The present disclosure provides insulated panels comprising a core layer including an insulating material, an interior-side sheathing layer, and an exterior-side sheathing layer. The insulated panels of the present disclosure can be used to conveniently retrofit existing structures to dramatically improve thermal insulation performance without substantially increasing a risk of moisture retention or mold formation within the structure's walls.

A fastener comprises a shank having a first end having a point and a second end having a head. The shank includes a first region beginning at the first end and having a cylindrical cross-section with a first diameter along at least a portion of the first region; and a second region extending from the first region to the head and having a cross section with a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The first region may include a distortion adjacent the tip encompassing at least a portion of a surface of the first region, the distortion having a third diameter greater than the first diameter and less than or equal to the second diameter.

A precast concrete wall structure and method for forming a wall structure are disclosed. A forming member is positioned within a casting bed. The forming member comprises a layer of insulating material defining a plurality of integrally-formed rectangular protrusions extending in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship to one another to define a plurality of rectangular-shaped channels therebetween. The forming member also defines at least one cutout for defining a first portion of a fastener for securing the wall structure to a support structure. A second portion of the fastening member is positioned within the cutout. Uncured concrete is placed within the casting bed and allowed to cure.

Floor panel, with a horizontally and vertically active locking system allowing that two of such floor panels can be connected to each other at said sides by providing one of these floor panels, by means of a downward movement, in the other floor panel; wherein the vertically active locking system comprises a locking element in the form of an insert; wherein this locking element comprises at least a pivotable lock-up body; characterized in that the pivotable lock-up body comprises a support portion which is rotatable against a support surface pertaining to the floor panel concerned, and more particularly in a seat.

A panel comprised of at least one connector that facilitates connection with an adjacent panel. An exemplary embodiment of a panel may be comprised of a female connector and a male connector such that the male connector may be inserted in a female connector of an adjacent, substantially similar panel. The female connector may include a ridge, and the male connector may include a flange. An exemplary embodiment of a panel assembly may be formed when a male connector of one panel is inserted in a female connector of another panel such that the flange of the male connector slides over the ridge of the female connector to interlock the panels.

A process of fabricating a static structure including an interior volume that includes the steps of mixing coal combustible residual (CCR) with structural reinforcing materials to form a construction material and utilizing the construction material to fabricate exterior enclosure-forming components of the static structure. The enclosure-forming components are sufficiently reinforced, enhanced and/or thick to provide protection against exterior forces directed against the structure.

A floor panel may include a substrate having a top side and a bottom side. A top layer may be provided on the substrate. The top layer may consist of a printed thermoplastic film and a thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer provided on the printed thermoplastic film. The top layer may be directly applied to the substrate using a glue layer available between the printed thermoplastic film and the top side of the substrate. The substrate may be an extruded synthetic material board including a filler selected from the group consisting of chalk, wood and sand. The substrate at least at two opposite edges may include coupling means provided in the extruded synthetic material board. The floor panel may have a thickness of 5 to 10 millimeters.

A cladding kit is provided for a structure cladding, the structure cladding comprising a first panel that extends away from a structure location along a first surface portion of the structure and a second panel that extends away from the structure location along a second surface portion of the structure. The cladding kit comprises a base piece couplable to the structure at the structure location, the base piece comprising a base connector, and a trim piece comprising first and second wings and a trim connector shaped to make a connection with the base connector to thereby couple the trim piece to the base piece. The first wing is shaped to contact, and be deformed by, the first panel when a connection is made. The second wing is shaped to contact, and be deformed by, the second panel when the connection is made.

The present relates to a method for producing calcium sulfate solid crystals and hydrochloric acid (HCl) from a calcium chloride solution comprising the steps of feeding a continuous stirred-tank reactor with a calcium chloride solution, sulfuric acid and water; mixing the calcium chloride solution, sulfuric acid and water in the reactor; and maintaining the reactor a temperature of less than about 70° C., converting the calcium chloride solution, sulfuric acid and water into HCl and calcium sulfate solid crystals. The method described herein can be incorporated as a means for regenerating HCl from CaCl.sub.2 solutions which are generated in the metallurgical industry when processing calcium-bearing ores for recovering metals like rare earth elements.

Example systems and methods of constructing multi-storey buildings utilizing a plurality of prefabricated insulated panels, each prefabricated insulated panel comprising a first cementitious layer, a second cementitious layer, and an insulative core, wherein the insulative core is disposed between first and second cementitious layers. The systems and methods comprise constructing a building foundation and constructing a plurality of storeys on said foundation. Each storey may comprise a plurality of prefabricated insulated panels forming a load-bearing exterior wall disposed on an outer perimeter of the storey. Each storey may comprise a plurality of prefabricated insulated panels forming core walls, wherein the first and second cementitious layers of the core wall panels comprise a fire resistant material. Each storey may comprise a plurality of prefabricated insulated panels forming demising walls. Each storey may comprise a plurality of prefabricated insulated panels forming corridor walls. Each storey may comprise a plurality of prefabricated insulated panels forming a floor. The systems and methods further comprise constructing a roof on top of the last storey thereby constructed, the roof comprising a plurality of prefabricated roof panels.