A PARTITION WALL

Abstract

The present invention concerns a partition wall for a building structure comprising a plurality of building units separated by such partition wall to provide acoustic insulation therebetween, said partition wall comprising: a plurality of column assemblies, such as at least two, substantially vertically mounted in a generally horizontally oriented base profile, each column assembly comprising a central element made of mineral wool fibres and at least a first spacer elements made of mineral wool fibres and extending from said central section towards the first side with a first intermediate profile provided between the central element and the first spacer elements and a second intermediate profile provided on the side of the central element facing the second side of the wall, a second spacer elements made of mineral wool fibres and extending towards the second side of the partition wall; and wherein the density of the mineral wool in the central element is higher than the density of the first and second spacer elements, one or more insulation sections fitted between two adjacent column assemblies, wherein each insulation section comprises an inner mineral wool fibre panel provided in a close fit between the central elements of said adjacent column assemblies; first and second mineral wool fibre panels provided in a close fit between the first and second spacer elements, respectively, of said adjacent column assemblies, and wherein the densities of said first and second mineral wool fibre panels are substantially the same and lower than the density of the inner mineral wool panel; and an first external wall cover abutting the first mineral wool fibre panel and secured to the first spacer elements of the adjacent column assemblies, and a second external wall cover abutting the second mineral wool fibre panel and secured to the second spacer elements of the adjacent column assemblies.

Claims

1. A partition wall, more particular a party wall, for a building structure comprising a plurality of building units separated by such partition wall to provide acoustic insulation therebetween, said partition wall having a first and a second side and comprising: a plurality of column assemblies, such as at least two, substantially vertically mounted in a generally horizontally oriented base profile, each column assembly comprising: a central element made of mineral wool fibres and at least a first spacer elements made of mineral wool fibres and extending from said central section towards the first side with a first intermediate profile provided between the central element and the first spacer elements and a second intermediate profile provided on the side of the central element facing the second side of the wall, a second spacer elements made of mineral wool fibres and extending towards the second side of the partition wall; and wherein the density of the mineral wool in the central element is higher than the density of the first and second spacer elements, one or more insulation sections fitted between two adjacent column assemblies, wherein each insulation section comprises; an inner mineral wool fibre panel provided in a close fit between the central elements of said adjacent column assemblies; first and second mineral wool fibre panels provided in a close fit between the first and second spacer elements, respectively, of said adjacent column assemblies, and wherein the densities of said first and second mineral wool fibre panels are substantially the same and lower than the density of the inner mineral wool panel; and an first external wall cover abutting the first mineral wool fibre panel and secured to the first spacer elements of the adjacent column assemblies, and a second external wall cover abutting the second mineral wool fibre panel and secured to the second spacer elements of the adjacent column assemblies.

2. A partition wall according to claim 1, wherein at least the length of the first spacer elements and the thickness of the first mineral wool fibre panel is substantially the same.

3. A partition wall according to claim 1, wherein the length (L.sub.2) of the second spacer elements is larger than the thickness of the second mineral wool fibre panel whereby a space is provided between the inner mineral wool fibre panel and the second mineral wool fibre panel.

4. A partition wall according to claim 1, wherein the thicknesses of the first and second mineral wool fibre panels are substantially the same.

5. A partition wall according to claim 4, wherein a building board, such as an oriented strand board (OSB) or a flake board, is provided in the space between the inner mineral wool fibre panel and the second mineral wool fibre panel and wherein said board is secured to two adjacently situated second intermediate profiles.

6. A partition wall according to claim 1, wherein the first and second spacer elements are displaced relative to each other.

7. A partition wall according to claim 5, wherein the first spacer element is fitted to the central element in the column assembly and the second spacer element is secured to the building board.

8. A partition wall according to claim 1, wherein the first and second spacer elements are both provided to extend from the central element of the column assembly.

9. A partition wall according to claim 1, wherein the first and second external wall covers are each made of at least one layer of gypsum board, said first and second external wall covers may have the same or a different number of layers.

10. A partition wall according to claim 1, wherein the central element of the column assembly is made of mineral wool fibres having a density of 300-600 kg/m.sup.3, preferably approx. 500 kg/m.sup.3.

11. A partition wall according to claim 1, wherein the first and second spacer elements are made of mineral wool fibres having a density of 70-150 kg/m.sup.3.

12. A partition wall according to claim 11, wherein the first spacer element has a first density which is different from a second density of the second element, such as a first density of approx. 100 kg/m.sup.3 and a second density of approx. 150 kg/m.sup.3.

13. A partition wall according to claim 1, wherein the inner mineral wool fibre panel has a density of 60-80 kg/m.sup.3, more preferably 70 kg/m.sup.3, and the first and second mineral wool fibre panels have a density in the range of 35-50 kg/m.sup.3.

14. A partition wall according to claim 13, wherein the first and second mineral wool fibre panels have substantially the same density, and more preferably a density of approx. 45 kg/m.sup.3.

15. A partition wall according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second spacer elements in the column assembly has a fibre orientation which is substantially parallel with the main fibre orientation of the first and second mineral wool panels.

16. A partition wall according to claim 1, wherein the fibre orientation of the spacer elements in general might differ in that their main orientation is substantially perpendicular, e.g. lamella-like, to that one of the first and second mineral wool panels.

17. A partition wall according to claim 1, wherein a measured sound reduction Rw of at least 55 dB or higher according to EN ISO 10140:2010 in combination with EN ISO 717-1:2013 is achieved.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The disclosure is described in more detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a partition wall according to prior art;

[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a partition wall according to a first embodiment of the disclosure,

[0039] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a partition wall according to a second embodiment of the disclosure;

[0040] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a column assembly according to the second embodiment;

[0041] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a partition wall according to a third embodiment of the disclosure; and

[0042] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a column assembly according to this third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] With reference to FIG. 1, it is known to construct a partition wall where two parallel rows of column profiles 1, 1 are provided. The profiles 1, 1 are metal sheet profiles mounted in two horizontal floor base profiles (not shown). Between the profiles 1, 1, insulation slabs 2, 2 are provided to form two separate half walls. On each side wall cover boards 3, 3 are fastened to the sheet profiles 1, 1. However, this incurs extra building time and costs as two base profiles must be installed and as the metal sheet profiles 1, 1 extend across each of the half walls, and if not mounted accurately this may also result in spot where sound may travel through the partition wall.

[0044] Contrary to this prior art solution of FIG. 1, the present disclosure as exemplified in the two embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, provides a partition wall, more particular a party wall for a building structure comprising a plurality of building units separated by such partition wall to provide acoustic insulation and fire protection therebetween.

[0045] With reference to FIG. 2 the said partition wall comprising a number of column assemblies 10 that are substantially vertically mounted in a generally horizontally oriented base profile (not shown). With reference also to the embodiment in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the column assemblies 10 comprises a central element 11 made of mineral wool fibres and a first spacer element 12 and a second spacer element 13. The first and second spacer elements 12, 13 are provided on each side of the central element 11. The first and second spacer elements 12, 13 are made of mineral wool fibres and extend from the central element 11 and where first and second intermediate profiles 14, 15 are provided between the central element 11 and the first and second spacer elements 12, 13, respectively. A column assembly 10 according to the before described embodiments would typically be prefabricated and columns being mounted in one piece.

[0046] Insulation sections 20, 21, 22 are fitted between the adjacent column assemblies 10. The insulation sections comprise inner mineral wool fibre panels 20 provided in a close fit between the central elements 11 of two adjacent column assemblies 10. First and second mineral wool fibre panels 21, 22 are provided in a close fit between the first and second spacer elements 12, 13, respectively, of the adjacent column assemblies 10.

[0047] An first external wall cover 31 abutting the first mineral wool fibre panels 21 and secured to the first mounting elements 33 of the adjacent column assemblies 10, and a second external wall cover 32 abutting the second mineral wool fibre panels 22 and secured to the second mounting elements 34 of the adjacent column assemblies 10.

[0048] In the column assemblies 10 in the partition wall according to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the density of the mineral wool in the central element 11 is higher than the density of the first and second spacer elements 12, 13. The densities of the first and second mineral wool fibre panels 21, 22 are substantially the same or lower than the density of the inner mineral wool panels 20.

[0049] By a partition wall according to the disclosure, very limited acoustic (or sound) bridges are present as the columns assemblies 10 are made of mineral wool fibres. Moreover, due to the relative high densities, the column assemblies 10 are stiff enough to provide stability and load-bearing properties to the wall construction.

[0050] The first external wall cover 31 is secured by penetrating fasteners 16, such as nails or screws, penetrating through each the first mounting elements 33 and into the first spacer elements 12. Said first spacer elements 12 correspondingly are secured to the first intermediate profile 14 and anchored in the central element 11 of the column assembly 10. Similarly the second external wall cover 32 is secured by penetrating fasteners 16, such as nails or screws, penetrating through the second mounting elements 34 and the second spacer elements 13. Accordingly the second spacer elements 13 will be secured to either a second intermediate profile 15 and being anchored in the central element 11 of the column assembly 10, or a building board 23 which beforehand has been secured to adjacent second intermediate profiles 15. The screws or nails or similar fasteners are typically made of steel or other metal alloys.

[0051] In the shown embodiments in FIGS. 2 and 3, the length L.sub.1 of the first spacer elements 12 and the thickness of the first mineral wool fibre panel is substantially the same.

[0052] The length L.sub.2 of the second spacer elements 13 is larger than the thickness of the second mineral wool fibre panel 22 so that a space is provided between the inner mineral wool fibre panels 20 and the second mineral wool fibre panels 22 between two adjacent column assemblies 10. In this space, a building board 23, such as an oriented strand board (OSB) or a flake board, is provided and the board 23 is secured to two adjacently situated second intermediate profiles 15.

[0053] In the shown embodiment the thicknesses of the first and second mineral wool fibre panels 21, 22 are substantially the same.

[0054] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the first and second external wall covers 31, 32 are each made of one layer of gypsum board. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the first external wall cover 31 is made up by two gypsum boards. In general, it is realised by the present disclosure that first and second external wall covers 31, 32 may have the same or a different number of layers and may differ in material.

[0055] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, each of the column assemblies 10 comprise a central element 11 made of mineral wool fibres and also a first spacer element 12 and a second spacer element 13.

[0056] However, as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 it is found advantageous to displace the second spacer elements 13 so that the column assembly 10 comprises a central element 11 with a first and second intermediate profile 14, 15 on each side and a first spacer element 12 pointing towards the first side of the wall. Building boards 23 are provided in the space between the inner mineral wool panels 20 and the second mineral wool panels 22. The second spacer elements 13 are provided in a displaced configuration in a position different from the columns 10 as shown in FIG. 5. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the second spacer elements 13 are secured to the building board 23 by a fastener, but could in an alternative embodiment be secured to the inner mineral wool panels, e.g. if no building board is provided.

[0057] In the embodiments of the figures, it is preferably that the central element 11 of the column assembly 10 is made of highly compacted mineral wool fibres having a density of 300-600 kg/m.sup.3, preferably approx. 500 kg/m.sup.3, and the first and second spacer elements 12, 13 are made of mineral wool fibres having a density of 70-150 kg/m.sup.3.

[0058] In an embodiment (not shown) the first spacer element 12 has a first density, such as a first density of approx. 100 kg/m.sup.3, which is different from the density of the second element 13 being approx. 150 kg/m.sup.3. Moreover, in order to provide a spring-mass dampening of the sound impacting the external wall covers 31, 32, at least one of the first and second spacer elements 12, 13 in the column assemblies 10 have a fibre orientation of the spacer elements different in that their main orientation, which is substantially perpendicular, e.g. lamellae-like, to that one of the first and second mineral wool panels 21, 22, such that e.g. the second spacer elements 13 are less compressible in the length direction.

[0059] In the currently preferred embodiments, the inner mineral wool fibre panels 20 have a density of 60-80 kg/m.sup.3, more preferably 70 kg/m.sup.3, and the first and second mineral wool fibre panels 21, 22 have a density in the range of 35-50 kg/m.sup.3 and more preferably the first and second mineral wool fibre panels 21, 22 have substantially the same density, and more preferably a density of approx. 45 kg/m.sup.3.

[0060] To test the sound reduction of a party wall according to two embodiments of the disclosure, test measurements were performed.

[0061] For the test, the partition walls in both embodiments comprise columns of 100 mm central elements mounted in U-profiles at the top and bottom.

[0062] One side of the central elements, the columns also consists of 50 mm first spacer elements that are screwed onto the central element with an intermediate profile in between. Onto these spacers wall cover of two layers of the Fermacell-type, 15 mm, were fastened by screws.

[0063] 12 mm OSB plates are screwed on the second side of the columns via the second intermediate profiles. The OSB plates are butted together and openings between the plates are closed using tape. On the OSB plates approximately at the midway point between the columns a set of second spacer elements of 50 mm are screwed to the OSB plates. One layer of wall cover of the type Fennacell, 15 mm, is screwed onto these second spacer elements.

[0064] The cavities between the central portions of the columns are filled with 100 mm inner mineral wool fibre panels of 70 kg/m.sup.3, whereas the cavities between the first spacer elements and the cavities between the second spacer elements are filled with 50 mm first and second mineral wool fibre panels of 45 kg/m.sup.3.

[0065] The total thickness of the partition wall is approx. 260 mm and with a weight of approx. 71 kg/m.sup.2.

[0066] The wall was mounted between two reverberation rooms in a 1.15 m deep concrete frame with a width of 3.70 m and a height of 2.69 m.

[0067] Laboratory measurement of sound reduction index was carried out according to the EN ISO 10140:2010 part 1, 2, 4 and 5. The test results were evaluated according to EN ISO 717-1:2013.

[0068] In a first measurement regarding sound insulation of building elements, i.e. a party wall according to the embodiments of FIG. 3, there was found a minimum airborne sound insulation Rw of 55 dB.

[0069] In a second measurement regarding sound insulation of building elements, i.e. a party wall according to the embodiment of FIG. 5, there was measured a minimum airborne sound insulation Rw of 60 dB.

[0070] Above the disclosure is described with reference to some preferred embodiment. However, by the disclosure it is realised that variants and equivalences to one or more of the features also fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the accompanying claims.