Apparatus and Method for Attaching a Habitat to a Structural Element Field of the Invention The invention relates to apparatus and a method for sealing a habitat or enclosure around or against a structural element, in use in particular in the construction of habitats surrounding an area in which hot work is to take place.

Background to the Invention

It can be necessary to separate certain industrial operations from the surroundings. For example, conducting "hot work" such as welding, cutting or grinding generates heat and sparks. In certain environments hot working can be extremely hazardous particularly where there may be combustible gases such as hydrocarbons present. These environments may be encountered for example oil/gas exploration and production facilities, refineries, chemical plants and like.

In order for work carried out in such environments, a hot work habitat or enclosure, for example as described in our UK Patent No. GB 2,439,316, is constructed from modular panels around the area in which the whole work is to be performed. The habitat functions by being overpressured to prevent any combustible gases coming into contact with ignition sources within the habitat associated with hot work.

Habitats/enclosures may also be required to contain dust, fumes or gases generated during work such as sand or bead blasting, painting, and so forth.

Work in the vicinity of a structural element such as a bulkhead or a tubular element, may require the construction of a habitat around or against the structural element. In order for such a habitat to provide adequate containment, the habitat panels (i.e. the walls, roof and/or floor of the habitat) must be sealed against the structural element.

One approach is to use adhesives or sealants between the habitat and the structural element, but these can be difficult and time-consuming to install and remove, and can be prone to leakage unless applied by someone with sufficient skill and experience. Installation can be particularly difficult when the seal must be established at the same time as the adjacent habitat wall is put into position.

Releasable fastenings, such as hook and loop fastenings have also been used to seal against a structural element. One component of a fastening can be fixed to the structural element (e.g. using a contact adhesive) and then connected to a portion of the habitat wall/floor/roof provided with the other component of the fastening. However, even where the contact adhesive forms a reliable seal against the structural element, the releasable fastenings may come apart if the habitat walls move (for example in windy conditions or when habitat is overpressured).

Accordingly, there remains a need for a means to quickly and reliably establish a seal between a structural element and a habitat. Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a habitat attachment section, for attaching a habitat panel to a structural element, comprising:

a structure-engaging portion, having a first connection arrangement adapted to engage with a said structural element, and

a second connection arrangement adapted to permit the habitat attachment section to be attached to a said habitat panel, in use.

The structure-engaging portion may be engaged with a structural element (such as a bulkhead, cabinet, flooring, or tubular), before the habitat attachment section is connected to a habitat panel (e.g. a wall, or a wall portion, of the habitat). Thus, engagement with the structural element can be achieved when access to or around the structural element is at its best. In addition, the type and configuration of the first and second connection arrangements may be selected independently and according to their particular requirements. For example, in use, the first connection arrangement may be required to withstand greater forces acting to pull the structure-engaging portion away from the structural element, than those acting to pull the habitat attachment section along a surface of the structural element. Similarly, the second connection arrangement may be required to withstand the greatest forces (e.g. due to wind, or air pressure within the habitat) in a direction which act to pull the walls of the habitat apart from the habitat attachment section (e.g. generally along a face of a habitat wall). The first and second connection arrangements can be selected to be strongest in these directions.

A habitat panel may include any parts of a habitat which define the enclosed volume within the habitat, regardless of orientation, in use. A habitat panel may for example include parts of the habitat structure intended to be generally vertical (e.g. functioning as walls), or oriented at an angle or generally horizontally (e.g. functioning as a floor or a ceiling/roof), in use. A habitat panel may consist of an entire face of a habitat (e.g. an entire wall, floor or roof), or may comprise a part of a face of a habitat, such as a modular habitat panel, or more than one such panel connected to one another.

The habitat attachment section may be for use in connection with a hot work habitat, such as an overpressured hot work habitat. The habitat attachment section may be for attaching modular habitat panels to a structural element.

The habitat attachment section may be of flexible construction. For example, the habitat attachment section may comprise, or be formed from, a flexible material such as a flexible fireproof or fire retardant material. A flexible habitat attachment section is able to conform to the surface of a structural member, and so form a more effective seal.

The first connection arrangement may be adapted for releasable engagement with the structural element.

The first connection arrangement may comprise one or more magnets, or an array of magnets. For example, the first connection arrangement may comprise one or more rare-earth magnets: i.e. Magnets comprising or consisting of a rare-earth element or an alloy thereof, e.g. a neodymium magnet comprising a neodymium alloy such as an alloy of neodymium, iron and boron. In use, the one or more magnets may hold the panel in engagement with a structural element comprising iron or steel (or other material to which magnets are attracted). The magnet/magnets can subsequently be easily removed from the structural element, by application of sufficient force. The structure-engaging portion may comprise at least a part of the first connection arrangement.

The one or more magnets may be retained behind material from which the structure- engaging portion is comprised, so as to trap the material between the magnet/magnets and the structural element, in use. For example, the one or more magnets may be retained in pockets of the material from which the structure-engaging portion is made. The pockets may be formed by stitching, welding, gluing or the like. The one or more magnets may be retained behind a resilient material, for example an elastomeric material such as a neoprene material. In use, the resilient material may conform to the surface the structural element under a pressure applied by a said magnet towards the structural element, and so may facilitate sealing between the structure-engaging portion and the structural element.

Alternatively, or in addition, the structure-engaging portion may comprise a resilient material positioned between two or more adjacent magnets. Resilient material between adjacent magnets may resist attractive forces between magnets and so may assist in keeping magnets at an optimum spacing and/or from attaching to one another.

The one or more magnets may be at least partially embedded in a resilient material.

The first connection arrangement may comprise an array of magnets, preferably evenly spaced, in a line along the structure-engaging portion, or around a periphery thereof. For example, a spacing of around a half a metre has been found effective for sealing a structure-engaging portion comprised of plasticised PVC sheeting against a bulkhead, sufficient for an overpressure within a habitat to be maintained.

The first connection arrangement may comprise an adhesive, such as a contact adhesive, for adhering the structure-engaging portion to the structural element. For example, the first connection arrangement may comprise an adhesive tape, or a strip of a contact adhesive.

The first connection arrangement may comprise a releasable fastening, such both complimentary components of a hook and loop fastening. The first connection arrangement may comprise a primary connection arrangement, preferably one or more magnets, and a supplementary connection arrangement.

For example, a supplementary connection arrangement may comprise a hook or a loop portion of a hook and loop fastening which is secured to the habitat attachment section. Thus, in use, a complimentary loop, or hook portion of a hook and loop fastening may be adhered (e.g. using a contact adhesive or adhesive tape) to a structural element, and the complimentary portions brought together to engage the structure-engaging portion with the structural element.

A supplementary connection arrangement may comprise an adhesive, e.g. an adhesive tape, or a strip of adhesive applied to part of a surface of the structure-engaging portion.

A supplementary connection arrangement may be prone to failure either by being pulled apart, or away from the surface of the structural element. For example, a hook and loop type fastening may be relatively easily peeled apart, or an adhesively bound portion may be relatively easily pulled away from a surface. Thus, a connection arrangement of this type alone may not be sufficiently robust or reliable for attaching a habitat panel to a structural element.

Similarly a strip of contact adhesive (e.g. of adhesive tape, or applied to a region of the structure engaging portion) may be prone to peeling away from a surface.

Supplementary connection arrangements of this type may, however, be much stronger in relation to forces acting across the face of the fastening (i.e. shear forces). Additionally, such supplementary connection arrangements may be more effective at preventing the passage of gas or air than a primary connection arrangement comprising one or more magnets. Conversely, magnets may be relatively prone to sliding along the surface of a structural element, but may be able to resist much greater forces acting to pull them away from the surface. Accordingly, by using a first connection arrangement comprising both magnets and a releaseable (e.g. hook and loop) fastening, a habitat attachment section may be held strongly against a structural element by the magnets, and prevented from sliding across the surface by the releasable fastening. One or more parts of the structure-engaging portion may be detachable from the structure engaging portion. The structure-engaging portion may comprise one or more detachable parts (e.g. strips). The one or more detachable parts may be attached/attachable to the habitat attachment section by a hook and loop fastening, or any other suitable type of releasable fastening, such as a zip. The one or more detachable parts may comprise the supplementary connection arrangement or a component thereof (and/or, in some embodiments, the primary connection arrangement).

The one or more detachable parts may take the form of adhesive tape, which may be applied to the habitat attachment section and to the structural element (e.g. to form a "bridge" therebetween).

Accordingly, the invention extends in another aspect to a habitat attachment section, for attaching a habitat panel to a structural element, comprising; a structure engaging portion having a primary connection arrangement (for example comprising one of more magnets) and a supplementary connection arrangement (for example comprising a hook and loop fastening, or a hook/loop part thereof); the said connection arrangements adapted to engage the structure-engaging portion with a structural element, wherein;

the primary connection arrangement is adapted, in use, to resist greater forces acting to disengage the structure-engaging portion from the structural element than the supplementary connection arrangement; and

the supplementary connection arrangement adapted, in use, to resist greater forces acting to move the structure-engaging portion across a surface of the structural element than the primary connection arrangement. The habitat attachment section may comprise a first connection arrangement (including the primary and supplementary connection arrangements) adapted to engage with a said structural element, and

a second connection arrangement adapted to permit the habitat attachment section to be attached to a said habitat panel, in use. The second connection arrangement may be adapted to be releasably attached to a habitat panel, by way of one or more releasable fastenings. The second connection arrangement may be adapted to be attached to a habitat panel by way of more than one type of releasable fastening.

The second connection arrangement may comprise a component of any suitable type or types of releasable fastening. For example, the second connection arrangement may comprise a zip portion (for engagement with a complimentary zip portion of a habitat panel), and/or a hook or a loop portion of a hook and loop fastening (for engagement with a complimentary loop/hook portion of a habitat panel). Other types of releasable fastening may also be employed, such as nuts/bolts, hooks and eyelets and the like.

The second connection arrangement may extend along an edge of the habitat attachment section. The second connection arrangement may be along a face, or along opposed faces, of the habitat attachment section.

The second connection arrangement may extend along an edge (on along faces adjacent to an edge) facing away from the structure-engaging portion. Thus, forces (e.g. due to wind against the habitat) which act to pull the second connection arrangement apart also act to pull the structure-engaging portion away from the structural element.

The habitat attachment section may be elongate. The first and second connection arrangements may extend along a length of the habitat attachment section.

The habitat attachment section may have any suitable cross section and, for example may be provided with a generally T-shaped, triangular or L-shaped cross section. The habitat attachment section may be of generally T-shaped cross section (accepting that, in some embodiments, the orientation of the first and second connection arrangements may vary in use, for example where the habitat attachment section is of flexible construction). Thus, the habitat attachment section may comprise a second portion extending away from the structure-engaging portion, the second portion comprising the second connection arrangement. The second connection arrangement may comprise a zip portion, or more than one zip portion arranged end to end, extending along an edge of the second portion distal to the structure-engaging portion.

The second portion may comprise, or further comprise, components of a releasable fastening, such as a hook and loop fastening, along one or both faces thereof.

The habitat attachment section may be of generally triangular cross section (accepting that, in some embodiments, the habitat attachment section may comprise flexible material, such that the shape and configuration of the habitat attachment section may vary from a triangular prism, in use).

The habitat attachment section may comprise second and third portions extending from the structure-engaging portion. The second and third portions may meet along an edge.

A component of a releasable fastening, such as a zip portion, may extend along the edge between the second and third portions.

A component of a releasable fastening, forming a part of the second connection arrangement, may extend along a face, which may be an external face, of the second and/or third portions. The second and third portions may extend from the structure-engaging portion to either side of the first connection arrangement. Thus forces which act to pull the habitat attachment section away from the structural element, in use, are distributed evenly across the first connection arrangement. The habitat attachment section may be formed from a single sheet of material.

A single sheet of material may be formed (by way of one or more of stitching, welding, melting, gluing, folding and the like) into a structure-engaging portion (or a part thereof) and a second portion, or second and third portions. The habitat attachment section (or one or more the said structure-engaging, second or third portions) may comprise material having a laminated construction.

The habitat attachment section may be formed from, or comprise, a fireproof material and/or a fire resistant material. For example the habitat attachment section may comprise a coated fireproof PVC fabric material.

In use, a seal against/around a structural element may be provided by a series of habitat attachment sections.

The habitat attachment section may be adapted for connection to another habitat attachment section, at one or both ends thereof. The habitat attachment section may comprise a third connection arrangement, to enable the habitat attachment section to be attached to another habitat attachment section.

In use, a habitat attachment section may overlap with an adjacent habitat attachment section.

The habitat attachment section may comprise a wall portion. For example, a second portion may extend from the structure-engaging portion sufficiently to define a portion of a wall, roof or floor of a habitat.

The habitat attachment section may be adapted to permit the habitat attachment section to be attached to more than one habitat panel, in use. Accordingly, the habitat attachment section may comprise a second and a third connection arrangement, each adapted to permit the habitat attachment section to be attached to a habitat panel, in use. The second and third connection arrangements may be generally parallel to one another, for example so that the habitat attachment panel extends along a vertex between walls/ceiling/floor of a habitat, in use.

The habitat panel may have any suitable cross section, such as a square or a U- shaped cross section. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a habitat, enclosing a volume in which work is to be conducted; the enclosed volume together defined by habitat panels and a structural element;

wherein the structural element is attached to habitat panels adjacent to the structural element by one or more habitat attachment sections in accordance with other aspects of the invention.

A structure-engaging portion of each habitat attachment section may be held in engagement with the structural element by a first connection arrangement. The first connection arrangement may comprise a primary connection arrangement and a supplementary connection arrangement. Each habitat attachment section may be attached an adjacent habitat panel by a second connection arrangement. Each habitat attachment section may extend from, or form a part of, an adjacent habitat panel. The habitat may be a hot work habitat. The habitat may be an overpressured hot work habitat. The habitat may be of modular construction.

The habitat may be constructed from a plurality of interconnected modular habitat panels.

Each habitat attachment section may be connected to a habitat panel, or to more than one habitat panel. One or more said habitat panels may be attached to more than one said habitat attachment section. The habitat attachment section/sections may form a seal around an area of the surface of the structural element. For example, the habitat attachment section/sections may form a seal around a tubular element, or may form a seal around an area of a bulkhead. The structural element may comprise one or more of: a wall, bulkhead, tubular element, floor, walkway, or a portion thereof.

The habitat may comprise one or more attachments sections of the first aspect of the invention. According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of attaching a habitat panel to a structural element, the method comprising engaging a structure-engaging portion of a habitat attachment section with a structural element, using a first connection arrangement; and

attaching a habitat panel to the habitat attachment section, using a second connection arrangement.

The method may comprise attaching the structure-engaging portion of the habitat attachment section, and subsequently attaching the habitat panel to the habitat attachment section.

In a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of attaching a habitat panel to a structural element, the method comprising engaging a structure- engaging portion of a habitat attachment section (which is attached or attachable to a habitat panel) with a structural element using a primary connection arrangement (preferably comprising one or more magnets), and using a supplementary connection arrangement which is adapted to resist to resist greater forces acting to move the structure-engaging portion across a surface of the structural element than the primary connection arrangement.

The method may comprise attaching the structure-engaging portion to the structural element using one or more magnets.

The method may comprise adhesively attaching the structure engaging portion to the structural element, for example using a contact adhesive or adhesive tape.

The method may comprise applying a hook or a loop part of a hook and loop fastening, to a surface of the structural element (for example using an adhesive strip or tape), and attaching thereto a complimentary part of a hook and loop fastening, applied to a part of the structure engaging portion.

The method may comprise attaching one or more detachable parts to the structure- engaging portion and engaging the one or more detachable parts to the habitat attachment section. The one or more detachable parts may be attached to the structure engaging portion before, at the same time as, or after they are engaged with the structural element.

The one or more detachable parts may bridge between the structure-engaging portion and the structural element. For example, the method may comprise applying a detachable strip (e.g. a strip provided with a part of a hook and loop fastening, or an adhesive strip) across an interface between the habitat attachment section and the structural element. Attaching a habitat panel to the habitat attachment section may comprise attaching one or more modular habitat panels to the habitat attachment section.

The method may comprise constructing a habitat. The method may comprise interconnecting a plurality of modular habitat panels, so as to form a wall (and/or a ceiling and/or optionally a floor) portion of a habitat.

The method may comprise attaching structure-engaging portions of a series of habitat attachment sections to a structural element. The method may comprise attaching a habitat attachment section to another habitat attachment section, at one or both ends thereof.

The method may comprise connecting a habitat panel, e.g. a modular habitat panel, to more than one habitat attachment section. For example a habitat panel may "bridge" adjacent habitat attachment sections.

The method may comprise pressurising the inside of the completed habitat, so as to form an overpressured habitat. Further preferred and optional features of each aspect of the invention correspond to preferred and optional features of any other aspect of the invention. Description of the Drawings

Example embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective schematic view of a habitat attachment section;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the habitat attachment section of Figure 1 , in an unfolded configuration;

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a habitat attachment sections attached to a structural element, adjacent to a work area;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a component of a supplementary connection arrangement adjacent to a habitat attachment panel, engaged with a structural element;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a habitat attachment panel engaged with a structural element by both a primary and a supplementary connection arrangement;

Figure 6 shows a perspective schematic view of a modular habitat panel;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of a habitat attachment section attached to a structural element and to the habitat panel of Figure 4;

Figure 8 shows a habitat assembled around a work area and against a structural element; and

Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment of a habitat attachment section.

Detailed Description of Example Embodiments

Figure 1 shows a habitat attachment section 1 . The habitat attachment section has a structure-engaging portion 3 which is provided with a first connection arrangement 5, for engaging the structure-engaging portion with a structural element; and a second connection arrangement 7, for attaching the habitat attachment section 1 to a habitat panel.

The first connection arrangement includes an array of magnets (shown in outline). Although four magnets are shown, the connection arrangement 5 may comprise any number of magnets.

The second connection arrangement 7, includes a zip portion 9, extending along an edge facing away from the structure-engaging portion. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the second connection arrangement comprises two zip portions, each extending part of the way along the edge facing away from the panel 3, so as to enable the section 1 to be connected to more than one habitat panel, in the manner described in detail below. The habitat attachment section 1 also includes panels 1 1 , 13 which extend between the zip portion 9 and the structure-engaging portion 3. The second connection arrangement also includes a component of a hook and loop fastening 15, on the face of each of the panels 1 1 , 13. The main part 1 a of the habitat attachment section may be used alone, or together with detachable strips 20, one face of each of which are provided with a component of a hook and loop fastening 22. In use, the components 22 can be attached to the complimentary components 24 of a hook and loop fastening, on the panels 1 1 and 13 (only the component on panel 13 being visible in Figure 1 ), adjacent to the structure engaging portion 3, as illustrated by the dotted arrows. As described further below, the strips 20 may be used to bridge between the habitat attachment section 1 and a structural element, such that a part of the faces of the strips 20 form part of the structure engaging portion of the assembled attachment section, and the complimentary components 24 form part of a supplementary connection arrangement for engagement with the structural element.

The habitat attachment section is for use in the construction of a hot work habitat (as described in further detail below) and, accordingly, is formed from a two-layer fire- retardant PVC material. As can be more clearly seen in Figure 2, the panels 3, 1 1 and 13 of the habitat attachment section 1 , forming part 1 a, is constructed from a single sheet of material. The magnets 5 are located in pockets between the PVC fabric layers, formed by stitching 17. The generally trigonal prism configuration shown in Figure 1 is formed by folding along the zip portion 9 and the stitching line 19, and stitching edges A-A' and B- B' together.

Construction of a hot-work habitat from a plurality of modular habitat panels, against a steel bulkhead will now be described with reference to Figures 3 to 8.

Firstly, as shown in Figure 3, a series of habitat attachment sections 1 a are attached to the steel bulkhead 30, which is adjacent to a work area 31 in which hot work is to be conducted. The structure-engaging portion 3 of each of the attachment sections 1 a is brought into contact with the bulkhead 30 and held in place by the magnets 5, which trap a layer of the PVC fabric material between the panel and the bulkhead. The attachment sections 1 a are abutted end to end in the desired outline of the walls (denoted by dotted line 32) of the habitat to be constructed, and are continued until they encircle an area 34 of the bulkhead. The flexibility of the habitat attachment sections enables an area of any shape to be encircled, as the habitat attachment sections can be made to curve or bend around corners, as shown in Figure 3. In alternative embodiments (not shown) the structural element may have an uneven shape (e.g. the structural element may be a tubular element, or may comprise corners, such as between a bulkhead and a floor). The flexibility of the habitat attachment sections similarly enables the structure-engaging portion 5 to confirm to such uneven shaped structures. It has been found that in use of permanent ferrite magnets of around 5-10 cm in diameter, a spacing of roughly 40- 60cm between magnet is sufficient to ensure that sealing attachment between the habitat attachment section 1 and a structural element is normally adequate for the purposes of establishing and maintaining an overpressure of air within the habitat in use. For example, a section 1 provided with 8.5cm diameter magnets may have a spacing of around 46cm between magnets, for a habitat attachment section 1 made from double layer PVC fabric material. . In some applications, it may be required to further improve the engagement between the habitat attachment sections and the bulkhead, for example to further improve the gas tightness of the seal with the bulkhead or to provide additional resistance to the attachments sections sliding across the face of the bulkhead and so deforming the habitat structure in use.

In such cases, the attachments sections are provided with a supplementary connection arrangement. Referring now to Figure 4, self-adhesive strips 26 of a component of a hook and loop fastening (complimentary to the components 22 on the faces of the detachable strips 20), are applied to the bulkhead along one or both sides of the trigonal part 1 a of each attachment section, adjacent to the components 24 of a hook and look fastening applied to the panels 1 1 and 13 of the attachment section.

As shown in Figure 5, the detachable strips 20 are then attached to the components 24 and 26 of the hook and look fastening along the panels 1 1 , 13 of the trigonal part 1 a of the attachment section and the bulkhead, respectively, so as to bridge between the panels 1 1 , 13 and the bulkhead. The magnets 5 hold the attachment section 1 in engagement with the bulkhead with the greatest force in the direction away from the bulkhead (direction C) and so function as the primary connection arrangement. The hook and loop fastening 22, 26 between the strip 20 and the bulkhead 30 is not itself sufficiently strong in the direction C, to attach habitat panels to the bulkhead, but offers greater resistance to sliding across the bulkhead (in the directions D or E) than the magnets 5. Thus, this supplementary connection arrangement functions to anchor the habitat attachment section 1 in position on the bulkhead.

Each of the habitat attachment sections is then connected to a habitat panel. A habitat panel 40 is shown schematically in Figure 6. Each modular habitat panel 40 is generally as described in the applicant's earlier UK patent no. GB 2,439,316, to which the skilled addressee is directed. Each habitat panel 40 is constructed from a structural material layer 42 (formed from the same PVC material as the sections 1 ), laminated to a fireproof material layer 44. The structural material layer 42 has a zip portions 46 extending around its periphery and the fireproof material layer 44 has a component of a hook and loop fastening 48, which is complimentary to the component 15 on each of the sections 1. Referring now to the cross sectional view through a habitat panel and habitat attachment section, of Figure 7, a habitat panel 40 is releasably attached to a section 1 by zipping a zip portion 9, to a zip portion 46, so that the fireproof layer 42 faces the inside of the habitat (i.e. the work area 31 ). Complimentary components of the hook and loop fastening 15, 48 are then brought into contact, so that the portions 44' (which extend beyond the structural layer 42 around the periphery of the panel) cover the zip portions 9, 46. The portions 44' also extend beyond the end of the habitat attachment section 1 to which the habitat panel 40 is attached, thereby overlapping with the adjacent sections 1 and ensuring that a continuous fireproof seal is formed around the area 34.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) each habitat panel bridges between two adjacent habitat attachment sections. Each of the sections may have a zip portion extending part of the way along its length, such that the zip portion 48 can be joined along half of its length to zip portions from each of the two habitat attachments sections.

Provision of the component of the hook and loop fastener 15 on both panels 1 1 and 13 enables a panel 40 to be connected to the section 1 either way around.

In use, forces received by the walls, roof and/or floor of the habitat structure, for example during construction, when the habitat structure is overpressured or when wind causes deformation of the structure, typically act generally in the direction C. The second connection arrangement 7 is adapted to be strongest in this direction, by virtue of the heavy duty zip 9, 46. In addition, the hook and loop fastening 15, 48 is oriented in relation to the panel 40 such that forces in the direction C are mainly shear forces along the face of the hook and loop fastening. In this direction, the hook and loop fastening 14, 48 is much stronger than in the direction perpendicular to the face of the fastening.

Forces in the direction C also act against the first connection arrangement 5 in the direction in which it is strongest, i.e. directly away from the face of the structural element, the bulkhead 30. As explained above, the supplementary connection provided by the detachable strips 20 and the hook and loop fastenings 22, 26 between the strips 20 and the bulkhead 30 resists any forces which might otherwise act to slide the attachment section 1 across the face of the bulkhead.

The generally trigonal arrangement of the panels 1 1 and 13 in relation to the structure- engaging portion 3 also ensures that forces acting to disengage the habitat attachment section 1 from the bulkhead 32 are distributed evenly across the first connection arrangement 5, reducing the likelihood that one side of a magnet will be prised away from the bulkhead, which might otherwise cause the section 1 to slide or separate from the bulkhead.

A plurality of modular habitat panels 40 can be interconnected, so as to form a complete, enclosed habitat 49, as shown schematically in Figure 8. The panels 40 are secured to a metal scaffold 50. The habitat is also provided with a door 52 (or, alternatively an air lock) to allow access to and exit from the work area within the habitat. The habitat panels are attached to a series of habitat attachment sections 1 (in the manner described above) which have been attached to the bulkhead 30 by the magnets 5 (not visible in Figure 8). The attachment sections are placed end to end, so as to describe an area in the shape of the habitat. Thus, the area 34 (not visible in figure 8), and the walls, roof and floor of the habitat formed from the modular habitat panels 40, together define an enclosed volume containing the work area 31 (not visible in Figure 8).

The habitat may be disassembled by reversing the steps described above. All of the connections between the habitat panels, between the habitat attachment sections 1 and habitat panels, and between the habitat attachment sections 1 and the bulkhead, are easily releasable without the requirement for special tools or solvents to remove adhesive or sealant. In addition, all of the sections 1 and habitat panels 40 may be reused. A further embodiment of a habitat attachment section 100 is shown in Figure 9. Like features are numbered in accordance with Figure 1 , incremented by 100. The section 100 is of generally similar double layer construction as section 1 , described above. The structure-engaging portion 103 includes a connection arrangement 105 (in the form of magnets sewn into pockets between the layers of the panel 103). A second portion 1 1 1 extends from the structure-engaging portion 103, such that the section 100 has a generally T-shaped cross section. A zip portion 109 extends along the edge of the panel 1 1 1 facing away from the structure-engaging portion 103, and a component of a hook and loop fastening 1 15 is attached to opposed faces of the panel 1 1 1 . The zip portion 109 and the fastening component 115 together constitute the second connection arrangement 107 for connecting the habitat attachment section 100 to a habitat panel, in the manner described above in relation to the section 1 .

Should any additional resistance to the attachment section 100 sliding across a surface be required, adhesive tape (not shown) may be applied to bridge across the outward facing surface 103a of the structure engaging portion 103 and an adjacent area of the structural element. The adhesive tape provides a secondary connection arrangement, analogous to that provided by the detachable strips 20 discussed above.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed the apparatus and methods described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes to the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the habitat attachment section may be constructed from a different type of material, or may be provided with alternative forms of connection arrangements. The attachment section may be employed in use with other types of habitats and enclosures and attachment to other forms of structural elements is possible.