The present invention relates to a templated building-construction system for simplifying the construction of a building. An expandable building-construction template for use with the system and a method of simplifying the construction of a building are also provided.

Project management of building projects is a challenging endeavour; there are numerous different workers who must be instructed as to the correct assembly of the building in order to construct it to exact specifications, and communication of information is critical both from an accuracy and a logistical perspective. Often contractors will perform tasks out of sequence which will hamper the construction of the building, or will spend a significant amount of time attempting to understand the requirements.

The plan for a particular building is typically provided in the form of blueprints which must be read and interpreted by the relevant workers in order to ensure that the building is correctly built to specification. However, blueprints are abstract representations of building plans and can be readily misunderstood. Calculations are required in order to convert the details of the blueprints into a realistic and structurally sound building.

The present invention seeks to provide a tool to simplify the construction of a building, so as to overcome or obviate the above-referenced issues .

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a templated building-construction system for templating the construction of a building, the system comprising: a scale building representation which is indicative of the building to be constructed; a full-scale expandable building-construction template including a plurality of sequentially interconnected strips, each strip including an indicia portion thereon at which is displayed building-construction indicia in accordance with the position of the strip in sequence, the building-construction indicia being determined from the scale building representation; and a plurality of building components which can be assembled to construct a building in accordance with the scale building representation, the plurality of building components corresponding with the building-construction indicia; the expandable building-construction template being configurable between first and second conditions, the first condition being a contracted state in which the plurality of strips are collapsed or concertinaed together, and the second condition being an extended state in which the plurality of strips are arranged so as to form a full-scale visual template for the construction of the building using the building-construction indicia in accordance with the scale building representation.

The provision of a system in which there is a template having a plurality of strips which are associated with building components to be installed, with the template being extendible to provide a direct correspondence between the instructions contained thereon and the building site, ensures that the construction of a building can be simplified. Construction workers can advantageously follow the instructions on the template without needing to interpret abstract blueprints, and the template can be modified so as to provide significant amounts of secondary information to the workers. This beneficially reduces the chances of inaccurate construction, particularly when using inexperienced workers. In one embodiment, in the second condition, the expandable biulding-construction template may form a planar visual template to define a floorplan of the building. Alternatively, in the second condition, the expandable building-construction template may form a three-dimensional visual template to define a three-dimensional plan of the building.

Whilst the template most readily lends itself towards outlining of a floorplan of a building, it may be possible to provide three-dimensional structural information, which is of more use to construction workers who are dealing with infrastructure, such as electrical or plumbing work, rather than the construction of the superstructure of the building.

Optionally, the plurality of sequentially interconnected strips may be connected via pivotable hinges or foldable hinges.

Hinges allow for easy collapsing or concertinaing of the template, allowing it to be readily transported to and from the building site, without needing to transport an item the full size of the building to be constructed.

Preferably, each of the building-construction indicia may include a computer-readable construction instruction. Furthermore, at least one of the building-construction indicia may include a depiction of the scale building representation. Additionally or alternatively, each of the building-construction indicia may include visual instructions to a user. The building-construction indicia may be provided as tonally- or colour-contrasting regions on their respective strips.

Information can be disseminated to construction workers in a number of different ways, and can be advantageously used to distinguish between the types of work to be performed. By utilising strips as part of the template, there will naturally be a visible upper surface on each strip from which the construction workers can glean information regarding the assembly of the building.

Each of the plurality of sequentially interconnected strips may be formed as a laminated strip, in which case each laminated strip may include a rigidifying member associated therewith.

Laminated strips are less likely to become damaged or wet during construction of the building, which is of particular importance in external conditions. Rigidity of the laminated member may prevent the accidental displacement of the template during use which could otherwise cause errors in the assembly of the building components.

At least part of the indicia portion may be releasably engagable with the strip.

Releasable portions of each strip can be used by construction workers to indicate that a particular portion of the building has been constructed to a given standard, advantageously ensuring building compliance as the construction progresses.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an expandable building-construction template for use as part of a templated building-construction system, preferably in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the expandable building-constmction template comprising: a plurality of sequentially interconnected strips, each strip including an indicia portion thereon at which is displayed building-construction indicia in accordance with the position of the strip in sequence, the expandable building-construction template being configurable between first and second condition, the first condition being a contracted condition in which the plurality of strips are collapsed or concertinaed together, the second condition being an extended condition in which the plurality of strips are arranged so as to form a visual template for the construction of a building using the building-construction indicia.

The provision of such a template enables the use of a system as described above, with all of the associated advantages.

Optionally, the plurality of sequentially interconnected strips may be connected via pivotable hinge or foldable hinges.

The expandable building-construction template may form a planar visual template in the second condition, or alternatively, in the second condition, the expandable building-construction template may form a three- dimensional visual template.

Preferably, each of the building-construction indicia may include a computer-readable construction instruction. Additionally or alternatively, each of the building-construction indicia may include visual instructions to a user. Furthermore, the building-construction indicia may be provided as tonally- or colour-contrasting regions on their respective strips.

Each of the plurality of sequentially interconnected strips may be formed as a laminated strip, in which case each laminated strip may include a rigidifying member associated therewith.

Optionally, at least part of the indicia portion may be releasably engagable with the strip.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of simplifying the construction of a building, the method comprising the steps of: a] providing an expandable building-construction template, preferably in accordance with the second aspect of the invention; b] transporting the expandable building- construction template to a building site in a first, contracted condition in which the plurality of strips are collapsed or concertinaed together; c] expanding the expandable building-construction template into a second, extended condition, in which the plurality of strips are arranged so as to form a visual template for the construction of a building using the building-construction indicia; and d] assembling components of the building in accordance with the building-construction indicia.

Preferably, during step a], the expandable building construction template may be provided based on a scale building representation. During step c], the expandable building-construction template may form a planar visual template, or alternatively may form a three-dimensional visual template. During step c], the plurality of strips may be pivoted, folded or rolled out into the second condition. Optionally, during step d], the components of the building may include a socket to be installed into a wall of the building. Where this is the case, the method may further comprise a step subsequent to step d] of removing a part of the indicia portion of a strip associated with the socket and affixing the said part at or adjacent to the socket to indicate a compliance of the socket with a predetermined standard. There may further comprise a step e], which is subsequent to step d], of removing the expandable building-construction template from the building site.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming an expandable building- construction template, preferably in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps of: a] creating a digital scale building representation of a building; b] sectioning the digital scale building representation into a plurality of sequential digital strips which are indicative of the positioning of building components required to construct the building; c] creating a plurality of strips using the plurality of sequential digital strips; and d] interconnecting the plurality of strips to form an expandable building-construction template. Preferably, during step c], the plurality of strips may be printed.

The manufacture of an expandable building-construction template can be advantageous effected using design software, allowing individual strips to be printed in sequence and then subsequently assembled. This ensures that the template can be created in a relatively simple and cost-effective manner.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective representation of the construction of a building using a first embodiment of a templated building-construction system in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective representation of the templated building-construction system of Figure 1, with the expandable building-construction template in an extended condition;

Figure 3 shows a perspective representation of the templated building-construction system of Figure 1, following the installation of some building components of the building using the expandable building- construction template;

Figure 4 shows an internal perspective representation of the construction of a room within a building using a second embodiment of a templated building-construction system in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 5 is an internal perspective representation of the room of Figure 4, following the installation of some building components of the room using the expandable building-construction template;

Figure 6 is an internal perspective representation of the room of Figure 4, during installation of an electrical socket using the expandable building-construction template;

Figure 7 is an internal perspective representation of the room of Figure 4, following installation of further building components including plumbing using the expandable building-construction template; Figure 8 shows an internal perspective representation of the room of Figure 4 following assembly and removal of the expandable building-construction template;

Figure 9 shows a perspective representation of a first embodiment of an expandable building- construction template in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, in an extended condition;

Figure 10 is a perspective representation of a second embodiment of an expandable building- construction template in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, in a contracted condition;

Figure 11 is a perspective representation of the expandable building-construction template of Figure 10, in a partially extended condition;

Figure 12 shows a perspective representation of the expandable building-construction template of Figure 10, in an extended condition;

Figure 13 is a perspective representation of a portion of a third embodiment of an expandable building- construction template in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, which is adjacent to a wall;

Figure 14 shows a perspective representation of the expandable building-construction template of Figure 13, indicating a vertically-extendible strip for templating the position of an electrical socket, shown in a partially extended condition;

Figure 15 shows a perspective representation of representation of the expandable building-construction template of Figure 13, the vertically-extendible strip being in an extended condition;

Figure 16 shows a perspective representation of the expandable building-construction template of Figure 13, following lateral expansion of the vertically-extendible strip, and illustrating a region in the wall to be cut for the electrical socket;

Figure 17 shows a perspective representation of the expandable building-construction template of Figure 13, following removal of the vertically-extendible strip and installation of the socket; and

Figure 18 shows a perspective representation of the expandable building-construction template of Figure 13, following removal of a compliance sticker from the expandable building-construction template and subsequent attachment to the wall at or adjacent to the socket.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is illustrated a templated building-construction system, indicated globally at 10, and which includes an expandable building-construction template 12 which has been brought to a building site. The expandable building-construction template 12 has been formed based on a, preferably one to one ratio, scale building representation which is indicative of the building to be constructed, such as a set of building blueprints or technical drawings 14.

The expandable building-construction template 12 is formed having a plurality of sequentially interconnected members or elements, such as strips 16, though these may be releasably interconnectable if desired, which can be repositioned relative to one another to form a template from which the building can be constructed. Each strip 16 is preferably formed as a planar, potentially laminated, element having an indicia portion 18 on a, preferably uppermost, surface thereof which is visible in use to the construction workers 20 on site. The strips 16 are preferably formed as elongate flexible elements which can be readily lain onto a flat surface, or potentially being conformable to an uneven floor. The strips 16 may be weighted or rigidified using a rigidifying member in order to maintain a level and planarity of each strip 16. The expandable building-construction template 12 is formed so as to be full-scale, that is a 1 : 1 scale, or a directly corresponding full-size or life-size template to the building to be constructed. The building-construction template 12 could therefore be described as being exact or proportionate to the building being constructed.

The indicia portions 18 include one or more building-construction indicia 22 which are determinable from the scale building representation, and are arranged to provide instructions to the construction workers 20 as to how to assemble the building. This may relate to the positions of walls, doors, structural beams or frames, windows, plumbing, electrical components, floor and ceiling elements, plumbing, utilities, and/or partitions; this is evidently a non-exhaustive list of the types of building component which are used in the construction of a building, and any or all types of building component could be referred to using the building-construction indicia 22. For example, tolerance information relating to the building components could be provided; this may be critical, for instance when installing building components, such as radiators, into stud walling, since alignment of the radiator and pipes is critical, and highly dependent upon the positioning of the studs.

In Figure 1, the expandable building-construction template 12 is shown in a retracted or contracted, or at least partially contracted, first condition. The strips 16 are positioned so as to be close to one another, such that the expandable building-construction template 12 is collapsed or concertinaed together, and does therefore not present a viable template for constructing the building.

In the depicted embodiment, the strips 16 are interconnected to neighbouring strips 16 using a pivotable joint 24, and each strip 16 may be pivoted relative to its neighbour into the contracted condition. This may be performed by bringing the strips 16 into an overlapping configuration. Preferably, the pivotable joint 24 may be provided at or adjacent to an end of each strip 16; however, it will be appreciated that for some building configurations, this may not always be possible. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that although pivotable joints 24 are illustrated in Figure 1, other arrangements may be possible, such as the use of hinges, flexible joints or similar, or the strips 16 may be reliable into a contracted condition.

Various building-construction indicia 22 may be provided, which provide the construction workers 20 with different types of information regarding the construction of the building. For example, there may be information at or adjacent to each pivotable joint 24 which is indicative of an angle to which a neighbouring strip 16 must be pivoted in order to form the template. Physical stops could also be provided to this end, whereby neighbouring interconnected strips 16 may only be able to be extended to a certain predetermined maximum extent corresponding to a required installation or construction angle. There may be delineation of the indicia portion 18 of each strip 16, indicating the positions of walls, windows, doors, and such. These may be provided with specific measurements to assist with the selection of the respective building component.

Furthermore, the building-construction indicia 22, which themselves are 1: 1 scale or life-size dimensioned, may be sized or otherwise indicative of permissible tolerances in the positioning of the building components. For example, a building-construction indicia 22 could be provided which is indicative of a position and alignment of a door or window frame to be installed. The building-construction indicia 22 could be provided so as to have an area which is greater than a footprint of the door frame, and provided that the footprint of the door frame lies within the area of the building-construction indicia, then a valid building can be constructed. By way of another example, the building-construction indicia may require the positioning of an edge, for example, a lowermost outer edge, of the door or window frame to be positioned on a straight line of the building-construction indicia. By making the straight line of the building-construction indicia thinner or thicker during production of the template, a tolerance for the positioning of the edge of the door or window frame can be accommodated. This allows the tolerances of building components to be accounted for.

Similarly, where a screw or nail is to be installed into a wall, for example, a building-construction indicia 22 could be provided to indicate the different positions in the wall into which the screw or nail could be inserted. This could be achieved by providing a building-construction indicia 22 which is non-point-like, having a definite area. For example, having a marked or visible location point on the template which is 1 mm in diameter indicating an exact positioning of a screw or nail could be used, but having a larger location point of 5 mm or 10 mm, for example, allowing the screw or nail to be inserted at any point within that defined area also allows for the provision of a tolerance to be indicated to an installer working to the defined template.

Written instructions as to tasks to be performed may also be provided, or computer-readable code, such as a bar code or QR code, may be provided on the indicia portion 18 to allow for access to instructions or further information regarding the assembly of the building, such as the nature of the building components to be utilised in conjunction with any given strip 16 of the expandable building-construction template 12. There may also be colour-coding or tonal contrasts on the indicia portion 18; this may be useful in order to differentiate between types of work to be performed. For instance, instructions relating to a plumber, such a water works and/or gas works, may be colour-coded differently to those intended for a builder, and this can be reflected in the building- construction indicia 22. Such colour- or tonal-contrasts may also be used to indicate a sequence of the installation of the building components within the building.

Where a computer-readable region of the indicia portion 18 is provided, this could provide, for instance, product data relating to the building component of relevance. For example, in the case of an electrical socket, this could inform the user as to whether a single or double socket should be supplied. Similarly, there could be provided a link to an instructional video which can be accessed via the internet, or could describe health and safety requirements associate with the act to be performed.

It is also possible that the indicia portion 18 could include a depiction of the scale building representation to provide an overall impression to the construction workers as to the final layout of the whole building. This could, for example, comprise a small 3D assembly sequence, such as instructions as to the construction of a door to be installed which is separate to the building-construction template 12. Other information could feasibly be provided, such as electrical schematics, internal elevations, diagrammatic or scale drawings of plans of the room, reflected ceiling plans, written instructions, scale representations of the floor and/or ceiling build-ups, and so on. These examples are merely indicative of the sorts of possible information which could be provided on the indicia portions 18. In such an arrangement, the expandable building-construction template 12 could be provided as, for example, a full-scale template for the entire floorplan of a building, and not just the perimeter of the walls as is described in detail below.

To utilise the templated building-construction system 10, the expandable building-construction template 12 is reconfigured into a second, extended condition, in which the plurality of strips 16 are positioned so as to form a full-scale or 1: 1 scale template or outline for the construction of a building, as illustrated in Figure 2. In the most basic form of the invention, the expandable building-construction template 12 can define a floorplan of the building, which is defined by the scale building representation. Following the instructions depicted on the building-construction indicia 22, the expandable building-construction template 12 can be positioned into a viable visible template for the construction of the building.

This can be seen in detail in Figure 3, in which some selected building components have been installed in situ. Here, there are two window-section walls 26, in which the positioning of the window hole 28 has been measured based on the building-construction indicia 22 which indicate the horizontal position and preferably also the height of the window hole 28 to allow a user to cut the window hole 28 correctly. A door-section wall 30 has also been provided, with the positioning of the door frame 32 and lintel 34 also being indicated by the building-construction indicia 22.

Construction workers 20 can follow the sequence of extended strips 16 in order to correctly construct a building 36 to the specifications of the technical drawings 14, without needing to continually resort to referencing a scale representation of the building 36, which can be unclear or obtuse. The system 10 also means that several different disciplines, for instance plumbers, electricians and builders, can utilise a single template for the building 36.

It is not only possible to provide for the construction of the main structure of a building utilising the present invention; interior building work can also make use of the templating process. A second embodiment of the templated building-construction system is indicated globally in Figure 4 as 110, as a room inside a building 136. In Figure 4, the expandable building-construction template 112 has been positioned on the floor 138 of the room in the extended condition, typically as above by fastening a reference end of the template 112 securely to the floor at or adjacent to a first installation point. Identical or similar reference numerals used for the first embodiment of the invention are utilised to refer to identical or similar components, and further detailed description is omitted for brevity.

As can be seen in Figure 5, building components can be installed in any particular order of choice in an internal room, since support structures such as the floor 138 and ceiling 140 are already in position. Figure 5 shows the room following the installation of two door frames 132 in position, based on the building-construction indicia 122 provided on the expandable building-construction template 112.

Figure 6 shows the installation of an electrical socket 142 into a partition wall 144 in the room. This illustrates that electrical components can be indicated using the building-construction indicia 122 on the expandable building-construction template 112. Both the height and horizontal position of the socket 142 can be accounted for by the building-construction indicia 122.

In Figure 7, a further wall frame 146 is shown following installation, within which an electrical cabling 148 is installed. This allows for a socket 142 to be installed as a unit into such a wall, as can be seen in Figure 8. Figure 8 shows the completed room, and as can be seen there is a radiator 150 provided attached to the wall frame 146; it will therefore be apparent that central heating piping or similar plumbing can be installed into the wall frame 146 in a similar manner to the electrical cabling 148, based on the instructions provided by the building-construction indicia 122 expandable building-construction template 112.

A specific embodiment of an expandable building-construction template 112 as might be used in a templated building-construction system 110 such as is shown in Figures 4 to 8 is illustrated in detail in Figure 9, shown in an extended condition.

As can be seen, each individual strip 116 has specific building-construction indicia 122 relating to the building component which is to be installed at or adjacent to the expandable building-construction template 112. Each of the strips 116 is preferably pivotably engaged with its neighbour, thereby providing, in the extended condition, direct instructions as to which building components must be positioned, and in which orientations. Colour or tonal choices can enhance the ease with which different components can be distinguished via the building- construction indicia 122, thereby reducing the risk of error during construction.

As above, a reference portion is typically provided on an end strip to fix a starting point of the template 112. Additional reference portions may be provided on one or more of the strips 116 along the length of the template 112. For example, the reference portions may be openings to receive fasteners, such as a rivet, screw or bolt, which temporarily secure the template to the floor. To save time and therefore cost, it may be considered to leave the template in situ, and simply carpeting or laying a flooring material over the top during the finishing process.

Another embodiment of expandable building-construction template is indicated in Figures 10 to 12, indicated globally at 212, and illustrates the method of extracting or contracting the expandable building-construction template 212 for use. Identical or similar reference numerals used for the previously-described embodiments of the invention are utilised to refer to identical or similar components, and further detailed description is omitted for brevity.

The expandable building-construction template 212 is illustrated in Figure 10 in the first, contracted condition, and in this embodiment, all of the strips 216 are folded on top of one another so as to occupy a small volume. As can be seen in Figure 11, a second strip 216 can be repositioned relative to the first strip 216 at an angle of, for example, 90 degrees. In this embodiment, the joints between neighbouring strips 216 are again pivotable joints 224. The required angle may be indicated on each strip 216 on the building-construction indicia 222.

Figure 12 shows how this process can be repeated until a desired floorplan is achieved using the plurality of strips 216. In this embodiment, it is clear that the expandable building-construction template 212 can be used to achieve designs which are not reliant solely on 90 degree angles between building components.

A further embodiment of expandable building-construction template is shown in Figure 13, indicated globally at 312, adjacent to a wall 352. Only a section of the expandable building-construction template 312 is shown for clarity. Again, identical or similar reference numerals used for the previously-described embodiments of the invention are utilised to refer to identical or similar components, and further detailed description is omitted for brevity.

This particular embodiment of expandable building-construction template 312 is a three-dimensional template, and allows for building components to be positioned correctly in three-dimensions, in particular where a particular building component does not contact a floor of the building.

Although the plurality of strips 316 which form the floorplan of the expandable building-construction template 312 are her interconnected via pivotable joints 324, there may also be provided at least one vertically-extendible strip or strips 354 which is collapsible onto one of the said floorplan strips 316. The vertically-extendible strip 354 may be foldable onto an upper surface of a strip 316 as shown in Figure 14.

The vertically-extendible strip 354 here comprises a plurality of strip elements which are interconnected via hinges, which may be as simple as a predefined fold across a longitudinal extent of the vertically-extendible strip 354. The vertically-extendible strip 354 also has, in this embodiment, an end piece 356 which has laterally openable portions or wings, as shown in Figure 15, and which in this instance, when fully opened, define an area in which an opening 358 for a socket 342 can be cut, as illustrated in Figure 16.

Once a suitable opening 358 has been cut, the socket 342 can be installed, and the vertically-extendible strip 354 can be removed completely, if desired. The vertically-extendible strip 354 may therefore be provided so as to be attached to its respective strip 316 via a frangible or similarly releasable connection method. A reversibly detachable method of connection could also be considered, such as a snap fit engagement between the vertically- extendible strip 354 and the main strip 316. This allows the vertically-extendible strip 354 to be disposed of whilst still allowing other users to make use of the expandable building-construction template 312 to complete construction of the building .

As an additional step, it may be possible to provide a releasably engagable part of the indicia portion 318 of any given strip 316, and here the releasably engagable part is shown as a compliance sticker 360 which is attached to the indicia portion 318 and which can be peeled from the indicia portion 318 and attached to the wall 352 at or adjacent to, or onto, the socket 342. This allows an electrician to demonstrate compliance and/or record regulatory details in relation to the installation of the socket 342, for instance.

Using a templated building-construction system 10, 110 or expandable building-construction templates 12, 112, 212, 312 such as those referred to above, it is therefore possible to provide a method of constructing a building in which an expandable building-construction template 12, 112, 212, 312 is provided, and then the expandable building-construction template 12, 112, 212, 312 can be transported to a building site in a first, contracted condition in which the plurality of strips 16, 116, 216, 316 are collapsed or concertinaed together. The expandable building-construction template 12, 112, 212, 312 can then be expanded into a second, extended condition, in which the plurality of strips 16, 116, 216, 316 are arranged so as to form a visual template for the construction of a building using the building-construction indicia 22, 122, 222, 322, using which the components of the building can be assembled in order. The expandable building-construction template 12, 112, 212, 312 can then be removed from the building site to leave an assembled building only.

In order to produce an expandable building-construction template 12, 112, 212, 312, one must convert the information contained in a scale building representation 14 into a usable, preferably physical, template. By way of example only, this could be achieved by creating the scale building representation 14 digitally, for example, using computer-aided design software, converting the digital scale building representation into a series of sequential digital strips which are indicative of the building to be constructed. This may be achieved by sectioning of the digital scale building representation according to the building components to be assembled.

Each of the sequential digital strips could then be printed and preferably laminated in order to form the plurality of strips 16, 116, 216, 316 of the expandable building-construction template 12, 112, 212, 312. Each of the strips 16, 116, 216, 316 can then be interconnected in sequence, for example, by connecting the strips with pivotable joints 24, 124, 224, 324. This could be performed by punching a hole through each strip 16, 116, 216, 316 and then engaging a pivotable fastener between each neighbouring strip 16, 116, 216, 316. It will, however, be appreciated that in the case of folding joints, the strips 16, 116, 216, 316 could be printed so as to include folds between adjacent strips 16, 116, 216, 316.

It will be appreciated that although a physical template is described in the embodiments above, it may be possible to provide the necessary information in a projected form, for example, by holographically projecting the information provided on the strips onto the building site. Alternatively or additionally, a virtual visual overlay could be provided, for instance, by the use of a three-dimensional digital model rendered through an augmented or virtual reality apparatus, such as Google Glass RTM or other suitable headset device.

Although the plurality of strips of the template may be pivotably, hingably or foldably interconnected, the template may be unitarily formed as one-piece. Although this may provide difficulties in regards to accommodating comers and angles, it does allow the template strip to be formed, for example, as a roll.

Additionally or altematively, the three dimensional template portion, for example, providing height and position data for the installation of a wall socket, light switch, lighting unit and any other wall mountable or even ceiling mountable device may be separately attachable to a required template strip, for example, via an adhesive layer.

The present invention therefore provides a building-construction template which is able to act as both the building blueprints and as a dimensioning tool for the construction of the building simultaneously. Not only can the template be arranged to map out the floorplan or footprint of the building, but it can also be adapted so as to provide three-dimensional co-ordinates. The expandability of the building-construction template advantageously allows it to be manufactured, assembled and transported readily to a building site, whilst being extendible in situ to form a complete footprint for the building. This provides readily digestible information for the construction workers who are assembling the building.

Whilst the building-construction template is suggested as being removable from a building site following assembly of the building, it will also be appreciated that the building-construction template could be buried or covered in some manner during the construction process. For example, where the walls of a building are being constructed, the building-construction template used to align and position the walls could be buried under concrete, brick and/or timbers once the floors and walls were installed. Similarly, for internal building use, the building-construction template could be hidden underneath the underlay or carpet in the rooms of the building. This may be beneficial where it is difficult to remove the building-construction template, for example, if the template has been bonded and/or riveted in place.

The words 'comprises/comprising' and the words 'having/including' when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein.