Building construction panel

Abstract

A structural panel 2 comprising a frame bordering high density thermally insulating material (Fig 3, 4), which may be sheets of rock-wool, which is made up of a first and second opposing panel board (

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a building construction panel. More especially the invention relates to a building panel that is shaped to provide a tongue and groove connection to provide a simple and quick method of construction of a building. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Traditional building construction methods are outdated. They are labour intensive and require vast amounts of material and construction equipment. The applicant is of the opinion that they are not able to satisfy current demands in terms of speed and costs of construction. The present invention seeks to provide structural building panels that allow modular building construction to vastly improve the construction process by reducing labour and material costs allowing for much cheaper housing to be made available to the public, or institutions that may require fixed or temporary housing from time to time. STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a structural panel comprising a frame which borders a quantity of high density thermally insulating material, the frame comprising first and second opposing panel boards separated by opposing side panel members, the panel members extending equally beyond one edge of the frame to provide a recessed groove along that edge of the panel. Preferably, the side panel members are constructed from timber. Preferably, the panel boards are constructed from sheets of orientated strand board, medium density fireboard, plywood or particle board. Preferably, the panel boards are coated with an intumescent material. Preferably, each panel board has a fibre cement board secured to its outside surface. Preferably, the recessed groove has a generally rectangular profile, defined by the end of the boards forming perpendicular walls and a recessed from member forming a flat ceiling. Preferably, the insulating material comprises sheets of rock-wall. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a structural building panel constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the panel of figure 1; Figure 3 is an end cross-section view of figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a structural building panel constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is an end view of the panel of figure 4; Figure 6 is an end cross-section view of figure 5; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of a structural building floor panel on which the panels of figure 1 and 4 can be secured. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring first to figures 1 to 3, a structural building panel 2, forming part of an upright wall within a building is shown. The panel 2 is generally rectangular and is constructed primarily from a box frame that borders a high density thermally insulating material 4. The frame that bounders the insulating material 4 comprises side frame members or struts 6,10 made from wood, for example, timber. First and second opposing panel face boards 8 extend across respective sides of the struts 6. The panel boards 8 extend beyond one of side frame members 10 to form a recessed groove 12 that extends along that edge of the panel 2. The panel boards 8 are preferably made from sheets of oriented strand boards (OSB), medium density fibreboards (MDF), plywood, particle boards or the like. The recessed edge forms the bottom edge of the panel 2 during installation such that the groove 12 extends along the length of the bottom of the panel 2. The groove 12 has a generally rectangular profile, defined by the ends of the boards 8 forming perpendicular walls 14 extending into the recess, and the recessed frame member 10 forming a flat ceiling 16, making the groove 12 suitable for receiving a complementary shaped timber beam or baton in a floor construction to connect the panel 2 to the floor in a tongue / groove arrangement to form (the base of) an upstanding wall. The panel face boards 8 are coated with an intumescent paint to provide fire resistance. Figure 3 is an end cross section view of the building panel 2. In this figure the internal cavity holding the insulating material 4 can be seen. The insulating material is preferably formed from rock-wall sheets of thickness between 50mm and 70mm. A preferred sheet thickness is 60mm. Figures 4 to 6 show a second embodiment. The structure of this panel is the same as the first embodiment except that a layer of fibre reinforced cement board 18 is adhered or otherwise secured to the outside surface of each panel board 8 to provide a fire barrier on both sides of the panel 2. This may negate the need to apply an intumescent coating to the panel boards 8. A cement board 18 may be applied to only one panel board 8. The fibre cement boards 18 are secured to the outside of the wooden panels 8 using mechanical fixings such as bolts or screws. Alternatively, or additionally, they may be secured with a fire retardant or intumescent adhesive. Figure 7 illustrates structural floor panel that is suitable for use with the wall panels described. For the purposes of understanding the present invention the floor panel 20 shown has a simple construction, with a side frame 22 and floor 24. A first rectangular block 26 is secured to the floor 24 and extends along the length of one side. The block 26 is located inwardly of the floor edge. The block 26 forms a “tongue” of a tongue and groove configuration allowing a wall panel 2 to be placed over the block 26 such that the block 26 fits within the recessed groove 12 of the panel 2, with the walls 14 of the groove 12 located either side of the block 26, their ends resting on the surface of the floor 24. A wall panel 2 located over this block 26 may form the part of the construction of an external wall of a building. A second rectangular block 28 is also secured to the floor in an orientation generally perpendicular to the first block 26. In the figure shown, the second block 28 located generally central, but it may be at or nearer to a side. Block 28 also forms a tongue of the tongue and groove configuration allowing a second wall panel 2 to be placed over the block 28 such that the block 28 fits within the recessed groove 12 of the panel 2 with the walls 14 of the groove 12 located either side of the block 28, their ends resting on the surface of the floor 24. A wall panel 2 located over this block 28 may form the part of the construction of an internal wall of the building extending inwardly from the external wall.

Claims

1. A structural panel comprising a frame which borders a quantity of high density thermally insulating material, the frame comprising first and second opposing panel boards separated by opposing side panel members, the panel members extending equally beyond one edge of the frame to provide a recessed groove along that edge of the panel.

2. A panel according to claim 1, wherein the side panel members are constructed from timber.

3. A panel according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the panel boards are constructed from sheets of orientated strand board, medium density fireboard, plywood or particle board.

4. A panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the panel boards are coated with an intumescent material.

5. A panel according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each panel board has a fibre cement board secured to its outside surface.

6. A panel according to any preceding claim, wherein the recessed groove has a generally rectangular profile, defined by the end of the boards forming perpendicular walls and a recessed from member forming a flat ceiling.

7. A panel according to any claim, wherein the insulating material comprises sheets of rock-wall.

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