A flood-resistant building is equipped with a flood barrier which enables safe and long-term refuge during floods. In a site surrounding a building, a flood barrier is constructed which encloses nearly the entire periphery of the building. An opening sealing means is connected to an entrance hall and another section serving as an entrance and exit at normal times. The opening sealing means seals the openings of these sections in a watertight manner where the openings are sealed via the opening sealing means. The flood barrier is watertight and at least as tall as the inundation depth estimated to occur in a target area when flooding or storm surges arise. In order to enable long-term refuge, an emergency-use water receiving tank 4 and an emergency-use generator are installed on the roof of the building, and an emergency-use septic tank is installed underground on the site.

Precast concrete residences resist great hurricane wind forces and moderate seismic forces. The entire residential structure, excluding the slab on grade are made from plant-cast concrete panels. Foundation panel joints are designed at the center of the precast wall panels to assure proper load-distribution from the walls to the foundation. Using a precast foundation greatly increases the speed of construction. All structural elements are field-bolted together. An interior wall track design allows engineered, prefabricated interior wall panels to roll into the home and “tip up” into place without wedging between the floor and ceiling.

Precast concrete residences resist great hurricane wind forces and moderate seismic forces. The entire residential structure, excluding the slab on grade are made from plant-cast concrete panels. Foundation panel joints are designed at the center of the precast wall panels to assure proper load-distribution from the walls to the foundation. Using a precast foundation greatly increases the speed of construction. All structural elements are field-bolted together. An interior wall track design allows engineered, prefabricated interior wall panels to roll into the home and “tip up” into place without wedging between the floor and ceiling.

A bookshelf saferoom includes a rectangular frame structure, a front panel, a rear panel, a lateral panel, a door panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, at least one locking assembly, and a plurality of shelves. The rectangular frame structure is perimetrically enclosed by the front panel, the rear panel, the lateral panel, the top panel, and the bottom panel to configure an enclosure. The entrance opening is delineated by the front panel, the rear panel, the lateral panel, the top panel, and the bottom panel thus allowing the door panel to be hingedly mounted to the rectangular frame structure. The least one locking assembly is integrated between the rectangular frame structure and the door panel to secure the door panel externally or internally. The plurality of shelves is externally mounted to the front panel so that the enclosure can be inconspicuous to the intruders.

A bookshelf saferoom includes a rectangular frame structure, a front panel, a rear panel, a lateral panel, a door panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, at least one locking assembly, and a plurality of shelves. The rectangular frame structure is perimetrically enclosed by the front panel, the rear panel, the lateral panel, the top panel, and the bottom panel to configure an enclosure. The entrance opening is delineated by the front panel, the rear panel, the lateral panel, the top panel, and the bottom panel thus allowing the door panel to be hingedly mounted to the rectangular frame structure. The least one locking assembly is integrated between the rectangular frame structure and the door panel to secure the door panel externally or internally. The plurality of shelves is externally mounted to the front panel so that the enclosure can be inconspicuous to the intruders.

A system, device and method for reducing wind-induced vibration using cladding includes one or more movable panels attached to an outer façade of a high-rise building, skyscraper or any other structure subject to wind-induced vibration.

A system, device and method for reducing wind-induced vibration using cladding includes one or more movable panels attached to an outer façade of a high-rise building, skyscraper or any other structure subject to wind-induced vibration.

A hold down system for a building wall comprises a first rigid member and a second rigid member, the second rigid member being vertically spaced apart from the first rigid member, the first rigid member is supported on a horizontal member of a stud wall, the first and second rigid members including first and second openings, respectively; a tie-rod with a lower end portion for being anchored to an anchorage, the tie-rod extending transversely through the first and second openings, the tie-rod dividing the first and second rigid members into a first lateral section on one side of the tie-rod and a second lateral section on a diametrically opposite side of the tie-rod; first support and second support disposed between the first and second rigid members, the first support being disposed in the first lateral section, the second support being disposed in the second lateral section, the tie-rod extending through the first and second rigid members outside of the first support or the second support; and a nut threaded to the tie-rod, the nut exerting pressure on the second rigid member to place the tie rod under tension loading, the tension loading is transferred by the second rigid member to the first and second supports to subject the first and second supports to compression loading, thereby causing the first rigid member to press on the horizontal member of the stud wall via the first and second lateral sections of the first rigid member, thus distributing the compression loading.

A hold down system for a building wall comprises a first rigid member and a second rigid member, the second rigid member being vertically spaced apart from the first rigid member, the first rigid member is supported on a horizontal member of a stud wall, the first and second rigid members including first and second openings, respectively; a tie-rod with a lower end portion for being anchored to an anchorage, the tie-rod extending transversely through the first and second openings, the tie-rod dividing the first and second rigid members into a first lateral section on one side of the tie-rod and a second lateral section on a diametrically opposite side of the tie-rod; first support and second support disposed between the first and second rigid members, the first support being disposed in the first lateral section, the second support being disposed in the second lateral section, the tie-rod extending through the first and second rigid members outside of the first support or the second support; and a nut threaded to the tie-rod, the nut exerting pressure on the second rigid member to place the tie rod under tension loading, the tension loading is transferred by the second rigid member to the first and second supports to subject the first and second supports to compression loading, thereby causing the first rigid member to press on the horizontal member of the stud wall via the first and second lateral sections of the first rigid member, thus distributing the compression loading.

The present invention relates generally to the field of home protection devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a home protection dome device primarily comprised of at least one motor that powers a dome structure. The dome structure is comprised of a plurality of curved members that enclose and shield a home, other structure or object. The curved members can be deployed and retracted via a track within a base, wherein the track is powered by a motor. The motor may further receive power from a solar panel. The motor may also be controlled by a control panel to move the track and deploy or retract the curved members over a home, structure, or object in an enclosed manner. In this manner, the home, structure, or object is protected from severe weather.