Search

EP-4739860-A1 - A MODULAR BUILDING UNIT

EP4739860A1EP 4739860 A1EP4739860 A1EP 4739860A1EP-4739860-A1

Abstract

A modular building unit comprising a ceiling assembly and walls supporting the ceiling assembly. The ceiling assembly comprises a load transfer section configured to transfer load to the walls and to provide an aperture when a further modular building unit is stacked on top of the modular building unit. The modular building unit further comprises building services equipment coupled to or incorporated into the ceiling assembly, the building services equipment being configured to connect through the aperture between the stacked modular building units. In a further embodiment a floor assembly is modified to provide the aperture and to accommodate the building services equipment. The modular building unit may be stacked with a further modular building unit to form a modular building assembly that may form part of a building.

Inventors

  • SHENTON, Edward Ross
  • JONES, David Lee

Assignees

  • SANO DEVELOPMENT LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240702

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A modular building unit comprising: a ceiling assembly; and walls supporting the ceiling assembly; wherein the ceiling assembly comprises a load transfer section configured to transfer load to the walls and to provide an aperture when a further modular building unit is stacked on top of the modular building unit; and wherein the modular building unit further comprises building services equipment coupled to or incorporated into the ceiling assembly, the building services equipment being configured to connect through the aperture between the stacked modular building units.
  2. 2. A modular building unit comprising: a floor assembly; and walls supported by the floor assembly; wherein the floor assembly comprises a load transfer section configured to transfer load from the walls and to provide an aperture when the modular building unit is stacked on top of a further modular building unit; and wherein the modular building unit further comprises building services equipment coupled to or incorporated into the floor assembly, the building services equipment being configured to connect through the aperture between the stacked modular building units.
  3. 3. A modular building unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the walls connect together a floor assembly and a ceiling assembly, at least one of the floor assembly and ceiling assembly being configured to provide an aperture when modular building units are stacked.
  4. 4. A modular building unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the walls include side structures about at least part of a periphery of the modular building unit and optionally one or more internal walls.
  5. 5. A modular building unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the load transfer section of the floor assembly includes at least one first portion to define the aperture and at least two second portions descending below a bottom surface of the first portion to bear upon a ceiling assembly of the further modular building unit upon which the modular building unit is stacked; or the load transfer section of the ceiling assembly includes at least one first portion to define the aperture and at least two second portions extending above a top surface of the first portion to support a floor assembly of the further modular building unit stacked on top of the modular building unit.
  6. 6. A modular building unit according to claim 5, wherein the load transfer section comprises more than four second portions; wherein second portions of the load transfer section are located at or proximal to corners of the load transfer section; wherein at least one second portion is provided at an intermediate location along at least one side of the load transfer section; or wherein along one side of the modular building unit the load transfer section comprises two or more first portions such that when the modular building unit and the further modular building unit are stacked a plurality of apertures are formed.
  7. 7. A modular building unit according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the second portions have a height relative to the first portion of between 10 mm and 250 mm, and optionally between 20 mm and 150 mm.
  8. 8. A modular building unit according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the load transfer section comprises a frame extending around or proximal to a periphery of the modular building unit; and wherein at least part of the frame is aligned with a wall.
  9. 9. A modular building unit according to claim 8, wherein the frame is formed from connected load transfer section members; and wherein the load transfer section members comprise box section metallic beams or folded sheet profiles.
  10. 10. A modular building unit according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the second portions of the load transfer section comprise mounting members coupled to the frame; wherein each first portion of the load transfer section comprises a section of the frame that is thinner than within a second portion of the load transfer section; wherein each first portion of the load transfer section comprises a section of the frame where a portion of the frame has been removed; or wherein the load transfer section is formed from load transfer section members that transition between a first plane to define the first portions and a second plane to define the second portions.
  11. 11. A modular building unit according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the frame further comprises an intermediate support member spanning the frame.
  12. 12. A modular building unit according to claim 11 , wherein at least one second portion is provided on the intermediate support member.
  13. 13. A modular building unit according to any one of claims 5 to 12, wherein each second portion includes a surface configured to face towards and bear against the further modular building unit to transfer load between the modular building units.
  14. 14. A modular building unit according to any one of claims 5 to 13, wherein at least one second portion includes an alignment portion configured to align the stacked modular building units.
  15. 15. A modular building unit according to claim 14, wherein the alignment portion comprises a pin configured to engage a corresponding alignment hole in a facing portion of the further modular building assembly.
  16. 16. A modular building unit according to any one of 5 3 to 15, wherein at least one second portion of a load transfer section of a ceiling assembly is configured to couple to lifting gear for lifting the modular building unit.
  17. 17. A modular building unit according to claim 16, wherein the at least one second portion includes a connecting portion configured to releasably receive a lifting eye for lifting the modular building unit or a pin for engaging an alignment hole.
  18. 18. A modular building unit according to any one of claims 5 to 17, wherein the ceiling or floor assembly further comprises a plurality of joists or struts or a panel extending across part of the load transfer section to support building services equipment.
  19. 19. A modular building unit according to any one of claims 5 to 18, wherein the ceiling assembly of the modular building unit includes a portion within the load transfer section that is recessed relative to the top surface of the first portion of the ceiling load transfer section, or wherein the floor assembly of the modular building unit includes a portion within the load transfer section that is recessed relative to the bottom surface of the first portion of the floor load transfer section, the recessed portion being configured to receive the building services equipment.
  20. 20. A modular building unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the building services equipment comprises one or more of: an electricity supply cable; a data cable; a cold water pipe; a hot water pipe; a drainage pipe; a gas pipe; or an air ventilation duct.

Description

A MODULAR BUILDING UNIT TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a modular building unit. In some examples the modular building unit may be stacked with a further modular building unit to form a modular building assembly. In turn, the modular building unit may form part of a building. The building may be a hybrid building comprising the modular building assembly and an on-site construction, or it may be a fully modular construction. The modular building unit in certain examples comprises a floor assembly or a ceiling assembly, and walls connected to the floor assembly or ceiling assembly. The floor assembly or ceiling assembly may comprise a load transfer section configured to transfer loads to or from the walls. BACKGROUND [0002] Prefabricated buildings (also known as ‘modular’ buildings) are well known in the construction industry, particularly modular residential buildings such as houses, flats or apartments, and hotels. Modular buildings typically comprise a series of building units which are constructed in a factory, transported to a final location (or site) for the building, and then arranged in a predetermined configuration and coupled together to form the finished building. The modular building units are typically constructed to a substantially assembled form in the factory, in which they can be transported to the final location. Construction of the building can involve stacking one or more upper modular building unit on a lower such unit, so that the lower unit supports the upper unit. [0003] Hybrid buildings have been developed by the applicant which comprise a first building section that is constructed at a final location for the building, and a second building section comprising one or more modular building units constructed in a dedicated facility, away from the final location. A hybrid building of this type can provide advantages including that: construction of the first building section is simplified, with more complex parts of the building provided in the section formed by the modular building unit(s); and the first building section can provide the primary living space in the building, without being constrained by construction and transport limitations imposed on the modular building unit(s). The hybrid buildings and associated construction techniques are disclosed in International patent publication nos. WO2022/243696, WO2022/243695, WO2022/243694, WO2022/243693, and WO2023/222853. [0004] When a hybrid building is constructed there is a need to interconnect building services such as heating, ventilation, power, communications, water, and drainage, between the first (site- built) building section and the second (modular, or off-site constructed) building section (as well as between modular building units if a plurality of units is used in the construction). Such interconnections can require wires, pipes, or ducts to pass from one building section to another. Also, for fully modular buildings, there is a similar requirement for such interconnections between modular building units. Current solutions to interconnecting building services, including for fully modular buildings, often required holes or ducting to be formed through walls or floor or ceiling assemblies of the modular building unit, which can interfere with the structural integrity of those structures or otherwise impact on the building, for instance by comprising insulation or restricting architectural freedom in arranging rooms and doorways. [0005] It is an aim of certain examples of the present invention to provide for improved interconnection of services within a hybrid or fully modular building. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular building unit comprising: a ceiling assembly; and walls supporting the ceiling assembly; wherein the ceiling assembly comprises a load transfer section configured to transfer load to the walls and to provide an aperture, optionally when a further modular building unit is stacked on top of the modular building unit; and wherein the modular building unit further comprises building services equipment coupled to or incorporated into the ceiling assembly, the building services equipment being configured to connect through the aperture between the stacked modular building units. [0007] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular building unit comprising: a floor assembly; and walls supported by the floor assembly; wherein the floor assembly comprises a load transfer section configured to transfer load from the walls and to provide an aperture, optionally when the modular building unit is stacked on top of a further modular building unit; and wherein the modular building unit further comprises building services equipment coupled to or incorporated into the floor assembly, the building services equipment being configured to connect through the aperture between the stacked mo