AU2005201356B2 - An inter-tenancy wall - Google Patents

Description

S&F Ref: 715043 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address CSR Building Products Limited, of Applicant: an Australian company, ACN 008 631 356, of Level 4, 9 Help Street, Chatswood, New South Wales, 2067, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Douglas Lavender Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: An inter-tenancy wall Associated Provisional Application Details: [33] Country: [31] Appl'n No(s): [32] Application Date: AU 2004902411 06 May 2004 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 1 AN INTER-TENANCY WALL Technical Field The present invention relates to inter-tenancy walls employed in buildings to separate adjacent rooms of a building and more particularly but not exclusively to an 5 inter-tenancy wall that is fire resistant and inhibits the transmission of sound. Background of the Invention Typically, an inter-tenancy wall of a building consists of a pair of parallel timber frames each lined with 16 mm fire grade plasterboard. A disadvantage of this known system is the clumsy nature of the instalment as the fire grade plasterboard is difficult to 10 handle. A further disadvantage is the co-ordination of tradesman required to install the plasterboard. A further known inter-tenancy wall includes a pair of timber frames each line with standard 10 mm of plasterboard, with the frames positioned so as to provide a cavity within which an intermediate wall of fire grade plasterboard is located. Typically the fire 15 grade plasterboard is 25 mm thick panel and is of a rectangular configuration (3000 mm by 600 mm). The panels are oriented so that their major length extends vertically. The panels are secured to metal sections which in turn are attached to at least one of the timber frames. A disadvantage of this known construction is that the intermediate wall is installed prior to the second frame being erected. Accordingly, normal work flows are 20 interrupted which can result in additional equipment costs, for example additional crane hire costs. A further disadvantage is the size of the panels which makes them difficult to handle. Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at 25 least one of the above disadvantages.

2 Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein an inter-tenancy wall to separate adjacent rooms of a building, the wall including: a first wall frame; 5 sheet lining material applied to said first wall frame so as to provide a wall surface of a first one of said rooms; a second wall frame, the second frame being generally parallel to the first frame and positioned adjacent thereto so as to be spaced therefrom by a cavity; sheet lining material applied to the second frame so as to provide a wall surface io for a second one of said rooms; a metal frame located in said cavity, said metal frame including a plurality of generally vertically extending channel members located at regularly and horizontally spaced locations, and a plurality of generally horizontally extending channel members located at regularly and vertically spaced locations; and 15 a plurality of vertically oriented panels supported by the channel members, and wherein the panels are of a rectangular configuration so as to have a longitudinal length and a vertical height, with said longitudinal length being greater than said vertical height. Preferably, said panels are 1000 mm by 600 mm. There is further disclosed herein a method of constructing an inter-tenancy wall 20 to separate adjacent rooms of a building, said method including the steps of: erecting a first generally vertically oriented timber frame; erecting a second timber frame generally parallel to the first timber frame but spaced therefrom by a cavity; securing to at least one of the timber frames a metal frame consisting of a 25 plurality of generally vertically oriented channel members located at generally regularly and horizontally spaced locations, and a plurality of generally horizontally oriented channel members located at generally regularly and vertically spaced locations; and securing to the metal frame a plurality of generally rectangular panels during assembly of the metal frame, the panels being generally rectangular in configuration so as 3 to have a horizontal length and a vertical height, with said horizontal length being greater than said vertical height. Preferably, said method includes the steps of applying lining material to the first frame and the second frame so as to provide a first one of said rooms with a wall surface s and a second one of said rooms with a wall surface. Preferably, said horizontal length is about 1000 mm and said vertical height is about 600 mm. Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of to example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a building; Figure 2 is a schematic elevation of an inter-tenancy wall employed in the building of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic top plan view of the inter-tenancy wall of Figure 2. 15 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a building 10. The building 10 has a first room 11 to be separated from a second room 12 by an inter tenancy wall 13. The wall 13 includes a first frame 14 including a plurality of vertically extending transversely spaced studs 15 joined by transverse brace members 16. Spaced 20 from but adjacent the frame 14 is a second frame 17 that includes a plurality of vertically extending transversely spaced studs 18. The studs 18 are also joined by transverse brace members 19. Applied to each frame 14 and 17 is sheet material (typically plasterboard) 20 so as to provide each room 11 and 12 with a wall surface. The frames 14 and 17 are separated by a cavity 21 within which an intermediate 25 wall 22 is located. The wall 22 is provided for the purposes of fire resistance and sound proofing so as to inhibit the transfer of fire and sound between the rooms 11 and 12. The wall 22 includes a plurality of vertically extending channel members 23 which are of a "H" transverse cross-section so as to provide a pair of parallel channels 24.

4 The members 23 are parallel and transversely spaced. The wall 22 further includes a plurality of horizontal channel members 25 that are also parallel and transversely spaced so as to be arranged at regularly vertically spaced locations. The members 25 are also of a "H" transverse cross-section so as to have a pair of channels. s Supported by the members 23 and 25 are panels 26 which are preferably formed of plasterboard and are rectangular in configuration so as to have a horizontal length and a vertical width. The horizontal length is greater than the vertical width. The panels 26 are received within the channels 24 of the members 15 and the channels of the horizontal members 25 so as to be secured in position. 1o The members 15 and 25 are formed of metal such as steel or aluminium. In constructing the wall 13, firstly the frames 14 and 17 would be erected and thereafter at a convenient time the wall 22. For example, the intermediate wall 22 would be constructed in a sequential manner by adding members 23 and 25, and panels 26 so as to progressively construct the wall 22. The members 23 and/or 25 would be secured to 15 the studs 15 by straps 27. Preferably, the panels 26 would have a horizontal length of approximately 1000 mm and a height of approximately 600 mm. The above described preferred embodiment has a number of advantages including the panels 26 being more easily handled and providing for work flow through 20 the frames 14 and 17 until the intermediate wall 22 is constructed. In particular, the intermediate wall 22 may be constructed after "lock up" and therefore is not exposed to the weather. In particular, the intermediate wall 22 can be constructed after the frames 14 and 17 are constructed. 25 A still further advantage is the size of the panels 26. They are easily handled and are insertable between the studs 15 and/or 18 to be assembled with the members 23 and 25 as best seen in Figure 3.

Claims (5)

1. An inter-tenancy wall to separate adjacent rooms of a building, the wall including: a first wall frame; 5 sheet lining material applied to said first wall frame so as to provide a wall surface of a first one of said rooms; a second wall frame, the second frame being generally parallel to the first frame and positioned adjacent thereto so as to be spaced therefrom by a cavity; sheet lining material applied to the second frame so as to provide a wall surface 10 for a second one of said rooms; a metal frame located in said cavity, said metal frame including a plurality of generally vertically extending channel members located at regularly and horizontally spaced locations, and a plurality of generally horizontally extending channel members located at regularly and horizontally spaced locations; and 15 a plurality of vertically oriented panels supported by the channel members, and wherein the panels are of a rectangular configuration so as to have a longitudinal length and a vertical height, with said longitudinal length being greater than said vertical height.

2. The wall of claim 1, wherein said panels are 1000 mm by 600 mm.

3. A method of constructing an inter-tenancy wall to separate adjacent 20 rooms of a building, said method including the steps of: erecting a first generally vertically oriented timber frame; erecting a second timber frame generally parallel to the first timber frame but spaced therefrom by a cavity; securing to at least one of the timber frames a metal frame consisting of a 25 plurality of generally vertically oriented channel members located at generally regularly and horizontally locations, and a plurality of generally vertically oriented channel members located at generally regularly and horizontally spaced locations; and securing to the metal frame a plurality of generally rectangular panels during assembly of the metal frame, the panels being generally rectangular in configuration so as 5 to have a horizontal length and a vertical height, with said horizontal length being greater than said vertical height.

4. The method of claim 3, further including the steps of applying lining material to the first frame and the second frame so as to provide a first one of said rooms 5 with a wall surface and a second one of said rooms with a wall surface.

5. The method of claim 3 or 4, wherein said longitudinal length is about 1000 mm and said vertical height is about 600 mm. Dated 30 March, 2005 10 CSR Building Products Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON 6