Field of the Invention The present invention concerns a method and

associated apparatus for protection against the weather during construction of a building and a method of

cladding a building. More particularly, but not

exclusively, this invention concerns a method of

protecting the interior of a building partway through its construction. The invention also concerns a weather shield for such a purpose.

Background

When constructing a building it is often necessary to protect against the weather during the build. Methods of temporary protection typically used include using hoarding, corrugated sheeting, a tarpaulin or other temporary shield. Such methods of protection suffer from various disadvantages, especially in relation to certain types of builds. For example, when building a fast-track or modular building, particularly high value builds such as data centres, healthcare buildings or the like, there may be pressure on building to a very tight time

schedule .

A common method of protecting a fast-track or modular building from the adverse effects of weather is to deliver and erect the facility at a rate that enables the cladding to match the rate at which the structure is erected. It can be difficult to match the rate of

structure erection to the rate of cladding, especially when modular building methods are used, for example including pre-fabricating components of the building for rapid assembly on site. Often, remaining open sections of the building are covered with a tarpaulin or other temporary shield.

The temporary protection measures mentioned above inevitably carry a high risk of water ingress or dust contamination which can compromise the quality and programme of internal works. In some cases, internal works may be delayed until the external cladding

operation is complete. For example, it may be that the installation of floor or wall coverings is delayed, preventing the installation of many other interior components .

Furthermore, the temporary protection measures mentioned above can themselves be time-consuming to install and remove, further delaying the build.

The present invention seeks to mitigate one or more of the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide an improved apparatus and/or method for providing protection against the weather during a build.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a method of protecting the interior of a

building. The building may be partway through its construction. The method comprises a step of securing a weather shield to the building. The weather shield may comprise one or more panels. The weather shield may comprise a plurality of fixing portions facilitating the securing of the weather shield to the building. The weather shield is preferably secured to an open unclad side elevation of the building.

It will be appreciated that only part of the open unclad side elevation of the building may be protected by such a method at a given time.

It will also be understood that once such a weather shield is secured to an otherwise open portion of a side elevation of the building such a portion of the building will still be considered as unclad for as long as cladding is not installed on that portion. The weather shield is a temporary structure that is not a replacement for cladding.

The building may include one or more cladding rails attached to the building structure. The step of securing the weather shield to the building may include connecting a plurality of fixing portions of the weather shield to one or more cladding rails attached to the building.

The weather shield may comprise one or more lips along at least one edge, the one or more lips arranged to overlap with a part of the building when secured to the building. It may be that the one or more lips of the weather shield overlap with a part of the cladding rail, for example a corresponding lip on the cladding rail, when the weather shield is secured to the building. One or more lips may be provided along the top edge of the weather shield. It will be appreciated that having one or more lips on the weather shield arranged to overlap with a part of the building helps to provide a weather ^¬ proof join between the building and the weather shield. The aforementioned plurality of fixing portions may comprise one or more lips.

The method may comprise a step of installing the weather shield by means of operating a bolt to engage with a part of the building, thereby securing the weather shield to the building. The bolt may subsequently be operated to allow for removal of the weather shield from the building. The bolt may form a part of the weather shield. It may be that the bolt is a retractable bolt, for example a sprung retractable bolt. The bolt may cooperate with a cladding rail attached to the building structure. The aforementioned plurality of fixing portions may comprise one or more retractable bolts.

When the one or more fixing portions comprise one or more retractable bolts and one or more lips, it may be that the one of more retractable bolts cooperate with the one or more lips to secure the weather shield to the building. For example, when the building comprises a cladding rail having a corresponding lip, it may be that the one or more retractable bolts can be operated to releasably trap the corresponding lip of the cladding rail between the one or more lips and the one or more retractable bolts of the plurality of fixing portions. It will be appreciated that the aforementioned

arrangement of a plurality of fixing portions having one or more lips and one or more retractable bolts provides a simple and reliable means of rapidly securing the weather shield to the building. It will be appreciated that a catch mechanism may be used in place of the retractable bolt. For example, it may be that the plurality of fixing portions comprises one or more catches. It may be that, in use, the one or more catches allow the weather shield to be pushed into place on the building and secure the weather shield to the building until the catch is operated to release the weather shield from the building.

The aforementioned plurality of fixing portions may comprise one or more flanged portions. Such flanged portions may have one or more holes formed therein. The holes may facilitate the passage of a fixing, for example a bolt or screw therethrough, for the purposes of securing the weather shield to the building. The method may comprise a step of securing the weather shield to the building by means of a fixing that passes through such a flanged portion via such a hole. The flanged portion may be in the form of a tab. It may be that the flanged portion is provided on or along the bottom edge of the weather shield. It may be that the flanged portion is arranged such that a fixing, such as a screw or a bolt, can be passed through a hole in the flange portion to fix the weather shield to a surface upon which the bottom edge of the weather shield rests.

The aforementioned plurality of fixing portions may include one or more protrusions, such as one or more dowels. Such one or more protrusions may extend from one end of the weather shield, for example from the lower end of the weather shield. Preferably, the one or more protrusions are arranged to engage with part of the building to releasably secure the weather shield to the building. For example, the one or more protrusions may be arranged to cooperate with one or more openings or recesses provided in part of the building, such as in a surface of the building (for example in a floor surface of the building) . Preferably, the one or more

protrusions are arranged to cooperate with one or more openings in a surface of the building such that the cooperation of the protrusions and openings serves to align the weather shield in position and to prevent unwanted lateral displacement. It may be that the weather shield comprises one or more protrusions on its bottom edge that are arranged to engage with one or more openings in the surface upon when the bottom edge of the weather shield rests. It will be appreciated that such an arrangement of protrusions and openings provides a particularly reliable and easy to use means of releasably holding the bottom of the weather shield in place.

The weather shield may comprise a frame, preferably a rigid frame, the frame surrounding and supporting the one or more panels. The frame may comprise one or more channels for receiving a portion of the one or more panels. The one or more panels may slot into the one or more channels. The one or more panels may be plastic panels, for example lightweight polycarbonate panels. It is preferred that the panels are hard plastic panels, preferably with sufficient rigidity to be resistant to excessive movement / flexure in moderately windy

conditions. It will be appreciated that hardness / rigidity of the panels need be sufficient to provide reasonable robust weather proofing and not be susceptible to quick wear and tear. The hardness / rigidity is preferably such that the panel may (absent the other structure of the weather shield) be able to support its own weight when placed in an upright position. The one or more panels may comprise an inner wall and an outer wall. The one or more panels may have a cellular structure. The cells may be in the form of elongate channels running along the length (or alternatively width) of the panel. The one or more panels may comprise a transparent or translucent section. The one or more panels may be transparent or translucent. It will be appreciated that the transparency or translucency of the panels allows light into the building thereby improving the working conditions for construction workers. There may be two or more panels. The weather shield may have fewer than 8 panels. Each panel may have a width of between 300 and 700mm. Each panel may have a height of between 2m and 4m. The height of the weather shield may be less than 150% of the height of the or each panel. The height of the weather shield may be between 2m and 4m. The width of the weather shield may be between 1.5m and 4m. The minimum thickness of the weather shield may be greater than 25mm and may be greater than 35mm. The thickness of the panel (s) may be greater than 25mm and may be greater than 35mm. The mass of the weather shield may be greater than 5Kg. The mass of the weather shield may be greater than lOKg. The mass of the weather shield may be less than 55Kg. The mass of the weather shield may be less than 35 Kg. It may be that the size and mass of the weather shield is such that is can be conveniently handled by two people.

The weather shield may comprise one or more handles. The handles may facilitate manual lifting of the weather shield. It is preferred that the handles are positioned internally (in the building) when the weather shield is secured to the building.

There may be a step of cladding the building. The cladding may be provided over a portion of the building protected by means of the weather shield. The cladding of the building may include securing cladding panels to the building. The cladding of the building may include securing cladding to one or more cladding rails attached to the building structure. The cladding may be installed directly over the weather shield. There may be a step of subsequently removing a weather shield from underneath cladding that has been added by means of the cladding step. The step of subsequently removing the weather shield from underneath the cladding is preferably

performed from with within the building. The cladding may thus be undisturbed by the removal of the weather shield .

The fixing portions are preferably all positioned on one side of the weather shield so that they can be positioned on the opposite side of the weather shield to the side on which the cladding is installed. When the plurality of fixing portions comprises one of more bolts, for example one or more retractable bolts, it is

preferred that the bolts are accessible from inside the building when the weather shield is secured to the building. For example, the bolts are sufficiently accessible to be operable from inside the building when the weather shield is secured to the building. When the plurality of fixing portions comprises one or more flanged portions having holes provided therein, it is preferred than the holes are accessible from inside the building when the weather shield is secured to the building. For example, it is preferred that a fixing passing through the one or more holes in the one or more flanged portions, for example a screw or a bolt, is accessible from inside the building when the weather shield is secured to the building. For example, the fixing is sufficiently accessible to be operable from inside the building when the weather shield is secured to the building. The plurality of fixing portions is preferably sufficiently accessible from inside the building to be operable from inside the building, for example operable from a fixing to a released

configuration . There may be a step of subsequently reusing a weather shield to protect an open unclad side elevation of the same building.

The weather shield preferably comprises a drip strip. It may be that the drip strip is in the form of a flexible drip strip. It may be that the drip strip is extends from or near the bottom edge of the weather shield. The drip strip may be removable from the weather shield. Preferably, when the weather shield is secured to the building, the drip strip is arranged to overlap with at least part of the building. It will be

appreciated that when the drip strip is arranged to overlap with at least part of the building, the drip strip improves the weatherproofing of the building.

Preferably, the drip strip is arranged to overlap with at least part of the building such that the drip strip covers substantially all of at least one join between the weather shield and the building. For example, it may be that the drip strip is arranged to overlap at least part of the building such that the drip strip covers

substantially all of the join between the bottom of the weather shield and the building. Preferably, the drip strip is a flexible drip strip, wherein the flexibility of the drip strip allows it to be movable from a first position, in which the drip strip overlaps at least part of the building, to a second position, which facilitate access to that part of the building (and in which, in some embodiments for example, the drip strip or a part thereof does not overlap that part of the building) .

Preferably, the flexible drip strip is sufficiently rigid to prevent unwanted movement of the drip strip, for example to restrict significant movement of the drip strip during high winds. Preferably, when an upper weather shield is secured to a building above a lower weather shield, for example when the upper weather shield is secured above a mezzanine floor, the upper weather shield comprises a drip strip that overlaps with at least part of the building and with at least part of the lower weather shield.

The weather shield may be in the form of a screen. The building may be constructed employing a modular build. The modular build may be such that the building is constructed from separate modules that have been fabricated off-site. The modular build may be such that the building is constructed from separate component parts that have been fabricated off-site. Such separate component parts need not necessarily be in the form of building modules. It may be that the component parts fabricated off-site comprise services installed off-site, such as electrical services. It will be appreciated that when the component parts fabricated off-site comprise services installed off-site, it is particularly important to protect the interior of the building during

construction. It may be that the modular build is a fast-track modular build, wherein the building is

constructed from various modules which are, individually, substantially complete and comprise a plurality of pre- installed services. It may be that the modules form sections of the floors and/or ceilings of the building.

In a fast-track modular build, the modules are delivered to site in a form that is largely completed and finished, thus allowing very rapid assembly and

commissioning of the building. For example, it may be that substantially all services are installed in the modules off-site. Completing modules off-site allows parallel construction of multiple modules in a controlled environment with a readily available skilled workforce (for example in a factory) . It will be appreciated that whilst a fast-track modular build allows construction of large and complicated buildings to be carried out very rapidly, the service-carrying modules are vulnerable to inclement weather conditions until the building has been made weatherproof.

The building constructed may be a data centre, or a part thereof. The building constructed may contain a data centre. The building constructed may be arranged and configured to accommodate telecommunication / computer equipment as its primary function.

The building constructed may be a modular data centre, or a part thereof. It may be that the modular data centre is constructed from a plurality of modules including at least one pre-fabricated ceiling and/or floor module, wherein the pre-fabricated ceiling and/or floor module is fitted with electrical and/or

telecommunications services off-site. It may be that the modular data centre is constructed as a fast-track modular build, in which substantially all permanent electrical and telecommunications services are installed in the modules off-site such that the electrical and telecommunication work required on-site comprises mainly connecting services between modules and installing temporary or movable electrical and telecommunication equipment .

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is also provided a method of cladding a building having an opening, the method comprising: securing a weather shield across at least part of the opening; attaching a cladding panel to the building over the outside of the weather shield; and, removing the weather shield from across at least part of the opening; wherein the step of removing the weather shield is carried out after the step of fixing the cladding panel.

It will be appreciated that removing the weather shield after fixing the cladding panel reduces the time that the interior of the building is exposed. More particularly, once the weather shield is secured to the building, the interior of the building is continuously protected because the weather shield does not need to be removed until after the cladding panels have been

attached .

It may be that the weather shield comprises a fixing portion for releasably securing the weather shield to the building, the fixing portion optionally comprising a retractable bolt. It will be appreciated that having a fixing portion for releasably securing the weather shield can speed up the construction, for example by providing a fast and easy to use means of securing the weather shield .

The building may comprise a cladding rail, and it may be that the cladding panel is attached to the

cladding rail. It may be that the weather shield is secured to the cladding rail.

It may be that the weather shield comprises a drip strip arranged to overlap at least part of the building, for example such that the drip strip covers substantially all of the join between the bottom of the weather shield and the building.

It will be appreciated that any aspect of the method of the first aspect of the invention can be combined with any aspect of the method of the second aspect of the invention . According to a third aspect of the invention there is also provided a weather shield for use in the method of the first aspect of the invention and/or the method of the second aspect of the invention as described or claimed herein. The weather shield may comprise one or more panels and a plurality of fixing portions. The weather shield may be configured, and/or specifically adapted, for use in any aspect of the method of the first aspect of the invention and/or in any aspect of the method of the second aspect of the invention as described or claimed herein.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is also provided a cladding system for a building having an opening, the system comprising: a weather shield for covering at least part of the opening, the weather shield being releasably securable to the building; and, a cladding panel attachable to the building over the outside of the weather shield; wherein the weather shield is arranged such that it is detachable from the building after the permanent cladding panel has been attached to the building over the outside of the weather shield. It may be that the cladding system is provided as a kit of parts .

It may be that the weather shield comprises a fixing portion for releasably securing the weather shield to the building, the fixing portion optionally comprising a retractable bolt.

It may be that the system comprises a cladding rail attachable to the building, wherein the cladding panel is attachable to the building via the cladding rail. It may be that the weather shield is releasably securable to the building via the cladding rail. It will be appreciated that the cladding rail provides a convenient and reliable means of attaching the cladding panel, and optionally securing the weather shield, to the building.

The cladding system may be configured, and/or specifically adapted, for use in any aspect of the method of the first aspect of the invention and/or in any aspect of the method of the second aspect of the invention as described or claimed herein. It will be appreciated that any aspect of the weather shield of the third aspect of the invention can be combined with any aspect of the cladding system of the fourth aspect of the invention.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is also provided a part-constructed structure, for example a building, having a weather shield according to any aspect of the weather shield of the third aspect of the invention as described or claimed herein. The weather shield may be secured, for example temporarily secured, to an open, for example otherwise unclad, part of the structure (for example a side elevation thereof) .

Certain aspects of the invention are set out in the following clauses:

1. A method of protecting the interior of a building partway through its construction, the method comprising a step of securing a weather shield comprising one or more panels and a plurality of fixing portions, to an open unclad side elevation of the building.

2. A method according to clause 1, wherein the step of securing the weather shield to the building includes connecting the plurality of fixing portions to one or more cladding rails attached to the building.

3. A method according to clause 1 or clause 2, wherein the plurality of fixing portions comprises one or more retractable bolts. 4. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein the plurality of fixing portions comprises one or more flanged portions in which there are formed one or more holes facilitating the passage of a bolt or scew therethrough for the purposes of securing the weather shield to the building.

5. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein the weather shield comprises a rigid frame which surrounds and supports the one or more panels.

6. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein the weather shield comprises one or more handles.

7. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein the method comprises a step of cladding the building over a portion of the building protected by means of the weather shield.

8. A method according to clause 7, wherein the method comprises a step of subsequently removing the weather shield from underneath cladding that has been added by means of the cladding step.

9. A method according to clause 8, wherein the method comprises a step of subsequently reusing the weather shield to protect an open unclad side elevation of the same building.

10. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein the weather shield comprises a flexible drip strip .

11. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein the building is constructed employing a modular build .

12. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein the building being constructed is a data centre.

The term building as used herein may refer to the building in a part-built state. Thus the term building may relate to a construction that comprises a frame but no roof.

It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into any other aspects of the present invention. For example, the methods of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the apparatus of the invention and vice versa .

Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which:

Figure 1 shows a front view of a shield according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the shield of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the shield of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows a section of a jamb forming a part of the shield of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows a section of a sill forming a part of the shield of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 shows a section of a head portion forming a part of the shield of Figure 1 ;

Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of portion A of the

shield shown in Figure 2 ;

Figure 8 shows an enlarged view of portion B of the

shield shown in Figure 2 ;

Figure 9 is a front view of the shield of Figure 1 in situ; Figure 10 is a side view of the shield of Figure 1 in situ;

Figure 11 is a section of a top portion of the shield of Figure 1 in situ;

Figure 12 is a section of a bottom portion of the

shield of Figure 1 in situ at the mezzanine level ;

Figure 13 is a section of a bottom portion of the

shield of Figure 1 in situ at the slab level;

Figures 14 to 20 show various perspective views of the shield in situ;

Figure 21 is a perspective view of the shield during installation; and,

Figure 22 shows a cross-sectional view of a bottom part of a first weather shield and a top part of a second weather shield in situ at a

mezzanine level of a building. Detailed Description

When constructing a building, certain elements used in the construction / delivery process are unaffected by rain, other inclement weather, or site dust, dirt and the like. There may be certain elements which are

individually protected from the effects of weather, for example being wrapped in protective sheeting or the other protective packaging, which is not removed until the building is weather-tight. Completion and internal fit- out and other internal works may be reliant on the outer shell of the building being complete and weather tight. Such internal works include finishing internal

elevations, flooring and mechanical / electrical elements and the like. There may therefore be significant delays in internal fit-out and other internal works.

Alternatively, if internal fit-out and other internal works are commenced before completion of a weather-proof outer shell, there may be risk to the quality of such internal works, if the environmental conditions outside the building are poor at any time between commencing internal works are completing the outer shell.

The present embodiment, as will be described in further detail below, is particularly advantageous in relation to the construction of fast-track and modular buildings, particularly where high mechanical and

electrical content is contained within the finished structure. Examples of such project include buildings used for a data centre or a telecommunications facility. The present embodiment provides a solution which enables complete protection of the facility from the effects of weather and the environment, whilst the external cladding is affixed. The system embodying the solution, as shown in the attached drawings, comprises a weather shield, which is designed to fit to a cladding rail which forms part of the modular structure.

The weather shield 100 of the embodiment is shown in Figure 1, which shows a face-on view of the shield 100. The shield comprises two vertical jambs of galvanised steel 101a, 101b, between which are disposed relatively rigid polycarbonate panels 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d. The polycarbonate panels are held between a top channel section (of a head section 103) and a bottom channel section (of a sill section 104) . The head section 103 and sill section 104 are also made from galvanised steel. The sill section 104 is welded to the jambs 101a, 101b, whereas the head section 103 is (removably) fixed with bolts to the jambs 101a, 101b, which facilitates assembly of the shield 100. The jambs 101a, 101b, head section 103 and sill section 104 thus define a steel frame in which the polycarbonate panels 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d are held (within the top and bottom channel sections) . The polycarbonate panels 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d are

additionally sealed to the jambs 101a, 101b of the frame, by means of foam tape and sealed to the top and bottom channel sections by means of mastic sealant. The head section 103 comprises three spring bolts 105a, 105b, 105c, welded to the top channel section.

A side view of the shield 100 is shown in Figure 2 and a top view is shown in Figure 3. The cross-section of the jambs 101 is shown in Figure 4. A cross-section of the sill section 104 (including the lower channel section 501) is shown in Figure 5 (with parts omitted for the sake of clarity) . It will be seen that the sill comprises a flange portion 502 welded to the lower channel section 501. The flange portion, which extends along the entire width of the shield, has holes 503 formed in spaced apart positions. Figure 6 shows a cross-section of the head section 103 which comprises the upper channel section 601 (with parts omitted for the sake of clarity) . The head section is formed from two angled plates 602a, 602b which are bolted together in a manner that acts to clamp the polycarbonate sheets in place in upper channel section 601. The head section has an upwardly extending tab section 603 also extending along the entire width of the shield. Figure 7 (an enlarged view of portion A shown in Figure 2) shows the head section 103 with the polycarbonate sheets 102 in place and also shows a spring bolt 105 welded to the top channel section 601. Figure 8 (an enlarged view of portion B shown in Figure 2) shows the sill section 104 with the polycarbonate sheets 102 in place and also shows that the sill section comprises an EPDM (ethylene

propylene diene monomer rubber) drip strip 801, that forms a water tight membrane, that is riveted to the bottom channel section 501 which can be positioned to encourage rain water to drip in a direction away from - spaced apart from - the building. The jambs have hooks welded thereto which allow the drip strip to be secured back up to the frame when not in use, by means of eyelets formed in the drip strip.

Figure 9 shows a face-on view of the weather shield 100 of Figure 1 position in situ in a (partially- constructed) building. Figure 10 is a side view

corresponding of the same arrangement as shown in Figure 9. The weather shield 100 can be used on various levels of a building. The building, as is common in modular build projects, has cladding rails 1001a, 1001b onto which external cladding panels (not shown) may be fixed. The shield fixes to the floor, roof and mezzanine levels of the structural frame of the building and directly to the cladding rails.

There may be a weather shield that is positioned on the slab (ground level) . There may be a weather shield that is positioned at roof level. There may also be one or more intervening weather shields (mezzanine weather shields) . The same design of panel may be used in each context. The system can thus be used to protect a single storey or multi - storey facility when under

construction.

Figure 11 shows the detail of a top portion of the shield 100 in situ, and shows a cladding rail 1001 bolted to the frame of the building 1101 by means of bolts. The weather shield is secured at its top end by means of the three spring bolts (one spring bolt 105 is shown in

Figure 11) and the tab section 603 of the head section 103 sandwiching a downwardly extending flange 1102 of the cladding rail 1001. As shown in Figure 12 (showing the detail of a bottom portion of the shield 100 in situ at the mezzanine level) the bottom end of a weather shield 100, not being at ground level (i.e. not on the slab), is fixed to the building through the use of Tec screws

( self-drilling screws) (one Tec screw 1201 is shown in

Figure 12) that pass via pre-drilled holes (one hole 503 is shown in Figure 12) in the flange portion 502 of the sill section 501 and the adjacent cladding rail 1001 into the floor 1202. It will be noted that there will be a further cladding rail immediately below the one shown in Figure 12, to which further cladding rail the tab section of the head section of the weather shield directly below will be attached. Figure 12 shows the drip strip 801 in its deployed position. As shown in Figure 13 (showing the details of a bottom portion of the shield 100 in situ at the slab level) the bottom end of the weather shield 100 at ground level (i.e. on the slab), is bolted to the slab 1301 with bolts (one bolt 1302 is shown in Figure 13) that pass through the holes (one hole 503 is shown in Figure 13) in the flange portion 502 of the sill section 501.

It will be seen from Figures 9 to 13, that the weather shield is designed to sit back from the perimeter of the steel frame or chassis in such a way as to enable fixing of the external cladding to the cladding rail 1001 in front of the shield 100 and further to allow it to be removed when the cladding is in place without

compromising protection from the weather. The shields allow a sequence of works which sees them being quickly relocated once the cladding is in place, maintaining a progressive and timely cladding sequence whilst

maintaining weather protection at all times.

The weather shields are sufficiently lightweight and manoeuvrable that they can be lifted into place by hand, possibly using two people for one weather shield. On the ^x internal' side of the shield, D handles are provided to allow for such lifting and manoeuvring of the shield. When the shields are being manoeuvred at height, the D handles also act as a safety feature, by being attached to a safety line to ensure that the shield cannot be dropped to the ground.

Figures 14 to 21 show various applications of the weather shield according to further embodiments of the present invention. Figure 14 shows four such weather shields (two rows of two shields, 1402a-d) being used as a temporary weather screen that is fitted to a third bay of a data centre installation, as soon as it is

delivered, maintaining the weather tightness on the eaves elevation. Shields (not shown in Figure 14) are

similarly fitted to the gable elevations. Cladding panels 1401 are fitted to the first and second bay of the data centre installation. Figure 15 shows how the head section of the weather shield is located to the roof cladding rail with the spring bolts. Figure 16 shows a view from inside the building showing how the spring bolts of the head section of the shield may be operated from within the building. Figure 17 shows a view from inside the building showing the location and

configuration of the internal D handles and safety anchoring points. Figure 18 shows a view from inside the building illustrating how the weather shield interfaces with the floor of the building. Figure 19 is a view from outside the building illustrating the flashing details of the ground-floor and mezzanine shields in situ. Figure 20 shows a view from outside the building illustrating the flashing detail of the ground-floor shield relative to the slab. Figure 21 is a view from outside the building illustrating a mezzanine-level weather shield being offered up for fixing to the

building .

Figure 22 shows a cross-sectional view of a bottom part of a first weather shield 2201, and a top part of a second weather shield 2202, in situ at a mezzanine level 2203 of a building. The mezzanine level 2203 of the building is provided with a first, upper cladding rail 2204 and a second, lower cladding rail 2205. The

mezzanine level 2203 is also provided with a floor section 2206 that extends across the top of the upper cladding rail 2204. The bottom end of the first weather shield 2202 sits on the upper surface of the floor section 2206, and is secured to the building by means of a dowel 2207 that engages with the floor section 2206 and with the first cladding rail 2204 underneath the floor section 2206. The first weather shield 2201 is provided with a drip strip 2208 that is secured at one end to the first weather shield 2201 and extends downwards from the first weather shield 2201 to cover the upper and lower cladding rails 2204, 2205 of the mezzanine level 2203 and the top part of the second weather shield 2202, thereby providing weather protection at the joints between the first and second weather shields 2201, 2202 and the mezzanine level 2203. The second weather shield 2202 is releasably fastened to the mezzanine level 2203 by means of a sprung retractable bolt 2208 secured to the top end of the second weather shield 2202. The bolt 2209 engages with a lower surface 2210 of the mezzanine level 2203 to hold the second weather shield 2202 in place. In some embodiments, the drip strip 2208 may be releasably attached to the first weather shield 2201 such that it can be removed to provide convenient external access to the upper and lower cladding rails 2204, 2205, for example when attaching permanent building cladding panels (not shown) to the cladding rails 2204, 2205. In some embodiments, the drip strip 2208 may be a flexible drip strip that can be, for example, folded or bent upwards to provide external access to the upper and lower cladding rails 2204, 2205.

Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different

variations not specifically illustrated herein. By way of example only, certain possible variations will now be described.

The weather shields of the present invention may have application in relation to protecting against the weather in builds other than modular, or fast-track build, data centre projects. For example, there may be application in the healthcare industry. It will be appreciated that healthcare industry buildings also comprise services and/or internal fittings that should be protected from the elements during building construction.

A catch or releasable latch mechanism may be used instead of a retractable spring bolt. For example, a catch could be used that allows the weather shield to be pushed into place past the catch, wherein the catch retains the weather shield in place until the mechanism is operated to release the weather shield.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable,

advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.