the mesh wall 10 of the barrier 2, distal to the intumescent strip 14 has an adhesive layer 16 with a release liner 18. Figure 3 shows the release liner 18 partially removed to expose the adhesive layer overlaying the mesh layers 4, 6. As can be seen in figure 4, the mesh wall 10, has an aperture through which to receive a fastener 20 to secure the mesh wall 10 to the panelled wall 12. The fastener 20 may be a screw, bolt or the like. The adhesive layer 16 assists retention of the mesh wall 10 against the panelled wall 12. As can be seen in figure 3, a support plate 22 is provided to receive the fastener 20 through that side of the mesh wall 10. The edge of the floor 8 of the barrier 2 distal to that of the mesh wall 10 also includes an intumescent strip 24 extending along its periphery. Figures 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the invention. The difference with this embodiment is that both side edges of the floor 8 extend to upstanding mesh walls 10A, 10B extending parallel to one another and perpendicularly from the respective floor edges. Intumescent strips material 14A, 14B is secured to the inside surfaces of both mesh walls 10A, 10B. Fastening means are provided through both mesh walls 10A, 10B to allow either barrier side to the secured to the building, or both mesh walls 10A, 10B could be secured to opposing wall structures if the barrier 2 is to extend across a gap between them. Fixing brackets 26 are provided for securement to the selected fixing position. Not only does the barrier 2 provide a physical barrier to vermin and insects across a cavity, the intumescent strips expand in the event of a fire to prevent the spread of the fire along or through the cavity and stop it from penetrating the boards and wall face. The illustrated barriers 2 are intended to be positioned at or towards the bottom of the respective cavity wall space. Typically, the barrier is supplied in 1m lengths with a width of between 45mm or 85mm preferably width sizes of 50mm and 80mm for single sided versions; and widths of between 95mm and 125, preferably width sizes of 100m and 120mm for double sided versions. The height of the intumescent strip or strips is typically 30mm. The side mesh wall or walls 10 may only be formed of the first mesh layer to provide a structure for securement against the wall of the building 12. It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of cavity wall barriers in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cavity wall barrier for a building, the barrier comprising a first layer of mesh material of a first lattice size, a second layer of mesh material of a second lattice superimposed on the first layer, the first lattice size being different to the second lattice size, the superimposed mesh layers forming a shaped barrier having a floor and at least one side wall, the side wall having, on one side, a layer of intumescent material attached thereto, and on the other side, means to secure the mesh wall to a wall of a building.

2. A cavity wall barrier according to claim 1, wherein the side edge of the floor distal to the mesh wall includes an intumescent strip extending along its periphery.

3. A cavity wall barrier according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the securement means comprising an adhesive layer.

4. A cavity wall barrier according to claim 3, wherein the adhesive layer is covered by a release liner.

5. A cavity wall barrier according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mesh wall includes at least one aperture, and the securement means includes a fastener to extend, in use, through the aperture to secure the mesh wall to the wall.

6. A cavity wall barrier according to claim 5, further including a support plate to receive the fastener.

7. A cavity wall barrier according any preceding claim, wherein the side of the floor distal to the mesh wall is formed with a second side wall, opposite the first side wall.

8. A cavity wall barrier according to claim 7, wherein the second side wall has an intumescent strip secured to a surface thereof.

9. A cavity wall barrier according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the second side wall has fastening means to selectively secure the second side wall to a wall of a building.

10. A cavity wall barrier according to any one of claim 9, further including fixing brackets for securement to selected fixing position.A

Images