Hollow box section integrated lifting point

Abstract

Herein is described a hollow box section beam comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls; a beam longitudinal centreline axis which extends along the length of the hollow box section beam; an extrusion which extends from one side wall to the other side wall, wherein the extrusion comprises a through-hole which is parallel to the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the extrusion comprises an extrusion centreline axis; wherein the extrusion centreline axis is located between the beam longitudinal centreline axis and the top wall, wherein the extrusion and through-hole provide an integrated lifting point for use with a bow shackle.

Description

[0001] HOLLOW BOX SECTION INTEGRATED LIFTING POINT

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a novel lifting apparatus and related methods for use with a hollow box section beam. The hollow box section may be part of a structure inside a modular container. The invention relates to an integrated lifting point, which is located within a hollow box section beam. The hollow box section may have a rectangular cross sectional area, or it may have a square cross sectional area.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Water treatment is a process which is required in many countries throughout the world to make water clean enough to drink.

[0006] Water treatment systems are typically made up of various stages, such as flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, and storage.

[0007] It is possible to contain water treatment devices within a shipping container-shaped unit. These units may be modular and may be designed to be connected to one another.

[0008] The units may be formed of beams which are oriented horizontally, and columns which are oriented vertically. The beams and columns are connected together to form the structure of the building.The units may be made from structural steel sections which are in the form of hollow box section beams. The hollow box section beams may have a square or rectangular cross-sectional area. Hollow box section is used as an alternative to I beams or universal beams. Throughout this specification, hollow box section beams will be referred to as any generic four-sided box section shaped beam.

[0009] Hollow box section beams are not as common as their universal beam counterparts. However, box section beams have some advantages over universal beams. Hollow box section beams have higher torsional stability and higher strength to weight ratio than universal beams for example. This is particularly advantageous when twisting or high stress loads are anticipated.

[0010] Hollow box section beams can also be considered to be more aesthetically pleasing than other beam types.

[0011] However, one disadvantage with hollow box sections is that there is no currently easy way of lifting them. If the building which is made from hollow box section beams needs to be lifted, then lifting points on the beams is a desirable feature. This makes lifting the building much easier.

[0012] Existing solutions in the art include lifting eyes, which are generally welded onto the tops of the hollow box section beams. These types of lifting points can be problematic as they protrude high above the top wall of the beam when in use. They are also permanently fixed on and thus can be considered to be a permanent obstruction.

[0013] There are no solutions in the art which integrate a lifting point into a hollow box section. Integrating a lifting point into a hollow box section is not an easy task, asthere is no obvious place to put a lifting point into a hollow box section. Furthermore, the width associated with the hollow box section prohibits using standard shackles.

[0014] The hollow box section needs to maintain structural integrity to continue to function as a beam.

[0015] The hollow section beams can be used to form a structural skeleton, which can then be clad with any suitable material to form a strong, lightweight, waterproof, movable container which can contain any type of water treatment devices. The movable units can be modular in form, such that they can be stacked on top of one another and be joined together side-to-side.

[0016] To move the modular units, there is a requirement to lift them for transport onto a articulated trailer for example. Lifting points are typically added to allow lifting of the module, usually with the aid of a lifting or a spreader frame.

[0017] The lifting points typically consist of plate steel, profiled or cut into a specific shape, then welded into a permanent location or welded onto a bolted base. The lifting points allow a shackle to be connected to them.

[0018] These pad-eyes may be welded onto the top of hollow box section beams at suitable lifting point locations. Alternatively, pad-eyes are welded onto suitable base plates, and the base plates are bolted onto the tops of the hollow section beams. However, both of these methods have downsides.

[0019] Firstly, if the pad eye is welded onto a base plate and is bolted onto the existing hollow box section beam, then the hollow box section beam needs to be drilled.The bolted connection also requires installation on site and would require correctly torqued bolts: both of which are time consuming tasks. This is therefore not a desirable solution.

[0020] If the pad eye is welded onto the top of the hollow box section beam, this also requires additional labour to attach. Furthermore, the welded section on the top wall of the box section may be weakened by the heat from the welded portion. In addition, the overall height of the container will be increased, which due to transportation limits will result in the container being reduced in size (otherwise road transport rules will be broken).

[0021] There is therefore a need for a solution which is less time consuming, and one which reduces the amount of work required on-site.

[0022] There is also a need for a solution which provides a strong, low-profile, lifting point for use with a modular unit made from a hollow box section beam structure.

[0023] There is also a need for a component which is integral to a universal beam, such that load testing can be done within a workshop environment, and not on-site.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0024] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a hollow box section beam comprising:

[0025] a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls;

[0026] a beam longitudinal centreline axis which extends along the length of the hollow box section beam;

[0027] an extrusion which extends from one side wall to the other side wall, wherein the extrusion comprises a through-hole which is parallel to the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the extrusion comprises an extrusion centreline axis;

[0028] wherein the extrusion centreline axis is located between the beam longitudinal centreline axis and the top wall, wherein the extrusion and through-hole provide an integrated lifting point for use with a bow shackle.

[0029] The extrusion centreline axis is generally arranged perpendicular to the beam longitudinal centreline axis.

[0030] The extrusion may be cylindrical. The extrusion may be any suitable shape to house a through-hole which is suitable for use with a bow shackle. For example, it may be another regular geometric shape such as a hexagon.

[0031] The through-hole may be concentric with the (preferably cylindrical) extrusion. The through-hole may be eccentric with the extrusion. The through-hole may be located anywhere on the extrusion, which is suitable for attaching a bow shackle to.

[0032] The outer diameter of the (preferably cylindrical) extrusion may be at least double the diameter of the through-hole.The extrusion may protrude above the top wall of the box section beam.

[0033] The extrusion centreline axis may be located at the midpoint between the beam longitudinal centreline axis and the top wall.

[0034] The hollow box section beam may comprise reinforcing plates attached to the side walls and / or the top wall to strengthen (or further strengthen) the integrated lifting point. The reinforcing plates may be of any suitable shape or orientation. The reinforcing plates may be cuboidal, but are preferably generally rectangular. The reinforcing plates may be welded onto the hollow box section, or attached by any other suitable means, for example riveting. The reinforcing plates may be used to brace the cut out in the top of the top wall, to provide reinforcing strength.

[0035] The extrusion may extend to be flush with the side wall reinforcing plates (i.e such that planar end faces of the extrusion are coplanar with the outer faces of the side wall reinforcing plates). The extrusion may be of any suitable length to be strong enough to withstand the forces in a pin shackle. The extrusion may only extend to be flush with the side walls, though it may alternatively protrude beyond the side walls and / or the reinforcing plates.

[0036] The beam, the extrusion, and / or the reinforcing plates may be made of steel. The beam, the extrusion, and / or the reinforcing plates may be made from any other suitable material which is strong enough to withstand the forces of a lifting point.

[0037] The top wall reinforcing plate may be 15mm thick, and the side wall reinforcing plates may be 10mm thick. The top wall reinforcing plate may be any suitablethickness to reinforce the top wall. The side wall reinforcing plates may be any suitable thickness to provide a bracing force to the side walls.

[0038] The hollow box section beam may have a square cross section. The hollow box section beam may have any four-sided shape cross section, for example rectangular or trapezoidal.

[0039] The beam may be made from 5mm thick steel. The beam may be made from any thickness of material.

[0040] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for forming a hollow box section beam according to any beam which has been previously described, the method comprising the steps of:

[0041] providing a hollow box section beam;

[0042] drilling or otherwise forming a hole through each of the side walls to accommodate an extrusion;

[0043] slotting or otherwise inserting the extrusion through the drilled or otherwise formed hole into location;

[0044] fixing the extrusion into place, for example via welding.

[0045] There may be additional minor steps to the method process, such as preparing the materials for drilling (or otherwise forming) and welding (or otherwise fixing).

[0046] The method may further comprise the step of fixing one or more reinforcing plates into place, for example via welding or riveting.Embodiments of the second aspect of the invention may comprise features of or corresponding to the preferred or optional features of the first aspect of the invention, or vice versa.

[0047] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a building or modular unit comprising at least one hollow box section beam according to the first aspect.

[0048] The modular unit is optionally a modular water treatment unit.

[0049] Preferably, the building or modular unit comprises at least one corrugated sheet of metal acting as a wall of the building or modular unit.

[0050] Preferably, the at least one hollow box section beam is arranged in a horizontal manner.

[0051] Preferably, the building or modular unit is a container comprising four integrated lifting points for lifting by a lifting apparatus.

[0052] Preferably, the building or modular unit is shipping-container shaped and / or contains one or more water treatment devices.

[0053] Optionally, the building is modular and is connectable to other such buildings, or the modular unit is connectable to other such modular units. Where the modular unit is a modular water treatment unit, multiple such units may be connected to form a water treatment system.Embodiments of the third aspect of the invention may comprise features of or corresponding to the preferred or optional features of the first or second aspects of the invention, or vice versa.

[0054] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of lifting a building or modular unit according to the third aspect, the method comprising attaching one or more bow shackles to one or more corresponding integrated lifting points.

[0055] Preferably, attaching a bow shackle to a corresponding integrated lifting point comprises inserting a pin of the bow shackle into the through-hole.

[0056] Preferably, the pin is able to rotate freely within the through hole to prevent transmitting bending or twisting forces to or from the building or modular unit.

[0057] Optionally, the method comprises attaching a lifting apparatus to the integrated lifting points.

[0058] The lifting apparatus may comprise flexible chains or straps and a generally horizontal spreader bar between the flexible chains or straps.

[0059] The method may further comprise transporting the building or modular unit, and optionally further comprise lifting the building or modular unit onto an articulated trailer.The method may further comprise installation, maintenance, re-location, retrofitting, commissioning, etc of the building or modular unit, or a water treatment system comprising multiple modular water treatment units.

[0060] Embodiments of the fourth aspect of the invention may comprise features of or corresponding to the preferred or optional features of the first, second or third aspects of the invention, or vice versa.

[0061] According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a hollow box section beam comprising:

[0062] a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls;

[0063] a beam longitudinal centreline axis which extends along the length of the hollow box section beam;

[0064] an extrusion which extends from one side wall to the other side wall, wherein the extrusion comprises a through-hole which is parallel to the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the through hole comprises through hole centreline axis; wherein the through hole centreline axis is located between the beam longitudinal centreline axis and the top wall, wherein the extrusion and through-hole provide an integrated lifting point for use with a bow shackle.

[0065] Embodiments of the fifth aspect of the invention may comprise features of or corresponding to the preferred or optional features of any other aspect of the invention, in particular the first aspect of the invention, or vice versa.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following figures:

[0067] Figure 1 is an example of an integrated lifting point according to an embodiment of the invention, shown integrated into a hollow box section beam;

[0068] Figure 2 shows an elevation view of the integrated lifting point shown in Figure 1 and according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0069] Figure 3 shows a plan view of the integrated lifting point which is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0070] Figure 4A is an elevation view of the cross section BB (from Figure 2) and Figure 4B is a perspective view of the cross section BB; and

[0071] Figure 5 is an elevation view of a container according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising four integrated lifting points.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0072] Generally speaking, the present invention relates to an integrating lifting point for a box section beam.

[0073] Figure 1 is an example of an integrated lifting point 100 according to the invention, shown integrated into a hollow box section beam 102. In this particular example, the hollow box section beam 102 has a square cross section. Any cross-sectional shape is possible, but a four-sided shape such as a square or rectangle is preferred.

[0074] Figure 1 is a cut away of a portion of a hollow box section beam 102, which is shown, in this exemplary but non-limiting embodiment, being used as a hollow member from a building. Below the hollow box section beam 102 is a corrugated sheet of metal, which could act as a wall for the building.

[0075] The hollow box section beam 102 comprises a top wall 110, a bottom wall 111, and two side walls 112. The hollow box section beam comprises a beam longitudinal centreline axis 114, which extends along the length of the beam. For the avoidance of doubt, the centreline axis is equidistant from the top and bottom walls, and equidistant from the side walls, such that it extends along the middle of the beam.

[0076] An extrusion 104 extends from one side wall 112 to the other side wall 112. The extrusion 104 comprises a through-hole which extends parallel to the top wall 110 and the bottom wall 111. The extrusion 104 also comprises an extrusion centreline axis 116. In this example, the through-hole is concentric with the extrusionlongitudinal centreline axis 116. The through-hole extends completely from one side wall 112 to the other side wall 112.

[0077] In this particular embodiment, the extrusion centreline axis 116 is located between the beam longitudinal centreline axis 114 and the top wall 110. In other words, the extrusion centreline axis 116 is above the beam longitudinal centreline axis 114. The extrusion centreline axis 116 and the beam longitudinal centreline axis are arranged generally perpendicular to each other. In use, the extrusion 104 and the through-hole provide an integrated lifting point 100 for use with a bow shackle.

[0078] The lifting point 100 is used to lift the beam. The beam is typically arranged in a horizontal manner as part of a building structure. The integrated lifting point 100 provides a secure robust feature for attaching a bow shackle to. The pin-type connection (of a bow-shackle) allows for a pin to be inserted into the through-hole, and allows the pin to rotate freely. This prevents any unwanted forces from being transferred into the beam structure such as bending or twisting.

[0079] In this embodiment of the invention, the extrusion 104 is cylindrical. The outer diameter of the cylindrical extrusion 104 as shown is around double the diameter of the through-hole. This wall thickness ensures a very strong extrusion, and ensures the safety of the integrated lifting point. However, other ratios of wall thickness of the extrusion are also possible. Likewise, other cross-sectional shapes of extrusion are possible, although it is preferred that the through-hole at least is cylindrical. For example, the cross-sectional shape may be hexagonal, or another regular polygon.

[0080] (Note that holes to receive a cylindrical extrusion can preferably be made by drilling, but when the extrusion is not cylindrical drilling may not be suitable, inwhich case the holes must be formed some other way, for example by cutting or stamping.)

[0081] In addition, the location of the extrusion combined with the wall thickness of the extrusion 104, may (as shown in this embodiment) result in a portion of the extrusion 104 protruding above and through the top wall 110 of the beam 100. This location of the extrusion, and in particular the through hole which is preferably (but not essentially) centred in the extrusion, is a design choice which forms part of the invention.

[0082] The design intent of having a protrusion out of the top wall 110 is to allow for a bow shackle to be used which can easily reach the through-hole. If the extrusion 104 was centred on the beam longitudinal centreline axis 114, which is the obvious location for such a feature (if the designer had considered an extrusion), then the bow shackle would need to have greater reach and clearance to reach the through-hole.

[0083] Furthermore, if the designer did not want to breach the walls of the hollow box section beam 102, then they would have needed to reduce the wall thickness of the extrusion 104. This would therefore limit the maximum lifting capability of the integrated lifting point 100. If the designer did consider increasing the thickness of the extrusion, and the extrusion was located in the midpoint between the top wall 110 and the bottom wall, then they would inevitably breach both the bottom and the top walls 110 of the hollow box section 102. This however would seriously impair the strength of the hollow box section 102 and would render the beam 102 unsuitable for lifting. The designers of the present invention have therefore carefully chosen the extrusion and the through-hole to be located above the centreline axis, such that if the extrusion is of a wide enough diameter, then it only breaches the top wall 110 of the beam 102.There is also a significant reducing in manufacturing effort if only the top wall 110 is breached.

[0084] Hollow box section beams 102 can withstand a breach in the top wall 110, and still be strong enough for continued use. If additional strengthening is required, then reinforcing plates can be added to the beam 102. Top wall reinforcing plates 108 can be added to the top wall 110, and side wall reinforcing plates 106 can be added to the side walls 112, as shown in the exemplary embodiment in the appended Figures. It is preferred that the reinforcing plates be welded to the respective walls, but they can be attached by other means such as by riveting.

[0085] The reinforcing plates 106 / 108 can be made from any suitable material such as steel. They can completely cover the width of walls or they may only partially cover them. The reinforcing plates 106 / 108 can also extend the whole length of the beam 102, or they may only extend partially along the beam length (as shown in Figures 1 and 2).

[0086] The size of the hollow box section beam in this embodiment is 100mm x 100mm x 5mm. The side wall reinforcing plates 106 in this embodiment are 10mm thick, and the top wall reinforcing plates in this embodiment are 15mm thick. The extrusion 104 in this embodiment is 120mm long, and has a diameter of 120mm. The centre line 116 of the extrusion 104 in this embodiment is located at the midpoint between the top wall 110 and the beam longitudinal centreline axis 114. The extrusion 104 in this embodiment has a through-hole which has a diameter of 52mm. Therefore in this embodiment, the extrusion 104 extends longitudinally to be flush with the side wall reinforcing plates 106. These exemplary dimensions are, of course, nonlimiting. For example, the extrusion may alternatively protrude beyond the sidewall reinforcing plates, and the centre line of the extrusion may be located at any height between the top wall and the beam longitudinal centreline axis.

[0087] Figure 2 shows an elevation view of the integrated lifting point 100 shown in Figure 1 , and Figure 3 shows a plan view of the integrated lifting point which is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0088] The elevation view in Figure 2 clearly shows that the extrusion centreline axis 116 is located above the beam longitudinal centreline axis 114. As noted above the extrusion centreline axis 116 may be located anywhere between the beam longitudinal centreline axis 114 and the top wall 110; in this embodiment it is located at the mid-point.

[0089] The plan view in Figure 3 shows clearly where the reinforcement plates 106 / 108 are located on the hollow box section beam 104 in this embodiment. As noted above, the reinforcement plates are optional.

[0090] Figure 4A is an elevation view of the cross section BB (from Figure 2) and Figure 4B is a perspective view of the cross section BB. The extrusion centreline axis 116 can be clearly seen running through the centreline axis of the extrusion 104. The wall thickness of the extrusion 104 can also clearly be seen from Figures 4A and 4B.

[0091] A hollow box section beam can be provided with an integrated lifting point as described above, or in any variant as may be envisioned by the skilled person, by drilling or otherwise forming a hole through each of the side walls, inserting the extrusion through the holes into location, and welding or otherwise fixing the extrusion in place. The optional reinforcing plates can then likewise be welded orotherwise fixed in place (e.g. by riveting). It is envisaged that the reinforcing plates could be fixed in place before or after the extrusion is inserted and / or fixed in place. Drilling of the holes may be most appropriate if the extrusion is cylindrical but may not be appropriate for other cross-sectional shapes, in which case the holes may be formed by cutting or stamping, for example.

[0092] Figure 5 is an elevation view of a building or modular unit in the shape of a container 200 comprising four integrated lifting points 100. The four integrated lifting points 100 in the container 200 are shown being lifted by a lifting apparatus 300.

[0093] A typical lifting apparatus 300 as shown comprises flexible chains or straps which are orientated generally vertically, and depend from a rigid spreader bar which is located between the chains or straps, and is generally horizontally oriented.

[0094] The integrated lifting points 100 according to the invention therefore allow a modular unit or container building 200 such as that shown to be safely lifted and transported, whilst maintaining the structural integrity of the container 200. For example, the building (or equivalent modular unit, see below) can be lifted onto an articulated trailer and then transported, after which it can be lifted off and into position in a similar manner. Being able to lift and transport in this way facilitates use of the invention not only in methods of lifting and transporting, but also in installation, maintenance, re-location, retro-fitting, commissioning, etc.

[0095] As discussed in the background to the invention, it is desirable to provide a solution which provides a strong, low-profile, lifting point for use with a building or modular unit made from a hollow box section beam structure. Such a building or modular unit can contain water treatment devices, and can be shipping container shapedfor ease of transportation using existing logistics solutions. These modular units may be designed to be connected to one another.

[0096] Lifting such a building or modular unit (or any structure which incorporates lifting points in accordance with the invention) involves attaching a bow shackle (for example at the end of a lifting strap or chain) to an integrated lifting point (of which there are likely several; in the example shown in Figure 5 there are four). A pin of the bow shackle is inserted into the through hole of the corresponding extrusion. The pin can ideally rotate freely within the through hole to prevent bending or twisting forces being transferred to or from the building or modular unit.

[0097] In the foregoing examples, and in the appended claims, the “extrusion centreline axis” is assumed or otherwise taken to be coincident with a centreline of the through hole in the extrusion. It can therefore be used interchangeably with “through hole centreline axis”. Indeed, this latter term may be more appropriate in alternative embodiments where the through hole is not concentric with the extrusion (or, if non-cylindrical, otherwise offset from the centre of the extrusion). For example, if the through hole is above the centreline axis of the extrusion, the invention may be alternatively expressed by defining that the through hole centreline axis is located between the beam longitudinal centreline axis and the top wall. This alternative is expressed in the fifth aspect of the invention and any other features of the first aspect can form features of the fifth aspect. It is however intended that the extrusion centreline axis should include the through hole centreline axis even if it is offset. Otherwise it shall be taken to be a variant thereof and therefore equivalent thereto.

[0098] As may be used herein, the terms bottom, lower, below and the like are descriptive of a feature that is located towards a first end / side of an apparatus, system, unit or component while the terms top, upper, above and the like are descriptive of afeature that is located towards a second, opposing end / side of the apparatus, system, unit or component. Such an apparatus, system, unit or component may be inverted without altering the scope of protection which, as below, is defined by the appended claims. Likewise, where an embodiment, feature or effect has been described as vertical, horizontal, or indeed anywhere in-between, this is not intended to limit the scope of protection to vertical, horizontal or other orientations.

[0099] Throughout the specification, unless the context demands otherwise, the terms “comprise” or “include”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, “includes” or “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0100] Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. CLAIMS1. A hollow box section beam comprising:a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls;a beam longitudinal centreline axis which extends along the length of the hollow box section beam;an extrusion which extends from one side wall to the other side wall, wherein the extrusion comprises a through-hole which is parallel to the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the extrusion comprises an extrusion centreline axis;wherein the extrusion centreline axis is located between the beam longitudinal centreline axis and the top wall, wherein the extrusion and through-hole provide an integrated lifting point for use with a bow shackle.

2. A hollow box section beam according to claim 1, wherein the extrusion is cylindrical, and wherein the through-hole is preferably concentric with the cylindrical extrusion.

3. A hollow box section beam according to claim 2, wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical extrusion is at least double the diameter of the through- hole.

4. A hollow box section beam according to any preceding claim, wherein the extrusion protrudes above the top wall of the box section beam.

5. A hollow box section beam according to any preceding claim, wherein the extrusion centreline axis is located at the midpoint between the beam longitudinal centreline axis and the top wall.

6. A hollow box section beam according to any preceding claim, further comprising reinforcing plates attached to the side walls and / or the top wall to strengthen the integrated lifting point.

7. A hollow box section beam according to claim 6, wherein the extrusion extends to be flush with the side wall reinforcing plates.

8. A hollow box section beam according to any of claims 6 to 7, wherein the beam, the extrusion, and / or the reinforcing plates are made of steel.

9. A hollow box section beam according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the top wall reinforcing plate is 15mm thick, and wherein the side wall reinforcing plates are 10mm thick.

10. A hollow box section beam according to any preceding claim, wherein the hollow box section beam has a square cross section.

11. A hollow box section beam according to claim 10, wherein the beam is made from 5mm thick steel.

12. A method for forming a hollow box section beam according to any of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of:providing a hollow box section beam;forming, preferably by drilling, a hole through each of the side walls to accommodate an extrusion;inserting, optionally by slotting, the extrusion through the drilled or otherwise formed holes into location;fixing the extrusion into place, preferably via welding.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of fixing one or more reinforcing plates into place, preferably via welding.

14. A building or modular unit comprising at least one hollow box section beam according to any of claims 1 to 11.

15. The building or modular unit of claim 14, comprising at least one corrugated sheet of metal acting as a wall of the building or modular unit.

16. The building or modular unit of claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the at least one hollow box section beam is arranged in a horizontal manner.

17. The building or modular unit of any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the building or modular unit is a container comprising four integrated lifting points for lifting by a lifting apparatus.

18. The building or modular unit of any of claims 14 to 17, wherein the building is shipping-container shaped and / or contains water treatment devices.

19. The building of claim 18, wherein the building is modular and is connectable to other such buildings.

20. The modular unit of claim 18, wherein the modular unit is connectable to other such modular units, and is optionally a modular water treatment unit.

21. A method of lifting a building or modular unit according to any of claims 14 to 20, the method comprising attaching one or more bow shackles to corresponding integrated lifting points.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein attaching a bow shackle to a corresponding integrated lifting point comprises inserting a pin of the bow shackle into the through-hole.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the pin is able to rotate freely within the through hole to prevent bending or twisting forces being transmitted to or from the building or modular unit.

24. The method of any of claims 21 to 23, wherein the one or more bow shackles are comprised in a lifting apparatus, the lifting apparatus comprising flexible chains or straps and a spreader bar between the flexible chains or straps.

25. The method of any of claims 21 to 24, further comprising transporting the building or modular unit, optionally comprising lifting the building or modular unit onto an articulated trailer.

26. The method of any of claims 21 to 25, further comprising installing, relocating, retro-fitting, and / or commissioning of the building or modular unitor a water treatment system comprising multiple connected water treatment units.

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