Abstract: A panel jointing system comprises an alignment strip having locating surfaces to engage the adjacent margins of the faces of two coplanar panels, and engaging means being provided in association with the strip to retain the panels in position. The engaging means preferably acts by penetrating the edge of the panel material, and may comprise a pair of flexible barbed projections extending from the strip, which may be flexed to embed the barbs into the respective panel edges. The barbs may be flexed by inserting an expansion element between them to force them apart. Alternatively, the engaging means may be a plurality of blade elements which may be embedded into the panel edges and also be retained by the strip.

Abstract: There is described a supporting strip for retaining the edge of a plasterboard panel (6) adjacent a wall of a building. The strip (16) comprises a first flange (16b, 31) attachable to the wall as by nailing, a second flange (16a, 30) extending horizontally from the upper edge of the first, and locating member (16c, 33) extending from the first flange at a distance below the second flange to engage the underside of the plasterboard panel and support its edge. The locating member may be a solid flange (16c), or may be a series of bendable portions (33) of the first flange (31) which are deformed out of the plane of the first flange about substantially vertical axes (BB).An insulation-receiving channel section (17, 20) may be formed integrally with or joined to the supporting strip.