METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR INSTALLING BUILDING PANELS

Abstract

A method for installing building panels, the method including forming a composite building panel from a plurality of panels, transporting the composite building panel to the site of installation and lifting the composite building panel by a lifting facility into position within a building.

Claims

1. A method for installing building panels, the method including; forming a composite building panel from a plurality of panels, transporting the composite building panel to the site of installation and lifting the composite building panel by a lifting facility into position within a building, the lifting facility including a lifting bar that has a U shape to fit over and receive the top or upper edge region of the composite panel to attach across the top or upper edge region of the composite panel, the lifting bar having an elongate base and attachment members that extend from one or both elongate sides of the base and that have openings or perforations to receive screws for driving into the top or upper edge region of the composite panel to connect the lifting bar to the composite panel, the method step of lifting the composite building panel by a lifting facility into position within a building involving bringing the lifting bar into connection with the top or upper edge region of the composite panel and attaching the lifting bar to the top or upper edge region of the composite panel by screws driven through the openings or perforations of the attachment members and into the composite building panel, connecting or hitching the lifting bar to a crane or hoist and thereafter lifting the lifting bar and the composite building panel into position within a building.

2. A method according to claim 1, the composite building panel being formed by gluing at least a pair of panels and up to 10 panels together along facing side edges so that the panels are generally coplanar and allowing the glue to cure.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. A method according to claim 1, the composite building panel being formed by arranging a first panel in a first position and arranging a second panel in a second position so that a side edge of the first panel is adjacent a side edge of the second panel and moving the second panel relative to the first panel to engage the adjacent side edges of the first and second panels so that the first and second panels are generally co-planar and maintaining the adjacent side edges of the first and second panels in contact so that a glue layer between the adjacent side edges can cure and connect the adjacent side edges together.

6. A method according to claim 5, including arranging a third panel in a third position so that a side edge of the third panel is adjacent a side edge of the second panel and moving the third panel relative to the second panel to engage the adjacent side edges of the second and third panels so that the second and third panels are generally co-planar and maintaining the adjacent side edges of the second and third panels in contact so that a glue layer between the adjacent side edges can cure and connect the adjacent side edges together.

7. (canceled)

8. A method according to claim 1, the composite panel being formed in racking that secures and guides the bottom edges of the panels used to form the composite panel, the racking enabling panels to be placed so that a side edge of one panel is adjacent a side edge of another panel and the racking guiding movement of the panels relative to each other to engage the adjacent side edges in an orientation in which the panels are generally co-planar to each other.

9. A method according to claim 8, the racking enabling a second composite panel to be formed generally parallel to and adjacent to a first formed composite panel, the second composite panel being formed by the same steps as the first composite panel.

10. A method according to claim 9, the racking enabling multiple further composite panels to be formed one after the other in generally parallel to and adjacent to each other, the further composite panels being formed by the same steps as the first and second composite panels.

11. A method according to claim 9, one or more spacing members being placed and fixed between adjacent composite panels to extend substantially the full length of the composite panels.

12. A method according to claim 11, the one or more spacing members being fixed in place against a composite panel by inserting screw fasteners that extend through the composite panel and into the spacing member.

13. A method according to claim 11, the one or more spacing members being elongate battens that are temporarily attached to one side of a first composite panel that is formed in the racking, before a second composite panel is formed, whereafter, the battens are secured to the second composite panel by inserting screw fasteners that extend through the second composite panel and into the batten.

14. A method according to claim 13, the elongate battens being temporarily attached to one side of a composite panel by adhesive tape.

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. A method according to claim 4, including positioning a first panel in the racking, positioning a second panel in the racking adjacent the first panel and moving the second panel relative to the first panel guided by the racking to engage the adjacent side edges of the first and second panels and maintaining the adjacent side edges of the first and second panels in contact so that a glue layer between the adjacent side edges can cure and connect the adjacent side edges together.

20. A method according to claim 19, including positioning a third panel in the racking adjacent the second panel and moving the third panel relative to the second panel guided by the racking to engage the adjacent side edges of the second and third panels and maintaining the adjacent side edges of the second and third panels in contact so that a glue layer between the adjacent side edges can cure and connect the adjacent side edges together.

21. (canceled)

22. A method according to claim 1, the screws being removed once the composite building panel is in position within a building.

23. A lifting bar for use in the method according to any one of claims 1 to 22, the lifting bar having a U-shape to fit over and receive the top or upper edge region of a composite panel, the lifting bar having an elongate base and attachment members that extend from one or both elongate sides of the base and that have openings or perforations to receive screws for driving into the top or upper edge region of the composite panel to connect the lifting bar to the composite panel.

24. A lifting bar according to claim 23, the lifting bar having side walls depending from the base; and the side walls having an internal spacing slightly greater than the thickness of the composite building panel that the lifting bar is to be used with and the attachment members extending from one or both of the side walls.

25. A lifting bar according to claim 24, the side walls including openings or perforations to receive screws for driving into the top or upper edge region of the composite panel.

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. Supporting framework or racking for transporting composite building panels to a site of installation, framework or racking including a slotted or channeled base for receipt of the bottom edge of a composite panel and at least one, but preferably two slotted sides for supporting the side edges of a composite panel, so that the composite building panels are supported standing up in the racking on the bottom edge thereof and with the broad plane of the composite panels extending generally vertically.

36. Supporting framework or racking according to claim 35, the racking supporting the respective composite panels slightly spaced from each other.

37. Supporting framework or racking according to claim 35 or 36, the racking including tyne openings for forklift tynes to enter so that the racking can be moved about and loaded onto transport by forklift.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] In order that the invention may be more fully understood, some embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures in which:

[0041] FIG. 1 illustrates a composite building panel in perspective view according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 2 illustrates a plurality of composite building panels in supporting framework or racking.

[0043] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a lifting bar according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 4 illustrates a component of a lifting bar,

[0045] FIG. 5 is a side view of the arrangement of FIG. 1.

[0046] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a corner of the composite budding panel of FIG. 1.

[0047] FIG. 7 illustrates a lifting bar attached to a composite building panel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 8 is a detailed view of a corner of the composite building panel of FIG. 7.

[0049] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate alternative lifting bars.

[0050] FIG. 11 illustrates a crane that is lifting a composite building panel from the supporting framework or racking of FIG. 2,

[0051] FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a slightly different form of supporting framework or racking.

[0052] FIG. 14 illustrates a plurality of composite panels and spacers applied to space each composite panel from the other.

[0053] FIG. 15 shows the spacers of FIG. 14 in more detail.

[0054] FIG. 16 illustrates a plurality of composite panels and spacers applied to space each composite panel from the other.

[0055] FIGS. 17 and 18 shows the spacers of FIG. 16 in more detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] FIG. 1 illustrates a composite building panel 10 which is formed from a plurality of 10 individual separate panels 11 to 20. Each of the panels 11 to 20 has dimensions of 3000 mm×600 mm and typically, the invention will employ AAC panels, which are sometimes known as “hebel” panels. The panels shown in FIG. 1 typically have a thickness of 50 mm.

[0057] The panels 11 to 20 are connected along adjacent side edges by a glue connection. The method of gluing the panels 11 to 20 together can take any suitable form, but typically, firstly, a glue layer is applied to a side edge of the panels 11 and 12 and thereafter they are brought together so that respective side edges of the panels 11 and 12 are in facing relationship and then the panels 11 and 12 are moved relative to each other to bring the side edges into engagement. In that engaged state, the glue layer between the side edges can connect those edges together and so connect the panels together. The glue layer can be pre-applied to side edges of the panels 11 to 20 prior to the panels being brought together for connection, or part of the connection process can include the application of a glue layer just prior to the panels being brought together. The glue layer can be applied to just one of the side edges of each panel, or to both of the side edges of each panel. Where the glue layer is pre-applied to the side edges, the layer might be overlaid by a protective sheet or strip, so that the layer is not contaminated by airborne matter, such as dust or moisture prior to the panels being connected along facing side edges, and as part of the assembly process, the protective sheet or strip can be removed.

[0058] With panels 11 and 12 secured in edge connection, subsequent panels 13 to 20 can be connected together and to panel 12 in the same manner to form the composite panel 10 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the composite panel is a planar panel which has an approximate dimension of 3000 mm×6000 mm.

[0059] It will be appreciated that a greater number of panels can be connected together to form a composite panel of greater length, or lesser number of panels can be connected together to form a reduced length composite panel. Accordingly, composite panels formed of just two panels can be formed, as can a three panel composite panel, a four panel composite panel and so on.

[0060] FIG. 1 also illustrates a lifting facility that includes a lifting bar 40 and lifting chains 48 and 49, the construction and operation of will be described later herein.

[0061] FIG. 2 illustrates racking or framework that can be employed in the manufacture of a composite building panel 10 and which can also be used in the transport of composite panels between the site of manufacture and the site of installation. The frame 25 shown in FIG. 2 is shown supporting a plurality of composite panels 10, with one of the panels 10 being lifted by the lifting facility 40 as will be described later herein.

[0062] The frame 25 includes a base 26 and sides 27, 28. The base 26 rests on four feet 29 so that the base is slightly elevated above the ground and the base 26 includes tyne openings 30 for accepting forklift tynes for placement of the frame 25.

[0063] The base 26 includes a series of slots or channels 32 (see FIG. 5 in particular) for receipt of a bottom edge of each composite panel 10. Moreover, the horizontal bars 34 of the sides 27 and 28 include inwardly facing slots or channels, which align vertically with the slots/channels 32 of the base, so that opposite side edges of the composite panels 10 are also captured within a slot or channel of the bars 34. In this manner, the composite panels 10 are secured within the frame 25 and are slightly spaced apart an amount equivalent to the thickness of the walls that form the slots or channels 32 within the base 26. Horizontal beams are intended to extend between the sides 27 and 28, across the front of the composite panels 10.

[0064] The frame 25 can be used in the manufacture of the composite panels 10, by successively introducing individual panels 11 to 20 into the frame 25 in sequence, so that a first panel 11 is placed so that the base of the panel 11 is inserted into a slot or channel 32 and the side edge of the panel 11 is placed in engagement with one of the sides 27 or 28 and is captured in a slot of the relevant side which is vertically above the slot or channel 32 in which the base of the panel 11 is inserted. A second panel 12 is then introduced into the frame 25 by inserting the base of that panel 12 into the same slot or channel 32 of the first panel 11 and then the second panel 12 is moved toward the first panel 11, so that adjacent side edges of the first and second panels 11 and 12 engage and so that a glue layer between the engaged side edges will connect the side edges and thus the panels 11 and 12 together. The first and second panels 11 and 12 are coplanar by virtue of their respective bases being inserted into the same slot or channel 32 and by the side edges being brought into alignment. The first and second panels 11 and 12 can have interfitting or interlocking edge profiles to assist to join and align the panels 11 and 12. The subsequent panels 13 to 20 can all be introduced in the same manner until all 10 panels are in place with adjacent edges in glued engagement. It will be appreciated, that at least the final panel 20 will need to be lowered vertically into position, so that its side edge can be captured in a slot or channel of the relevant side 27 or 28. If the frame 25 provides a tight fit between the 10 panels 11 to 20, then the final panel 20 may be lowered with the adjacent side edges between the ninth panel 19 and the tenth panel 20 being in sliding engagement.

[0065] Otherwise, the distance or spacing between the inwardly facing slots or channels of the horizontal bars 34 of the sides 27 and 28 can be spaced apart a greater amount than the length of the composite panel 10 between the opposite side edges of the panels 11 and 20, to allow the tenth panel 20 to be inserted without sliding contact with the side edge of the ninth panel 19 and allowing the panel 20 to be moved toward the ninth panel 19 and into glued side edge engagement with the ninth panel 19.

[0066] Multiple composite building panels 10 can thus be formed within the frame 25 in the manner described above. In FIG. 2, there remain several slots or channels 32 for additional composite panels 10 to be manufactured and once all of the slots or channels 32 are filled, or once enough of those slots or channels 32 have been filled for a particular job, the manufacturing process can finish.

[0067] The glue connecting the panels 11 to 20 of the composite panels 10 as loaded into the frame 25 can be left to cure and this might, for example, take 24 hours. The frame 25 might be tilted slightly during the curing process to urge the panels 11 to 20 towards each other to assist proper edge connection between the panels 11 to 20.

[0068] The frame 25 can be lifted by a forklift into a shipping container, or onto a flat bed truck or the like, for transport to an installation site. At the installation site, the composite building panels 10 can be unloaded from the frame 25.

[0069] Returning to FIG. 1, a lifting bar 40 is shown attached across the top or upper edge region of the composite building panel 10. The lifting bar 40 is part of a lifting assembly for lifting composite panels, either from the frame 25 of FIG. 2, or from other storage containers or assemblies that might be provided for storing and transporting composite building panels.

[0070] The lifting bar 40 is shown in exploded view in FIG. 3 and comprises a top RHS bar 41, a top plate 42, a pair of side walls 43, 44 and a plurality of drop plates 45 that are for attachment to and extension downwardly from the side wall 43. FIG. 1 shows the lifting bar 40 from the side that shows the side wall 43 and the drop plates 45, so that the opposite side wall 44 is not visible.

[0071] The lifting bar 40 further includes a pair of lifting lugs 46 (see FIG. 6) for attachment, as shown in FIG. 1, to a lifting chain, rope or the like 48 whereby a pair of lifting chains 48 extend from each of the lifting lugs 46 to a central lifting chain 49 which connects to a lifting facility, such as a crane, hoist or the like. The lifting chains 48 can be permanently connected to the lifting lugs 46, so that the lifting bar 40 is permanently attached to the crane or hoist or the like.

[0072] Returning to FIG. 3, each of the components of the lifting bar 40 is welded in place, so that the drop plates 45 are butt welded to the side wall 43, and the side walls 43 and 44 are welded to the top plate 42. The bar 41 is welded to the plate 42 and the lugs 46 are welded to the bar 41. In alternative arrangements, such as shown in FIG. 4, the side wall 43 and the drop plates 45 can be laser cut for example, so that they are formed integrally.

[0073] The lifting bar 40 is thus formed into a U-shape to fit over and to receive the top or upper edge region of the composite panel 10, For lifting the composite panel 10, the lifting bar 40 can be lowered onto the top or upper edge region so that the side wall 43 and drop plates 45 are in close facing relationship with one surface of the composite panel 10 and the side wall 44 is in close facing relationship with the surface of the composite panel 10 on the opposite side. The side view showing this arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 5. A close up perspective view of this arrangement is shown in FIG. 6.

[0074] FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 clearly show perforations or openings formed in each of the drop plates 45, These are provided to accept screws that can be screwed into the composite panel 10 through the drop plates 45. The screws will be temporary screws such as tek screws to secure the lifting bar 40 to the composite panel 10. 50 mm screws can be used for a 50 mm thick panel, while 65 mm screws can be used for a 75 mm thick panel. The screws will not screw fully across the wall thickness of the panels, because the drop plates 45 will have a thickness of approximately 10 mm. It is anticipated at this stage, that about three or four screws will be screwed through each of the drop plates 45 into the composite panel 10, It will be appreciated from the figures, that they show a larger number of perforations in each of the drop plates 45 than are required to accommodate three or four screws, but this simply illustrates the availability of a greater number of openings or perforations for a greater number of screws as might be required.

[0075] The lifting bars 40 each include a pair of side walls 43 and 44. However, the lifting bar 40 can be formed without the side walls 43 and 44 and an example of an alternative lifting bar 50 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In those figures, the lifting bar 50 includes a top bar 51 and a top plate beneath the bar 51 (which is not visible in FIGS. 7 and 8), and a plurality of drop plates 52 that are welded to the top plate. The drop plates 52 are longer than the drop plates 45 so that the total length of the drop plates 52 is approximately equal to the combined length of the side wall 43 and drop plates 45 of the earlier figures.

[0076] Otherwise, the lifting bar 50 is substantially the same and operates in the same manner as the lifting bar 40 whereby perforations or openings are provided in the drop plates 52 for receipt of screws and lifting lugs 53 are attached to the top bar 51 for attachment to a lifting chain 54 to attach to a lifting facility such as a crane.

[0077] A further alternative lifting bar is one that does not include the top plates that are described as being included in the lifting bars 40 and 50 so that the connection between the side walls and/or the drop plates is to the top bars.

[0078] With reference to FIG. 2, the method of lifting a composite building panel 10 is by lowering the lifting bar 40 onto the top or upper edge region of a composite panel 10, inserting screws through the perforations of the relevant drop plates 45, and then lifting the composite panel 10 via the lifting chains, rope or the like 48 and 49. FIG. 2 shows one of the stack or group of the composite panels 10 being lifted in this manner. FIG. 11 shows a similar view to FIG. 2 but also illustrates a mobile crane 36 that is lifting the panel 10. The mobile crane 36 is one form of lifting facility for use in the invention. The composite panel 10 would be lifted by the crane 36 from the frame 25 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 11 and placed within a building where required, and then the screws would be removed from the drop plates 45 to free the lifting bar 40 from the top or upper edge region of the composite panel 10. The composite panel 10 is then free to be maneuvered within the building for installation while the bar 40 can then be returned by the lifting facility (the mobile crane 36 in FIG. 11) back to the frame 25 for lowering over the top or upper edge region of the next composite panel 10. Once the lifting bar 40 is lowered to accept the top or upper edge region of the next composite panel 10, screws can be inserted through the perforations or openings in the drop plates 45 and the next composite panel 10 can then be lifted for placement within the building.

[0079] The lifting bars 40 and 50 shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 each include facility for connection to 10 individual panels, the facility being provided in FIGS. 1 and 7 by the drop plates 45 and 52 respectively. However, where composite building panels are to be manufactured or constructed with less individual panels, shorter length lifting bars can be used. FIGS. 9 and 10 for example show lifting bar 60 and 70 for use with composite panels manufactured from five individual panels and two individual panels respectively. In all other respects, the lifting bars 60 and 70 are manufactured in the same manner as the lifting bar 40 so that they include the same components as shown in the exploded view of FIG. 3, but the length of the top bar 41, the top plate 42 and the side walls 43 and 44 is reduced. Moreover, the number of drop plates 45 is also reduced. Also, while each of the lifting bars 60 and 70 include lifting lugs, the lifting lugs are spaced closer together than in the lifting bars 40 and 50, For convenience, the same parts that are employed in the lifting bars 60 and 70 as are employed in the lifting bar 40, have the same reference numerals despite that the length dimensions might be different.

[0080] An alternative frame 80 that can be employed in the manufacture of a composite building panel 10 and which can also be used in the transport of composite panels between the site of manufacture and the site of installation is shown in FIG. 12. The frame 80 shown in FIG. 12 is shown supporting a single composite panel 10 of the kind described hereinbefore. The frame 80 has a base 82 that rests on four feet 84 (only three of which are visible in FIG. 12) so that the base 82 is slightly elevated above the ground and the base 82 includes tyne openings 86 for accepting forklift tynes for lifting and placement of the frame 80. Like the frame 25, the frame 80 includes a series of slots or channels 88 and 90 for receipt of the bottom and side edges of the composite panel 10. The channels 88 are formed for receipt of the bottom portions of the opposite side edges 92 of the composite panel 10, while the channels 90 extend along the base 82 and are formed for receipt of the bottom edge (obscured in FIG. 12) of the composite panel 10.

[0081] Upstanding corner posts 94 are braced by a strengthening framework 96 that extends along the long sides of the frame 80. The framework 96 includes horizontal beams 97, uprights 98 and angled braces 99, The bracing framework 96 braces the corner posts 94 along the long sides of the frame 80, while the channels 88 and bracing cross-members 100 brace the corner posts 94 along the short sides of the frame 80. The bracing cross-members 100 can be cables, that are connected by turnbuckles to adjust tension in the cross-members. The bracing arrangement of the frame 80 allows the frame 80 to be lifted in the manner shown in FIG. 13, in which lifting ropes or chains 101 connect to a central lifting rope or chain 102 which is attached to a crane or hoist or the like. The lifting ropes or chains 101 connect to the frame 80 at the top of the posts 94. The posts 94 include lifting lugs 104 for connection to the lifting ropes or chains 101. The horizontal beams 97 and the angled braces 99 can be removed when the composite panels 10 are being formed or removed from the frame 80 to increase access to the composite panels 10,

[0082] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the composite panel 10 of the earlier figures but shows a plurality of brackets 106 applied along the top edge thereof at the joint or junction between individual panels 11 to 15. The brackets 106 are provided to secure multiple composite panels 10 within a frame 25 or 80. The brackets 106 protect the integrity of the glue connection between the adjacent panels 11-15 of the composite panels 10 by resisting flexing or pivoting movement of the panels 11-15 about the joint or junction between individual panels. The brackets 106 also ensure that adjacent composite panels 10 remain separated and upright during movement of the frame for transport of the composite panels 10 and so protect the composite panels 10 from damage. The brackets 106 are particularly useful to support the panels 12 to 14 of each composite panel 10 as those panels are not supported by the side edge channels 88. The brackets 106 are for use with composite panels 10 that each have the same height, for example 3000m.

[0083] The brackets 106 can comprise a pair of brackets as shown in FIG. 15 that are applied to the upper edges of corner sections of a pair of adjacent panels 109 that are part of a pair of composite panels 101 and 102. The brackets interlock as hereinafter described.

[0084] The brackets of FIG. 15 comprise a first row bracket 110 and a subsequent row bracket 111. The first row bracket 110 is positioned along the upper edge of the composite panel 101 which is the composite panel closest to one of the horizontal beams 97 of the frame 80, The first row bracket 110 is intended to be fixed to the adjacent horizontal beam 97. The subsequent row brackets 111 are intended to be attached to the subsequent composite panels 10 that extend to the opposite horizontal beam 97.

[0085] The bracket 110 includes a pair of legs 112 that extend downwardly from the upper edge 113 of the composite panel 101 to overlie the front face 114 of the composite panel 101 and plates 115 attached to the legs 112 have fastener openings 116 through which fasteners extend to fasten the legs 112 and thus the bracket 110 to the composite panel 101.

[0086] The bracket 110 further includes a top plate 117, that connects to the upper ends of the legs 112 and that extends along the upper edge 113 of the composite panel 101.

[0087] The bracket 111 interlocks with the bracket 110 and includes a pair of legs 118 that extend downwardly from the upper edges 113 and 119 of the composite panels 101 and 102 to define a space S between the composite panels 101 and 102. The legs 118 are connected to a plate 120 which bears against or rests on the upper edge 113 and a T-section 121 is attached to the plate 120. As shown, the leading edge 122 of the plate 120 inter-engages with a facing surface 123 of the top plate 117 of the bracket 110, while the T-section 121 inter-engages with an outside surface of the legs 112, This inter-engagement locks the brackets 110 and 111 together.

[0088] A third bracket 124 is illustrated in FIG. 15 but this bracket is the same as the bracket 111 and inter-engages with the bracket 111 by the T-section 125 engaging one surface of the legs 118 of the bracket 111 and by the leading edge 126 of the plate 127 inter-engaging with a facing surface 128 of the top plate 120 of the bracket 111. A further composite panel 10 can be added adjacent to the composite panel 102 and a further bracket 111 can inter-engage with the bracket 124. This process can continue until the frame 80 is filled with composite panels 10.

[0089] The brackets 110 and 111 stabilise the joint J between adjacent panels 109 and space the composite panels 101 and 102 apart.

[0090] FIG. 14 also shows a plate metal batten 130 which extends the full length of the composite panel 10, and such a batten 130 can be located between each adjacent composite panel 10 that is formed in the frame 80, The batten 130 is intended to be fixed to the next composite panel 10 that is yet to be formed against the three composite panels 10 that are shown in FIG. 14. To do this, the batten 130 is held temporarily against the composite panel 10 as shown, such as by adhesive tape, whereafter a new composite panel 10 is formed, Once the new composite panel 10 is formed, screw fasteners can be driven through the new composite panel 10 and into the base of the batten 130 to secure the batten 130 to the new composite panel 10, This takes place between each composite panel 10. The outermost composite panels 10 which are adjacent the horizontal beams 97 of the frame 80 can be fixed directly to the horizontal beams 97, by the horizontal beams 97 including brackets that fasteners extend through before entering the composite panel 10, The sequence can thus be to firstly form a composite panel 10 within the frame 80 and to fasten that composite panel 10 to one of the horizontal beams 97. Then, a batten 130 can be attached to the opposite side of that outermost composite panel 10, such as by adhesive tape, before a second composite panel 10 is formed in the frame 80 adjacent the outermost composite panel 10. This second composite panel 10 is separated from the outermost composite panel 10 by the batten 130 and by receipt of the bottom portion of the composite panels 10 within the channels 88 and 90 of the frame 80. Fasteners can be driven through the second composite panel 10 and into the batten 130 to secure the batten 130 to the second composite panel 10. The adhesive tape can remain in place, but it now serves no further purpose. A new batten 130 can be attached to the side of second composite panel 10, again such as by adhesive tape, before a third composite panel 10 is formed in the frame 80 adjacent the second composite panel 10. Fasteners can be driven through the third composite panel 10 and into the batten 130 between the second and third composite panels 10 to secure the batten 130 to the third composite panel 10. This sequence can continue until the frame 80 is filled with composite panels 10 all separated by battens 130 and each of the outermost composite panels are fastened to one of the horizontal beams 97.

[0091] A significant benefit of the above method of attaching battens 130 to the composite panels 10 as they are formed in the frame 80 is that those battens can be used in the fixing of composite panels 10 within a building framework. That is, battens are often used to attach composite panels to the studs of building framework and so the attachment of battens to the composite panels 10 as they are formed means that the subsequent attachment on site is not required.

[0092] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a composite panels 132 and 134. The composite panels 132 and 134 differ in height and in the number of panels that make up the respective composite panels, so that the composite panel 132 comprises five individual panels connected along adjacent edges, while the composite panels 134 comprise four edge connected panels. Also, the composite panel 134 has a reduced height compared to the composite panel 132. The arrangement illustrated in FIG. 16, illustrates how composite panels of differing height and width can be accommodated within frames such as frames 25 and 80 described earlier herein by the use of different brackets to those illustrated in FIG. 15.

[0093] FIGS. 17 and 18 show brackets applied to top edges and side edges respectively of the composite panels 134 and these brackets 136 each include a pair of legs 138, a plate 140 and a spacer 142. Each of the legs 138, the plate 140 and the spacer 142 are connected together, such as by welding. A web 144 braces the connection between the plate 140 and the spacer 142.

[0094] The spacer 142 includes fastener openings 143 through which the fasteners can extend to penetrate into the composite panel 132 in order to fasten the bracket 136 in place.

[0095] As is evident from FIGS. 17 and 18, the plate 140 of the bracket 136 extends either along the upper edge 145 of the composite panel 134, or along the side edge 146 of the composite panel 134,

[0096] As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, positioning the spacer 142 between the composite panels 132 and 134 forms a space S between the composite panels for the same reasons as given in relation to the brackets 110 and 111 of FIG. 15.

[0097] The brackets 136 are, as explained above, for use with composite panels having different lengths and/or heights. In FIG. 16, the smaller sized composite panels 134 are positioned adjacent the larger sized composite panel 132. If other composite panels are supplied that have the same dimensions as the composite panel 132, the further brackets applied to the composite panel 132 and an adjacent composite panel can be connected by the same brackets 106 of FIG. 14, which are more specifically described and illustrated in FIG. 15.

[0098] Where any or all of the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprised” or “comprising” are used in this specification (including the claims) they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components, but not precluding the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps or components.

[0099] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.