FaÇade structure and components therefor

Abstract

A slip brick (10), for a slip brick system of slip bricks installed between two slip brick rails, comprises a brick body (12) comprising an external face (14), a rear face (18), two lateral ends (15a, 15b), and two rail-engaging ends (16a, 16b) that comprise a retainer member (162a, 162b) for retention on a slip brick rail, when installed. Each retainer member (162a, 162b) comprises a rear-facing side (164a, 164b). A surface region (188) of the rear face (18) protrudes beyond the rear-facing side (164a, 164b) of the retainer members, providing a clearance region (182a, 182b) to accommodate a fastener head, allowing the brick body (12) to be held closer to a wall structure, such that the surface region (188) may be used to bridge a rail-to-rail gap, to provide a slip brick rail arrangement with practically continuous rear surface.

Description

[0001] Fagade structure and components therefor

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a slip brick system of the type comprising slip bricks more or less permanently retained to a building structure when slotted between two rails. More specifically, the invention relates to a brick shaped such that it reduces the clearance space between spaced apart rails, and to a slip brick system incorporating such bricks and / or brick-rail combinations.

[0004] Background

[0005] Slip bricks, or brick tiles, or brick slips, are used in modern fagade construction to provide an appearance of solid brickwork. Such slip bricks are mounted onto a rail arrangement of multiple spaced apart brick-carrying rails.

[0006] Slip bricks systems can be formed practically entirely from metal materials and brick, i.e. from materials having relatively high combustion temperatures, providing better fire rating, particularly compared to thermoplastic polymer cladding materials. For this reason, slip brick systems are attractive for building fagades.

[0007] The present invention seeks to provide further improvements to facilitate installation of slip bricks.

[0008] Summary of the Invention

[0009] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a slip brick as defined in claim 1. The slip brick arrangement is for a slip brick system of the type comprising a series of slip bricks installed between two slip brick rails.

[0010] The slip brick comprises brick body comprising an external face, a rear face, two lateral ends, and two rail-engaging ends, wherein each rail-engaging end comprises a retainer member providing a ledge region for retention on a slip brick rail, when installed, and wherein each retainer member comprises a rear-facing side, and wherein a surface

[0011] Version 2026-01-21region of the rear face of the brick body protrudes beyond the rear-facing side of at least one retainer member.

[0012] The slip brick of the first aspect is understood to be of a type for use in a slip brick system forming part of a fagade cladding system. A skilled person will expect conventional slip brick systems to comprise rails via which a series of slip bricks is retained or mounted to a building structure or wall. The rails themselves comprise a typically flat back-fixing plate, or other suitable back-fixing structure, for affixing the rails to a wall or building structure beneath. The rails comprise a brick-supporting arm, extending away from the back-fixing rail, to support and / or retain, respectively, a slip brick, wherein a series of slip bricks can be held in a predefined distance relative to the wall beneath.

[0013] In an installation, the rails are mounted to the structure underneath in a spaced apart arrangement. The slip bricks are then inserted between the pre-mounted slip brick rails. To this end, slip bricks may be laterally slid to their intended position along a length of rail, such that the rail-engaging ends engage two rails, e.g. one above and one below. More practically, slip bricks may be cantilevered perpendicularly to a rail and may be pushed, and / or allowed to drop, onto a brick-supporting arm directly underneath.

[0014] For their secure retention on the rail, slip bricks comprise a characteristic groove, step, upstand or ledge, which herein is referenced as a “retainer member” of a slip brick, with which the slip bricks are retained or abutted against a ledge structure of the rail by which it is retained. A retainer member may be provided by a groove, specifically by two inner opposite wall surfaces of a groove, to retain a slip brick against sliding away, and towards a wall. However, a groove is not necessarily a requirement of all embodiments. A retainer member may be provided by a surface of an upstand or lip, that, when installed, sits behind the brick-supporting arm to be retained to the wall.

[0015] The invention relates to a slip brick system in which slip bricks are placed between slip brick rails, over a rail-to-rail gap between two slip brick rails, and are held by contact with the retainer members, wherein the rail-brick contact is usually made between the externally facing side of a retainer member and the slip brick rail. Typically, a surface providing a retainer member is set back from the external face. In most rail

[0016] Version 2026-01-21configurations, the external face protrudes forward (away from a building), beyond the rail. Joints between external faces of bricks may be filled in with mortar, if desired.

[0017] Being formed from a portion of slip brick material, the retainer member has a thickness and rear-facing side, normally concealed in an installation. In many conventional slip bricks, when the entire rear face may be generally flat, the rear-facing side of a retainer member is a portion of the rear face of the slip brick. A suggestion made in the present disclosure is to provide a recess in the region of the retainer member, or, respectively, to shape the slip brick such that a surface region of the rear face of the slip brick body protrudes further away from the brick body, i.e. closer towards the wall structure beneath, than the rear-facing side at least one retainer member.

[0018] It will be understood that, if a rear face portion protrudes further back in an installation, this reduces the free volume behind the slip brick in the rail-to-rail gap. This may also allow a centre of gravity of slip bricks to be held closer to the structure beneath, which is believed to place less stress and load requirements on the individual rails. As a fagade installation may comprise several hundred if not thousands of metres of rail profile, it can be appreciated that even a small improvement in weight distribution (i.e., closer towards the fagade mounting system) and leverage may help to reduce material requirements per rail, resulting in a significant cumulative saving of resources and carbon dioxide footprint. The invention is therefore also believed to be able to make a significant contribution to reducing the carbon dioxide footprint of a slip brick fagade installation, compared to conventional slip brick systems.

[0019] In some embodiments, the surface region of the rear face of the brick body protrudes beyond both rear-facing sides of both retainer members.

[0020] In some embodiments, the surface region of the rear face of the brick body comprises a plateau region that extends generally parallel to the external face.

[0021] The plateau region may be a generally flat surface region, or a convexly curved surface region. The plateau region may extend generally parallel to the external face.

[0022] In some embodiments, the surface region of the rear face of the brick body is flat.

[0023] Version 2026-01-21The rear face may be defined by a continuous plateau region extending parallel to the external face.

[0024] In some embodiments, the slip brick comprises a transition ramp from the surface region of the rear face to the or each rear-facing side of the or each retainer member.

[0025] The transition ramp may result in trapezoidal profile. The transition ramp may comprise a polygonal profile. The transition ramp may comprise a curved profile. The transition ramp may provide a gradual transition between the or both retainer members and the protrusion providing the surface region of the rear face.

[0026] In some embodiments, the rear-facing side of at least one retainer member is tapering inward relative to the rear face.

[0027] In such an embodiment, the protruding surface region of the rear face may be parallel to the external face, and the rear-facing side of one or both retainer members may be tapered. In such embodiments, one or both rail-engaging ends may be thinner towards there edges.

[0028] In some embodiments, the edge between the surface region of the rear face of the brick body and the rear-facing side of one or both retainer members is recessed.

[0029] In some embodiments, the edge between the surface region of the rear face of the brick body and the rear-facing side of one of the retainer members is recessed more, and / or tapered further inward, than that of the other of the retainer members, to provide an insertion edge.

[0030] The insertion edge may facilitate insertion into a slip brick rail in tight geometries.

[0031] In some embodiments, the slip brick is formed from a brick cut to a shape of a slip brick.

[0032] In some embodiments, the slip brick is of extruded material form.

[0033] In some embodiments, the slip brick is of moulded material form.

[0034] Version 2026-01-21In some embodiments, the slip brick is formed from non-combustible material.

[0035] The slip brick may be formed from fired brick, or fired brick material. For instance, the brick may be formed from a material classed as A1 under a classification system BS EN 13501-1:2018 for reaction to fire.

[0036] In some embodiments, the external face comprises glazing.

[0037] In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a slip brick system comprising a slip brick according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect. The slip brick comprises, as such, at least one retainer member and a surface region of the rear face protruding beyond the at least one retainer member. The rear face may protrude beyond both retainer members.

[0038] The slip brick system comprises at least two rails to provide a first rail and a second rail for retaining the slip brick to a structure beneath, wherein each rail comprises a generally flat back-fixing structure to allow it to be mounted to the structure beneath such that the first rail is spaced from the second rail by a predetermined rail-to-rail gap, and wherein the slip brick is dimensioned such that, when installed on one of the first and second rails, the surface region of the rear face protrudes towards the rail-to-rail gap.

[0039] The rail-to-rail gap will be understood to be the span between two spaced-apart rails. By shaping, or dimensioning, respectively, the rear face of the slip brick such that it sits between the rails, it can take up much or most of the space between two rails. In embodiments in which the rear face comprises a flat surface, the slip brick reduces the clearance, or free volume, behind the brick tile fagade by reducing the clearance between adjacent rails.

[0040] In some embodiments, the rear face is dimensioned to bridge the rail-to-rail gap.

[0041] The rear face may be dimensioned to cover practically the entire span between adjacent rails. For instance, the rear face protrusion may be sufficiently long to be in contact with one or both adjacent slip brick rails. As will be appreciated, the bridging

[0042] Version 2026-01-21effect may depend on the length of the rail-to-rail gap, and therefore on a consistent rail-to-rail spacing corresponding to the geometry of a slip brick of the first aspect.

[0043] In some embodiments, the rear face protrudes from the retainer member such that, upon abutting the back-fixing structure and / or the structure underneath, a clearance region is maintained between the rear-facing side of the retainer member and the back-fixing structure.

[0044] An appreciation underlying the embodiment was that, by abutting a slip brick against the structure beneath, to close a rail-to-rail gap, some fastener designs for back-fixing may come in the way and prevent further abutment. By increasing the protrusion, the corresponding clearance behind the retainer member (e.g., between brick and building structure) is consequently larger. This allows the slip brick to be used with a wider range of fasteners and fastener systems, e.g. fasteners with larger heads than might otherwise be suitable.

[0045] In some embodiments, the retainer member comprises a rear-facing side sufficiently recessed from the rear face to maintain a clearance between the rear-facing side and at least part of the back-fixing structure, when abutted against the back-fixing structure and / or the structure underneath.

[0046] In some embodiments, the slip brick comprises a transition ramp from the rear face to the or each rear-facing side of the or each retainer member. In some embodiments, the transition ramp is deeper than a thickness of the flat back-fixing structure.

[0047] The transition ramp provides a ramped interface region for contacting an edge of a rail, allowing for a wider variation in component size, dimensions of back-fixing rail, for the gap-bridging of the rail-to-rail gap. The ramp may comprise a straight profile, in the manner of a trapezoidal profile. The ramp may comprise a curved profile.

[0048] The slip brick rails may be designed such, and installed spaced apart such, that the edges of the back-fixing structure abut against a region of the transition ramp. In this manner, the surface portion of the rear face may protrude into the rail-to-rail gap.

[0049] Version 2026-01-21In some embodiments, the slip brick system comprises a spacer component to assist with maintaining said predetermined rail-to-rail gap.

[0050] The spacer component will be understood to indicate the rail-to-rail gap distance for a given slip brick. The spacer component may be a tool that is reusable. The spacer component may be designed to remain in place, practically permanently, after installation of the brick-retaining rails and / or after installation of the slip bricks on the rails.

[0051] Any one or more of the embodiments of the first and second aspects may be comprised in a fagade cladding system.

[0052] In some embodiments, at least a few of the slip brick rails extend horizontally and are vertically spaced apart.

[0053] In some embodiments, at least a few of the slip brick rails extend vertically and are horizontally spaced apart.

[0054] In some embodiments, the slip brick system is comprised in a vertically extending fagade.

[0055] In some embodiments, the slip brick system is comprised in a horizontally extending fagade.

[0056] The slip brick system may be used for soffits or overhangs.

[0057] It will be understood that a fagade cladding system is typically installed on an underlying support or backing structure.

[0058] Features described in relation to any one or more of the embodiments of the first aspect may be combined with, or incorporated with, any one or more embodiments of the second aspect, and vice versa.

[0059] Version 2026-01-21

[0060]

[0061] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures, in which:

[0062] Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a prior art slip brick arrangement;

[0063] Figure 2 is a schematic side view of an embodiment;

[0064] Figure 3 is an isometric view of an embodiment;

[0065] Figure 4 is a schematic side view of another embodiment;

[0066] Figure 5 is a schematic side view of yet another embodiment, including an illustration of a part-assembled configuration;

[0067] Figure 6 is a schematic side view of a portion of another embodiment; and

[0068] Figure 7 is a schematic side view of a portion of another embodiment.

[0069] Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a slip brick system 1. The slip brick system 1 comprises an arrangement of slip brick rails 4a, 4b, 6a, 6b, including a bottom rail 6b, an arrangement of (here: two) mid rails 4a, 4b, and a top rail 6a. The slip brick rails 4a, 4b, 6a, 6b are affixed, using an appropriate fastener system, to a wall structure 9 underneath, spaced apart to hold between each two adjacent rails a series of slip bricks 2a, 2b, 2c. Although the illustration of Figure 1 is simplified to show one brick per row, it will be understood that a series of bricks 2a is retained between the top rail 6a and the mid rail 4a, another series of bricks 2b is retained between the (first) mid rail 4a and the (second) mid rail 4b, and yet another series of bricks 2c is retained between the mid rail 4b and the bottom rail 6b. It is not necessarily a requirement for the top or bottom rails to have a different profile to the mid rails 4a, 4b. In some embodiments, a mid-rail profile may be used as a top rail and / or as a bottom rail.

[0070] With reference to an exemplary slip brick 2b in Figure 1, the slip bricks comprise retainer members 3a, 3b, here in the form of an upper and lower groove, to be engaged by retaining edges of the respective adjacent (upper and lower) slip brick rails. As shown herein, a retaining ledge of the mid rail 4a engages from above the upper retainer member 3a of the slip brick 2b, and a support arm of the mid rail 4b engages from underneath the lower retainer member 3b. The retainer members and

[0071] Version 2026-01-21bricks are dimensioned such that a clearance 8 remains behind the slip bricks, i.e. between the wall structure 9 and the slip bricks 2a, 2b, 2c. The clearance 8 provides a cavity, as illustrated in Figure 1. The clearance 8 provides space, for instance, for fastener heads and also provides space required during insertion of a slip brick.

[0072] With reference to Figures 2 and 3, a suggestion made in the present disclosure is to form a slip brick with a rear-facing protrusion, or - respectively - with a recessed rear edge portion along either one or both long rear edges. The rear-facing protrusion may reduce the free volume of the clearance 8, and may be used to bridge the rail-to-rail gap between two adjacent slip brick rails.

[0073] The brick profiles and rail profiles are understood to extend generally homogeneously along the elongate extension of the rail, defining a shape generally perpendicular to the elongate extension. As such, several features of the bricks and rail can be described with reference to their profile, as viewed in section in Figures 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

[0074] The slip brick 10 comprises a slip brick body 12, of generally cuboid geometry, comprising a generally rectangular external face 14, two lateral ends 15a, 15b, two rail engaging ends 16a, 16b (collectively 16), and a rear face 18. The body 12 is a solid, unitary body. The external face 14 is the in-use outward facing portion of the slip brick 10, and may, optionally, comprise a surface treatment or glazing 11. With reference to a generally cuboid envelope comprising six generally quadrilateral faces, the two largest quadrilateral faces are the external face 12 and the rear face 18. The lateral ends 15a, 15b are the two quadrilateral faces along the shorter edge of the external face 12. The rail-engaging ends 16a, 16b are the two faces along the longer edge of the external face 12. As such, the rail-engaging ends 16a, 16b extend along the full length of the longer edge of external face 12.

[0075] The two rail engaging ends 16 comprise a first rail-engaging end 16a and a second railengaging end 16b. In a usual installation, the first and second rail-engaging ends 16a, 16b provide an upper end, to be retained and / or supported by a brick-retaining rail above, and a lower end, to be retained and / or supported by a brick-retaining rail underneath. In some installations, for vertical arrangements, the first and second railengaging ends 16a, 16b may provide lateral (left and right) ends.

[0076] Version 2026-01-21The first rail-engaging end 16a comprises a portion, here in the form of a first groove 160a extending longitudinally along the first end 16a, providing a first retainer member. The first retainer member is, here, provided by an inner, forward-facing wall 162a, constituting a ledge region. The function of the first retainer member may be provided by a step or ledge. The first groove 160a comprises an inner, rear-facing wall 166a provided by an edge portion of the external face 14, serving in use to conceal a portion of a slip brick rail.

[0077] The second rail-engaging end 16b comprises a portion, here in the form of a second groove 160b extending longitudinally along the second end 16a, providing a second retainer member. The second retainer member is, here, provided by an inner, forwardfacing wall 162b, constituting another ledge region. The function of the second retainer member may be provided by a step or ledge. The surface of the external face 12 sits forward of the first and second retainer members, such that the external face 12 protrudes beyond (forward of) the slip brick rails. The second groove 160b comprises an inner, rear-facing wall 166b provided by an edge portion of the external face 14, concealing in use a portion of a slip brick rail.

[0078] The first and second rail engaging ends 16a, 16b are, in the exemplary embodiment of Figure 3, symmetric, such that the slip brick 10 could be used with either the first or second orientation facing up. Likewise, the slip brick 10 may be suitable for use in slip brick installations using vertically extending slip brick rails, or on horizontal facades such as overhangs. However, symmetry of the first and second rail-engaging ends is not necessarily a requirement of all embodiments of the invention.

[0079] To provide context for an understanding of the invention, it is mentioned that each of the first and second rail-engaging ends 16a, 16b comprises a surface portion facing towards the rear of the brick 10, in the form of a rear-facing side 164a, 164b, behind the corresponding retainer members 162a, 162b, respectively. The rear-facing side 164a, 164b is a surface of the brick portion providing the retainer member, here a rearfacing surface of a wall of the groove 160a, 160b, at edges of one or both rail-engaging ends 16a, 16b.

[0080] The rear face 18 of the brick body 12 is profiled such that a surface region partway between the first and second rail-engaging ends 16a, 16b protrudes further back (in

[0081] Version 2026-01-21use, further towards a wall structure beneath) than the rear-facing sides 164a, 164b. The rear face 18 comprises a protrusion body 180, in Figure 3 in the form of a trapezoidal profile, the distal surface of which defines a plateau region 188, constituting a surface region of the rear face, that extends generally along a plane 186. The plane 186 is offset, or further back, than the surfaces of the rear-facing sides 164a, 164b. The plateau region 188 may be a flat surface. The plateau region 188 may be profiled, e.g. with surface texture. The lateral ends of the protrusion body 180 may be chamfered or tapered to provide a gradual transition zone 182a, 182b, respectively, constituting a transition ramp. The gradual transition zone 182a avoids a discontinuous step between the first rear-facing side 164a and the plateau region 188, and the gradual transition zone 182b avoids a discontinuous step between the second rearfacing side 164b and the plateau region 188. Due to the protruding profile of the protrusion body 180, there is a first clearance region 184a between the plane 186 and the first rear-facing side 164a, and a second clearance region 184b between the plane 186 and the second rear-facing side 164b.

[0082] Figure 2 illustrates, schematically, a slip brick fagade 20, comprising an arrangement of slip brick rails 22, 24a, 24b, 26, including a bottom rail 26, an arrangement of (here: two) mid rails 24a, 24b, and a top rail 22. The slip brick rails 22, 24a, 24b, 26 are affixed, using an appropriate fastener system, to a wall structure 19 underneath. The fastener system may be constituted by any suitable means, however a common fastener system comprises bolts comprising a bolt head 29a, 29b representing a fastener structure. The slip brick rails 22, 24a, 24b, 26 are spaced apart (here: vertically spaced apart) to hold between each two adjacent rails a series of slip bricks 10a, 10b, 10c.

[0083] Each slip brick rail 22, 24a, 24b, 24c comprises a back-fixing structure via which it is mounted to the wall structure 19, wherein different regions of a back-fixing structure are referenced as first or second back-fixing portions. The mid rails 24a, 24b comprise a first back-fixing portion 242a, 242b, respectively and a second back-fixing portion 244a, 244b, respectively. The first back-fixing portion and second back-fixing portions 242a, b and 244a, b are on either side (here above and below) a brick-supporting arm. The top rail 22 comprises a single back-fixing portion 222b providing a back-fixing structure, in use underneath the brick-supporting arm. The bottom rail 26 comprises a single back-

[0084] Version 2026-01-21fixing portion 262a providing a back-fixing portion, in use above the brick-supporting arm.

[0085] For the purpose of the present disclosure, the back-fixing structures extend generally parallel to the wall structure 19 onto which they are intended to be mounted. In some slip brick systems, the back-fixing structures may comprise a forward-angled arm or leg, respectively, to push against the rear face of a slip brick, to help to bias it away from the wall structure 19.

[0086] In some embodiments of the present invention, the back-fixing structure is provided as a flat structure, to extend co-planar to a plane of a wall structure beneath. In some embodiments, the back-fixing structure is provided by angled, flat structures that may be pressed by the rear face of the slip brick, during insertion, into a flatter configuration, for instance as part of a compressed arrangement.

[0087] The free ends between two adjacent back-fixing structures of two adjacent slip brick rails are spaced apart by a rail-to-rail gap 28. As illustrated in Figure 2, the rail-to-rail gap 28 corresponds to a spacing between a free end (here the lowest edge) of the back-fixing portion 222b (extending generally downward) and a free end (here the top edge) of the back-fixing portion 242a (extending generally upward) of the adjacent slip brick rail.

[0088] The illustrated slip bricks 10a, 10b, 10c may each be representative of a series of slip bricks installed along a row, each corresponding to the slip brick 10 described in Figure 3. Each slip brick 10a, 10b, 10c comprises a rear face 18 comprising a protrusion body 180 with a plateau region 188a, 188b, 188c, respectively, that represents a surface region of the rear face that extends further back, i.e. closer towards the wall structure 19, than the respective rear-facing sides 164 of the retainer members.

[0089] The protrusion bodies 180 of each slip brick reduce the free volume compared to slip bricks with a straight rear face (see clearance 8 in Figure 1). Furthermore, the slip brick profile and slip brick rail profile may be designed to match, such that the plateau regions 188a, 188b, 188c have a sufficient length (here: vertical height) to bridge (here: vertically) the rail-to-rail gap 28. As such, the rear-facing surfaces of the slip brick rails 22, 24a, 24b, 26 and of the slip bricks 10a 10b, 10c may be arranged to provide a

[0090] Version 2026-01-21practically continuous rear cavity surface. For instance, the slip bricks 10a, 10b, 10c and the slip brick rails, or at least the back-fixing regions thereof, may be designed to compress against each other to maintain a brick-to-rail contact at the back face of the brick installation. The surface is not necessarily air-tight, as the bricks have some porosity, and tolerance variations along the longitudinal extension of a rail, as well as brick-to-brick joints along a rail, allow for evaporation and escape of humidity. However, the design achieves a compacter slip brick cladding, holding the mass of the slip brick bodies closer to the structure underneath.

[0091] The above-mentioned back-fixing structures 222b, 242a, 244a, 242b, 244b, 262a correspond to the regions of the slip brick rail on which fastener structures, such as the bolt heads 29a, 29b, are located for backfixing. The first and second clearance regions 184a, 184b provide space for such fastener structures, such as the bolt heads 29a, 29b, to avoid interference and to allow the slip brick 10a, 10b, 10c to sit closer to the wall structure 19 than would otherwise be the case.

[0092] The gradual transition zones 182a, 182b (see Figure 2), provided by lateral sides of a trapezoidal profile of the protrusion body 180, provide a gradually more and more recessed structure for contact with the distal ends of the back-fixing structures, providing a ramped contact region for a wider range of geometries of a back-fixing plate. In some embodiments, the gradual transition zones 182a, 182b are formed without a step that could otherwise provide a seating surface on an edge of a back-fixing plate. The ramped profile can thereby reduce a risk of a slip brick sitting on an edge of a back-fixing plate. While the illustrated embodiments show trapezoidal, tapered transition zones, the protrusion body may in some embodiments have a curved profile. The tapered transition zones may be designed such that the back surface of the slip brick installation is practically flat. Alternatively or in addition, some embodiments may be designed and installed such that the brick-to-rail contact is established against transition ramp regions, to allow the plateau regions 188a, 188b, 188c to protrude into the rail-to-rail gap, such that the plateau regions 188a, 188b, 188c are practically co-planar with the back-fixing portions of the back-fixing structures of the rail.

[0093] Figure 4 illustrates, schematically, another slip brick fagade 30, comprising an arrangement of slip brick rails 32, 34, 36, including a bottom rail 36, an arrangement of

[0094] Version 2026-01-21(here: one) mid rail 34, and a top rail 32. The slip brick rails 32, 34, 36 are affixed, using an appropriate fastener system, to a wall structure 39 underneath, which may be a fastener system described in relation to Figure 2. The slip brick rails 32, 34, 36 are spaced apart (here: vertically spaced apart) to hold between each two adjacent rails a series of slip bricks 10a, 10b.

[0095] Each slip brick rail 32, 34, 36 comprises a back-fixing structure via which it is mounted to the wall structure 39. The mid rail 34 comprises a first back-fixing portion 342 and a second back-fixing portion 344. The first back-fixing portion and second back-fixing portions 342, 344 extend on either side (here above and below) a brick-supporting arm 343. The top rail 32 comprises a single back-fixing portion 324 providing a back-fixing structure, in use underneath a brick-supporting arm 323. The bottom rail 36 comprises a single back-fixing portion 362 providing a back-fixing portion, in use above a bricksupporting arm 363. The back-fixing structures 324, 342, 344, 362 extend generally parallel to the wall structure 19 onto which they are intended to be mounted, and the brick-supporting arms 323, 343, 363 extend generally perpendicularly from the back-fixing structures.

[0096] The free ends between two adjacent back-fixing structures of two adjacent slip brick rails are spaced apart by a rail-to-rail gap 38. The slip bricks 10a, 10b are mounted such that their gradual transition zones 182 (different transition zones being collectively identified by numeral 182) are, practically, pushed into abutment with the edges of the back-fixing structures, i.e. the first slip brick 10a abutting the back-fixing structures 324 and 342, the second flip brick 10b abutting the back-fixing structures 344, 362. As can be imagined, the back-fixing structures may be designed to contact the transition ramps of the gradual transition zones 182 such that the plateau region 188a may protrude between the adjacent rails, to be in contact with, or positioned very close to, the wall structure 39. In this manner, the plateau regions 188a and the back-fixing structures 324, 342, 344 and 362 may form a practically flat, co-planar back surface. The flatness of the back surface will be understood to depend on how far the plateau regions 188a protrude between adjacent rails, how planar the back-fixing structures are designed, and / or whether the plateau regions 188a abut against the external surfaces of the back-fixing structures.

[0097] Version 2026-01-21The clearance regions 184 provide that heads of fasteners of various sizes and dimensions can be accommodated. To illustrate the compact nature of the arrangement, two planes 31 and 186 are indicated in Figure 4. The plane 31 indicates the distal, most-protruding region of the fasteners (here: fastener heads) protruding from the wall structure 39 into the clearance regions 184. The plane 186 indicates the plane of the plateau regions 188a that correspond to protruding surface regions of the rear faces. As illustrated, even though the plane 31 is further away from the wall structure 39 than the plane 186, the plateau regions 188a can effectively protrude towards, and practically into, the rail-to-rail gap 38, to bridge and, here, effectively close the rail-to-rail gap 38. In other words, the arrangement avoids interference with a wider range of fastener systems when pressing a slip brick into contact with the back-fixing structures.

[0098] The rear side of the cladding arrangement 30 provides a practically flat back system, comprising the back-fixing plates of the slip brick rails and the plateau regions 188a of the slip bricks. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the residual volume between slip bricks and wall structure 39 might be sufficiently small, or sufficiently narrow, to effectively hinder or block spread of fires or fumes, thereby reducing a need for infill material or intumescent material.

[0099] Figure 5 illustrates, schematically, another slip brick fagade 40, comprising an arrangement of slip brick rails 32, 34, 36, including a bottom rail 36, an arrangement of (here: one) mid rail 34, and a top rail 32. The slip brick rail arrangement is the same as in Figure 4 and so the description of the rail features is not repeated for Figure 5, other than that the rail-to-rail gap is identified by a numeral 48.

[0100] The Figure 5 arrangement uses a slip brick 100a and 100b. Several features of the slip brick 100a and 100b are identical those described in relation to the slip brick 10 of Figure 2, and so the present description focuses on distinctions of the slip brick 100a, 100b. Related features described in Figure 2 with a suffix -a are provided in Figure 5 with a corresponding numeral and suffix -c. Related features described in Figure 2 with a suffix -b are provided in Figure 5 with a suffix -d.

[0101] The rail-engaging ends of the slip bricks 100a, 100b are provided by a first retainer member 162c and a second retainer member 162d. The first retainer member 162c is

[0102] Version 2026-01-21constituted by an externally-facing surface of an upstand structure. The externally-facing edge of the first retainer member comprises a tapered flat 166c. The tapered flat may provide a run-off surface e.g. for rainwater. The rear-facing side 164c of the first retainer member is, as in the slip brick 10, recessed behind the protrusion body 180, and the surface of the rear-facing side 164c is tapered inward.

[0103] The inward-taper of the rear-facing side 164c avoids collision with a fastener head if the slip brick 100a is inserted by levering it in from underneath. This is illustrated in the configuration of the slip brick 100a in the upper rail of Figure 5: as the slip brick (here slip brick 100a) is cantilevered from underneath to engage the rail 32, the rail-engaging end, here providing the first retainer member 162c, might collide with a fastener. While the situation might only arise for top rails and / or fasteners applied at a rail underside, it was found that an inward-taper of the rear-facing side 164 reduces the risk of such collisions, and therefore enables tighter geometries and / or enables compatibility with a wider range of fastener systems. An inward taper may be provided on both sides, e.g. of a symmetric brick profile. The brick insertion is completed by pressing the brick rear face towards, and as much as possible against, the wall structure 39, and allowing it to drop or pushing it down to be seated on the rail underneath, via the second retainer member 162d, as illustrated by the slip brick 100b in the lower rail of Figure 5.

[0104] The second retainer member 162d is provided by an inner, forward-facing wall surface of a groove. The edge portion on the opposite side of the second retainer member 162d is provided by a tail portion 166d extending further away (here: down) than the second retainer member 162d, to provide, when installed, an overhang, or curtain structure, to conceal at least a portion of a rail underneath. The tail portion 166d may reduce or avoid the need for mortar infilling.

[0105] Features such as the tail portion 166d and the inward-tapered rear-facing side 164 may be combined in one slip brick profile, but are not necessarily so combined in all embodiments. For instance, in some embodiments, a rear-facing side 164a as illustrated in Figure 3 at one end may be combined with a tail portion 166d as illustrated in Figure 5.

[0106] As in Figures 2 and 4, in Figure 5 the space between two adjacent rails is defined by a rail-to-rail gap 48, which is bridged by the protruding body 180, such that a surface

[0107] Version 2026-01-21region of the rear face, e.g. the plateau region 188 thereof, and / or transition zones 182 thereof, come into contact with free ends of the back-fixing plates 32, 34, 36, respectively. The rear side of the cladding arrangement 40 provides a practically flat back system, comprising the back-fixing plates of the slip brick rails and the plateau regions 188d of the slip bricks. The rear faces of the slip bricks may provide a bridging contact between two adjacent, spaced-apart rails, such that the back surface of a slip brick installation is practically continuously flat, despite using spaced-apart rails. As will be appreciated, depending on tolerances, the plateau regions 188 may not be perfectly co-planar with the back-fixing structures, however it is believed that a characteristic of many embodiments is the protrusion of the plateau regions 188 between the clearance regions for fasteners, as indicated by the plane 31 in Figure 4.

[0108] Figure 6 illustrates a variant of a cladding arrangement 50 combining the slip brick 10 of Figure 3 with flat-backed rails, i.e., rails with flat back-fixing plate, which may be similar to the rails illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. The arrangement 50 comprises a plurality of rails 34a, 34b, constituting at least two rails, comprising a back-fixing structure via which each rail is mounted to a wall structure 39 underneath. A first rail 34a comprises a first back-fixing portion 342a and a second back-fixing portion 344a extending on either side (here above and below) of a brick-supporting arm 343a. A second rail 34b comprises a first back-fixing portion 342b and a second back-fixing portion 344b extending on either side (here above and below) of a brick-supporting arm 343b. The arrangement 50 may also be provided with a top rail and / or a bottom rail, corresponding to Figure 4, for instance. The free ends between two adjacent back-fixing structures, here the distal ends of the second back fixing portion 344a and the first back fixing portion 342b, of two adjacent slip brick rails 34a, 34b, are spaced apart by a rail-to-rail gap 58. The slip brick 10 of Figure 6 corresponds to the brick of Figure 3, and so a description of its features is not repeated for Figure 6.

[0109] Figure 7 illustrates a variant of Figure 6, of a cladding arrangement 60 combining the flat-backed rails of Figure 6 with a slip brick 110. The slip brick 110 is a variant of the slip brick 10 described in Figure 3. The slip brick 110 comprises a stepped transition 183a and 183b between the rear-facing sides 164a, 164b and the plateau region 188, to define the clearance regions 184a, 184b of the rear face 18. As in Figure 6, the arrangement 60 comprises a plurality of rails 34a, 34b that, for the purpose of the illustration of Figure 7, provide the same rail arrangement as in Figure 6, including a

[0110] Version 2026-01-21rail-to-rail gap 58, and so the description of features of the rails 34a, 34b is not repeated for Figure 7.

[0111] In both arrangements 50 and 60, the rails 34a, 34b retain the slip brick 10, 110, respectively, to a wall structure 39 underneath. The rail-to-rail gap 58 is shorter than the gap-bridging span, i.e. the in-use vertical height, of the plateau region 188 of the rear face 18, whereby the plateau region 188, both of the slip brick 10 and of the slip brick 110, has sufficient length to bridge the rail-to-rail gap 58. In some installations, the plateau region 188 may be shorter than the rail-to-rail gap 58, and contact only one of the two rails. The slip brick 10 or 110, respectively, is installed such that the plateau region 188 abuts against the external surfaces of at least one, or both, of the adjacent back-fixing structures. As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, a first region 188-1 of the plateau region 188 is in contact to abut the second back fixing portion 344a, and a second region 188-2 of the plateau region 188 is in contact to abut the first back fixing portion 342b. In this manner, the plateau region 188 bridges the rail-to-rail gap 58, providing a practically continuous rear cavity surface.

[0112] Corresponding to Figure 3, the rear face 18 of both the slip brick 10 of Figure 6 and the slip brick 110 of Figure 7 comprises rear-facing sides 164a, 164b of the rail engaging ends 16a, 16b, respectively (see Figure 3) that are recessed such that the plateau region 188 protrudes beyond the rear-facing sides 164a, 164b, whereby the rear-facing sides 164a, 164b provide clearance regions 184a, 184b in the rear face 18 for a fastener.

[0113] Figures 6 and 7 each show a plane 31a and a plane 186a to indicate that clearance regions 184a, 184b are maintained when the rear-facing side (here the plateau region 188) is in abutment with one or both of the back-fixing portions 344a, 342b. The plane 31a indicates the distal, most-protruding region of fasteners (here: fastener heads) protruding (away from the wall structure 39) from the wall structure 39 underneath into the clearance regions 184a, 184b, respectively. The plane 186a indicates the plane of the plateau region 188 that corresponds to a protruding surface region (protruding toward the wall structure 39) of the rear face 18. The plane 31a is further away (i.e., in Figures 6 and 7, further left) from the wall structure 39 than the plane 186a. Thereby, the plateau region 188 protrudes beyond the fastener heads (i.e., in Figures 6 and 7, further right), and beyond the plane 31a, towards the rail-to-rail gap 58, to bridge and,

[0114] Version 2026-01-21here, effectively close the rail-to-rail gap 58. Both arrangements 50 and 60 provide a reduced free volume behind the slip bricks 10, 110, respectively, in the rail-to-rail gap 58. Also, both arrangements 50, 60 allow a centre of gravity of the slip bricks 10, 110 to be closer to the wall structure 39 underneath.

[0115] The slip brick may be formed by cutting a front face of a conventional brick. Alternatively, the slip brick may be cast using a specific mould. Embodiments of the invention may be designed with a continuous profile along the elongate extension of the brick, wherein the profile includes the retainer members (such as grooves 160a, 160b, 160d, or an upstand 162c) and the protruding rear face 18, so as to be suitable for manufacturing by extrusion or other axial forming methods.

[0116] The installation of a slip brick rail arrangement may be carried out with the aid of one or more spacer components that indicate an appropriate rail-to-rail spacing to help to ensure a predetermined rail-to-rail gap to be closed by a slip brick design to be used in a fagade installation. The spacer component may be a single-use sheet metal part that remains in place after installation. Alternatively, the spacer component may be provided by a suitable tool to be reused.

[0117] Slip brick rails may be formed from aluminium, aluminium alloys, steel, or steel alloys. Slip brick rails may be formed by extrusion, press forming, or roll forming, depending on the material used.

[0118] While not necessarily a requirement of all embodiments, the slip-brick supporting rails may incorporate shapes or designs to assist the bridge formation of the rail-to-rail gap. For instance, the free ends of the back-fixing plates may comprise a hem to create a thicker interface with the transition ramp regions. As another option, the free ends of the back-fixing plates may be tapered or rounded, and / or may comprise integrally formed ridges, to facilitate alignment, and / or to increase the likelihood of a brick-on back-fixing plate contact for a wider range of geometries.

[0119] Whilst the principle of the invention has been illustrated using exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not so limited and that the invention may be embodied by other variants defined within the scope of the appended claims.

[0120] Version 2026-01-21

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A slip brick for a slip brick system of the type comprising a series of slip bricks installed between two slip brick rails,the slip brick comprising a brick body comprising an external face, a rear face, two lateral ends, and two rail-engaging ends,wherein each rail-engaging end comprises a retainer member providing a ledge region for retention on a slip brick rail, when installed, andwherein each retainer member comprises a rear-facing side, and wherein a surface region of the rear face of the brick body protrudes beyond the rear-facing side of at least one retainer member.

2. The slip brick according to claim 1, wherein the surface region of the rear face of the brick body protrudes beyond both rear-facing sides of both retainer members.

3. The slip brick according to claim 1 and 2, wherein the surface region of the rear face of the brick body comprises a plateau region that extends generally parallel to the external face.

4. The slip brick according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface region of the rear face of the brick body is flat.

5. The slip brick according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a transition ramp from the surface region of the rear face to the or each rear-facing side of the or each retainer member.

6. The slip brick according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rearfacing side of at least one retainer member is tapering inward relative to the rear face.

7. The slip brick according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the edge between rear face of the brick body and the rear-facing side of one or both retainer members is recessed.

8. The slip brick according to claim 7, wherein the edge between rear face of the brick body and the rear-facing side of one of the retainer members is recessed more,Version 2026-01-21and / or tapered further inward, than that of the other of the retainer members, to provide an insertion edge.

9. The slip brick according to any one of the preceding claims, formed from a brick cut to a shape of a slip brick.

10. The slip brick according to any one of claims 1 to 8, of extruded material form.

11. The slip brick according to any one of claims 1 to 8, of moulded material form.

12. The slip brick according to any one of the preceding claims, formed from noncombustible material.

13. The slip brick according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external face comprises glazing.

14. A slip brick system comprising a slip brick according to any one of the preceding claims, the slip brick comprising at least one retainer member and a surface region of the rear face protruding beyond the at least one retainer member,the slip brick system comprising at least two rails to provide a first rail and a second rail for retaining the slip brick to a structure beneath,wherein each rail comprises a generally flat back-fixing structure to allow it to be mounted to the structure beneath such that the first rail is spaced from the second rail by a predetermined rail-to-rail gap, andwherein the slip brick is dimensioned such that, when installed on one of the first and second rails, the surface region of the rear face protrudes towards the rail-to-rail gap.

15. The slip brick system according to claim 14, wherein the rear face is dimensioned to bridge the rail-to-rail gap.

16. The slip brick system according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the rear face protrudes from the retainer member such that, upon abutting the back-fixing structure and / or the structure underneath, a clearance region is maintained between the rearfacing side of the retainer member and the back-fixing structure.Version 2026-01-2117. The slip brick system according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the retainer member comprises a rear-facing side sufficiently recessed from the rear face to maintain a clearance between the rear-facing side and at least part of the back-fixing structure, when abutted against the back-fixing structure and / or the structure underneath.

18. The slip brick system according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the slip brick comprises a transition ramp from the rear face to the or each rear-facing side of the or each retainer member, wherein optionally the transition ramp is deeper than a thickness of the flat back-fixing structure.

19. The slip brick system according to any one of claims 14 to 18, further comprising a spacer component to assist with maintaining said predetermined rail-to-rail gap.

20. The slip brick according to any one of claims 1 to 13, or the slip brick system according to any one of claims 14 to 19, comprised in a fagade cladding system.

21. The slip brick system according to any one of claims 14 to 20, wherein at least a few of the slip brick rails extend horizontally and are vertically spaced apart.

22. The slip brick system according to any one of claims 14 to 21 , wherein at least a few of the slip brick rails extend vertically and are horizontally spaced apart.

23. The slip brick system according to any one of claims 14 to 22, comprised in a vertically extending fagade.

24. The slip brick system according to any one of claims 14 to 22, comprised in a horizontally extending fagade.Version 2026-01-21

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