A pre-fabricated universal operating room ceiling system including red iron steel support frames and a track assembly immediately above the ceiling in the interstitial space of the operating room for supporting medical equipment including medical gas lines and electrical and data cabling and heating, ventilation and cooling trunk lines and ducts for reducing interference with such systems when installing or moving operating room equipment.

Disclosed is a system and method of constructing modular homes, which are assembled from a numbered of prefabricated components and delivered as finished goods using standard containers. The modular design further provides for a self-sufficient structure where the three main engineering systems, namely, plumbing, electrical and HVAC, are completely integrated allowing the structure to maximize energy usage efficiencies. Emphasis is placed on using only environmentally friendly materials and on recycle or multi-purposing components into energy or resource gathering and production. Another emphasis is placed on speed of assembly using standardized structures that streamline on the job assembly processes.

Disclosed is a system and method of constructing modular homes, which are assembled from a numbered of prefabricated components and delivered as finished goods using standard containers. The modular design further provides for a self-sufficient structure where the three main engineering systems, namely, plumbing, electrical and HVAC, are completely integrated allowing the structure to maximize energy usage efficiencies. Emphasis is placed on using only environmentally friendly materials and on recycle or multi-purposing components into energy or resource gathering and production. Another emphasis is placed on speed of assembly using standardized structures that streamline on the job assembly processes.

The invention relates to a geothermal insulation system (10) for the insulation of an external surface (16) of a building (12), characterised by comprising: internal insulation panels (24), first internal spacers (22) attaching the internal insulation panels (24) onto the external surface (16) of a wall (14) of the building (12) in the mounted state such that an internal air chamber (20) is left between the internal insulation panels (24) and the external surface (16) of the wall (14), external insulation panels (34), second spacers (32) attaching the external insulation panels (34) onto an external side of the internal insulation panels (24) in the mounted state such that an external air chamber (30) is left between the external insulation panels (34) and the external side of the internal insulation panels (24) and an upper region (31) of the external air chamber (30) is in air communication with an upper region (21) of the internal air chamber (20), a soil-air heat exchanger (44) recessed into the soil, a first air duct (46) connecting the soil-air heat exchanger (44) with the internal air chamber (20), a second air duct (48) connecting the soil-air heat exchanger (44) with the external air chamber (30).

The invention further relates to a method for the insulation of an external surface (16) of a building (12) with the use of geothermal energy.

The invention relates to a geothermal insulation system (10) for the insulation of an external surface (16) of a building (12), characterised by comprising: internal insulation panels (24), first internal spacers (22) attaching the internal insulation panels (24) onto the external surface (16) of a wall (14) of the building (12) in the mounted state such that an internal air chamber (20) is left between the internal insulation panels (24) and the external surface (16) of the wall (14), external insulation panels (34), second spacers (32) attaching the external insulation panels (34) onto an external side of the internal insulation panels (24) in the mounted state such that an external air chamber (30) is left between the external insulation panels (34) and the external side of the internal insulation panels (24) and an upper region (31) of the external air chamber (30) is in air communication with an upper region (21) of the internal air chamber (20), a soil-air heat exchanger (44) recessed into the soil, a first air duct (46) connecting the soil-air heat exchanger (44) with the internal air chamber (20), a second air duct (48) connecting the soil-air heat exchanger (44) with the external air chamber (30).

The invention further relates to a method for the insulation of an external surface (16) of a building (12) with the use of geothermal energy.

A structure for a multi-story building comprises a first passageway constructed internally within a building being configured with a mount for a ducted condenser unit (DCU) of a split type, unitary air conditioning system to achieve a desired level of condenser based heat dissipation and with a plurality of penetrations to accommodate a conduit through which refrigerant circulates between inside and outside units of the air conditioning system; and a second passageway constructed internally within the building for receiving air discharged from the DCU the second passageway terminating at an opening of the building through which the discharged air is exhausted to the atmosphere. The passageways have walls that are essentially closed, with the exception of the wall that is formed with an opening through which the discharged air flows. One or both of the first and second passageways upwardly extends across at least two stories of the building.

A structure for a multi-story building comprises a first passageway constructed internally within a building being configured with a mount for a ducted condenser unit (DCU) of a split type, unitary air conditioning system to achieve a desired level of condenser based heat dissipation and with a plurality of penetrations to accommodate a conduit through which refrigerant circulates between inside and outside units of the air conditioning system; and a second passageway constructed internally within the building for receiving air discharged from the DCU the second passageway terminating at an opening of the building through which the discharged air is exhausted to the atmosphere. The passageways have walls that are essentially closed, with the exception of the wall that is formed with an opening through which the discharged air flows. One or both of the first and second passageways upwardly extends across at least two stories of the building.

A method of constructing a structure in which an item is to be installed at an elevated height on the structure. Hoists are hung from the structure. A platform is moved from ground level and positioned at a first elevated position between ground level and the hoists. The platform is attached to the hoists at the first elevated position. After the platform has been attached to the hoists, the item is moved onto the platform. The item is lifted on the platform to a second elevated position for installation at the elevated height on the structure and the item is installed at the elevated height.

A method of constructing a structure in which an item is to be installed at an elevated height on the structure. Hoists are hung from the structure. A platform is moved from ground level and positioned at a first elevated position between ground level and the hoists. The platform is attached to the hoists at the first elevated position. After the platform has been attached to the hoists, the item is moved onto the platform. The item is lifted on the platform to a second elevated position for installation at the elevated height on the structure and the item is installed at the elevated height.

A roof vent for a contoured metal surface. The roof vent includes a base or foot having one or more recessed channels that extend between opposing edges of the foot. The recessed channels are sized and shaped to receive correspondingly shaped ridges of the contoured metal roof surface.