A building wall comprises a shear wall panel having a horizontal bottom edge, a bottom left corner, and a bottom right corner. The wall sits atop a horizontal base support located under the horizontal bottom edge of the shear wall panel. A tie-down couples the shear wall panel to the base support at a central point along the horizontal bottom edge of the shear wall panel such that the shear wall panel rocks under horizontal forces. Toe crushing elements are situated under the bottom corners of the shear wall panel. The bottom corners of the shear wall panel compress the toe crushing elements as the shear wall panel rocks about the tie-down under horizontal forces.

A building framing system includes a floor portion or floor framing system, a wall portion or wall framing system, and a roof portion or roof framing system. Each framing system comprises a plurality of components. Each component defines a connection geometry for connecting one component to another. The connection geometries are such that mechanical or other similar fasteners are not required to hold the various components together; rather, the connection geometries connect the components and hold them in place with respect to one another. Further, the framing systems utilize pre-cut components such that the components of each framing system arrive onsite cut to a needed length and width and with the appropriate connection geometry.

A shear transfer system is provided. In the system a shear tie strap is attached to a first framing member, a second framing member, a third framing member, a fourth framing member, and a fifth framing member of a frame in a framed building. The second, third, fourth, and fifth framing members are orthogonal or oblique to the first framing member. More than one shear tie strap may be present in the framed building.

A lateral force resistance system for a building is provided wherein a portal frame is constructed with a lapped connection between the supported structural member and the supporting structural member and the supporting structural member is made with an elongated member that spans the width of the supporting structural member and the height of the supporting structural member.

A structural joint connector is formed for two or more intersecting structural members of any material, size or shape, which provides restraint from two channeled pressure blocks to bear on each member. These blocks are fit on two opposing transverse shafts positioned in opposite crossing angles and linked bilaterally parallel to each other to produce a moment resisting couple. The connector has a plurality of applications including providing a means for constructing a wood moment resisting rigid frame and wood portal building frame.

A building wall includes a first shear wall panel having a horizontal bottom edge and a right vertical edge, a horizontal base support located under the horizontal bottom edge of the first shear wall panel, and a first tie-down that couples the first shear wall panel to the base support at a central point along the horizontal bottom edge of the first shear wall panel such that the shear wall panel rocks under horizontal forces. The wall further includes a second shear wall panel in plane with and adjacent to the first shear wall panel, the second shear wall panel having a horizontal bottom edge and a left vertical edge. The horizontal base support further is located under the horizontal bottom edge of the second shear wall panel, and a second tie-down couples the second shear wall panel to the base support at a central point along the horizontal bottom edge of the second shear wall panel such that the second shear wall panel rocks under horizontal forces. A connector couples the first shear wall panel along a portion of its right vertical edge to the adjacent second shear wall panel along a portion of its left vertical edge.

Plywood shear panel diaphragms are utilized in building walls and roofs to support against lateral forces such as earthquakes, wind, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Plywood is typically used for the shear diaphragm in wood construction, nailed vertical or horizontal to wood members. When introducing an opening in a plywood shear panel diaphragm, the diaphragm becomes weakened. Shear transfer process is required to maintain integrity in the shear diaphragm at the opening. The strength from the diaphragm is transferred to the openings edges, the top and bottom edges, using blocks between the framing members acting in compression, and the strap, which acts in tension, transfers the support of the diaphragm to opening. When compared to conventional means, the Block Strap apparatus is a better, more accurate, predictable, cost cutting, labor reducing product for providing for shear transfer requirements in typical common wood construction.

A shear transfer system is provided. In the system a shear tie strap is attached to a first framing member, a second framing member, a third framing member, a fourth framing member, and a fifth framing member of a frame in a framed building. The second, third, fourth, and fifth framing members are orthogonal or oblique to the first framing member. More than one shear tie strap may be present in the framed building.

A modular building system and kit therefor includes a joist assembly, at least one supported member, and at least one connector that includes a retaining portion for retaining the supported member and a retained portion for engaging the joist assembly. The joist assembly may include a pair of oppositely facing beam members and a joist supporting member being partially pinched between the beam members and defining a gap therebetween. The connector may be received within the gap. The supported member may be a supported stud or a blocking member. The connector may be a double-ended connector or a hanger connector. A modular wall panel or ceiling panel of the system includes a first member for retaining a first insulation panel, a second member for retaining a second insulation panel and a thermal bridge breaking member forming a connection between the first and second members.

Frame wall constructions are strengthened against lateral forces. A fiber mesh is applied to one side of the stick members as the wall is constructed. A rigid polymer foam is applied between the stick members. It encapsulates the fiber mesh and upon curing adheres to the stick members. No rigid sheathing material such as oriented strand board is needed to produce a frame wall construction having excellent racking strength resistance. The rigid polymeric foam also insulates and seals the structure.