Building element, system and method

A building system adapted to provide thermal insulation between two building parts is provided comprising:

• at least one building element including:
• an elongate insulating body;
• a plurality of reinforcing elements passing through and projecting on either side beyond the insulating body so as to be disposed in use within and serve to reinforce each of the two building parts;
• and
• at least one through apertured formation extending transversely through the insulating body so as to be able to receive in use a post-tensioning tendon member;
• at least one post-tensioning tendon;
• each through aperture in the building element being complementarily sized and shaped with respect to each post-tensioning tendon member so that the post-tensioning tendon member is receivable within and passes through the through aperture in use,
• wherein:
• the insulating body comprises at least one load transfer element and at least one transition element continuously aligned with the load transfer element;
• the at least one load transfer element comprises a first insulating body with the said plurality of reinforcing elements passing through and projecting on either side beyond the first insulating body,
• the at least one transition element comprises a second insulating body with at least one of the said apertured formations formed in and extending transversely through the second insulating body,
• the through apertured formation comprises a tubular member defining a through aperture, and
• the tubular member comprises a central tubular sheath passing through the thickness of the elongate insulating body and an adaptor portion provided at each end thereof so disposed as to project beyond the first insulating body on either side thereof.

A building structure comprising:

• a building system comprising:
• a building element having an elongate insulating body, a plurality of reinforcing elements passing through and projecting on either side beyond the insulating body, and at least one through apertured formation extending transversely through the insulating body, and a post-tensioning tendon member;
• at least one post-tensioning tendon;
• each through aperture in the building element being complementarily sized and shaped with respect to each post-tensioning tendon member so that the post-tensioning tendon member is receivable within and passes through the through aperture in use;
• a first building part engaged with the reinforcing elements on a first side of the building element;
• a second building part engaged with the reinforcing elements on a second side of the building element;
• wherein:
• the post-tensioning tendon member is received within and passes through the through aperture and is tensioned to apply a post-tensioning load to the building structure,
• the insulating body comprises at least one load transfer element and at least one transition element continuously aligned with the load transfer element,
• the at least one load transfer element comprises a first insulating body with the said plurality of reinforcing elements passing through and projecting on either side beyond the first insulating body,
• the at least one transition element comprises a second insulating body with at least one of the said apertured formations formed in and extending transversely through the second insulating body,
• the through apertured formation comprises a tubular member defining a through aperture, and
• the tubular member comprises a central tubular sheath passing through the thickness of the elongate insulating body and an adaptor portion provided at each end thereof so disposed as to project beyond the first insulating body on either side thereof.

A method of building comprising the steps of:

• deploying a building element, the building element comprising:
• an elongate insulating body,
• a plurality of reinforcing elements passing through and projecting on either side beyond the insulating body between two building parts such that the reinforcing elements are disposed within and serve to reinforce each of the two building parts,
• at least one through apertured formation extending transversely through the insulating body so as to be able to receive in use a post-tensioning tendon member,
• wherein:
• the insulating body comprises at least one load transfer element and at least one transition element continuously aligned with the load transfer element,
• the at least one load transfer element comprises a first insulating body with the said plurality of reinforcing elements passing through and projecting on either side beyond the first insulating body,
• the at least one transition element comprises a second insulating body with at least one of the said apertured formations formed in and extending transversely through the second insulating body,
• the through apertured formation comprises a tubular member defining a through aperture, and
• the tubular member comprises a central tubular sheath passing through the thickness of the elongate insulating body and an adaptor portion provided at each end thereof so disposed as to project beyond the first insulating body on either side thereof;
• and
• providing at least one through apertured formation extending transversely through the insulating body suitable to receive a post-tensioning tendon member.