The invention provides a method of forming a concrete floor of a multistorey building, the method including: installing a first building module having a first precast concrete floor slab adjacently spaced from a second building module having a second precast concrete floor slab, at least the first precast concrete floor slab supporting an upstanding support member for supporting an upper floor; forming a channel between the spaced first and second precast concrete floor slabs by providing supporting formwork between the floor slabs for supporting poured concrete; and pouring concrete into the channel to form a concrete connection between the first and second precast slabs, thereby forming a concrete floor of a building.

A pre-engineered metal skeleton for the reinforcement of a concrete structure comprises a plurality of elongated primary beams and a plurality of interconnecting members each formed from flat sheets of metal. The interconnecting members frictionally interlock with co-operating receiving portions formed on the primary beams to thereby secure the primary beams and the interconnecting members one to the other without requiring supplemental fastening means. The plurality of interconnecting members have both their major axis and their minor axis oriented substantially transversely to the major axis of the elongated central main body portion of the primary beams.

The invention provides a deformed reinforcing bar, a truss structure and a floor module structure. The deformed reinforcing bar comprises an accommodating recess so that when used with a strut member to construct the truss structure of the invention as a top or bottom chord, the bending regions of the strut member can be fitted into the accommodating recess of the deformed reinforcing bar to simplify the welding process to achieve consistent welding quality as well as enhance the strength of the truss structure after pouring concrete. Additional transverse ribs and concave marks can be added to the surface of the deformed reinforcing bar and the surface of the accommodating recess to enhance bonding capability with concrete. The floor module structure can be assembled with a plurality of truss structure.

A sealing structure for the bottom of a beam space between precast panels, comprising: a first precast panel and a second precast panel substantially aligned to each other along a single plane and spaced from each other by a space, each of the first precast panel and the second precast panel defining an inner edge adjacent to the space; a soft pad abutting the space for sealing a bottom of the space; a plate abutting the soft pad; a fastening device securing a first side of the plate and a second side of the plate to the first precast panel and second precast panel, respectively, so as to assist the soft pad in the sealing of the bottom of the beam space; wherein the fastening device does not contact the soft pad.

A support for installing facing materials such as ceramic tiles on a substrate such as floors, walls and ceilings wherein the support plate has a plurality of spaced apart recesses in the plate material, with the recesses being open at the top surface and have solid sidewalls and a base, and a plurality of slots in the non-recessed portions of the plate material extending through the top surface and bottom surface, the slots joining one or more adjacent recesses. The support plate of the invention is used for tile installations between the substrate and such tile. Thin-set mortar that is used to secure the tile to the support plate flows into the recesses and into the slots forming a continuous bond between the mortar and the adjacent slots providing for a strong bond between the support plate, mortar and the tiles.

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems for connecting a flooring system to a vertical wall. In one embodiment the building structure includes a floor comprising a cementitious slab and a wall supporting at least a portion of the cementitious slab. A plurality of stand-off fasteners extend from the top of the wall into the cementitious slab and are configured to transfer forces between the cementitious slab and the wall. The stand-off fasteners comprise a lower portion and an upper stand-off portion. The lower portion is operatively coupled to the top of the wall, and the upper stand-off portion extends above the top of the wall and is encapsulated within the cementitious slab. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the lower portion is heat treated to a higher degree of hardness relative to the remainder of the stand-off screw.

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems for connecting a flooring system to a vertical wall. In one embodiment the building structure includes a floor comprising a cementitious slab and a wall supporting at least a portion of the cementitious slab. A plurality of stand-off fasteners extend from the top of the wall into the cementitious slab and are configured to transfer forces between the cementitious slab and the wall. The stand-off fasteners comprise a lower portion and an upper stand-off portion. The lower portion is operatively coupled to the top of the wall, and the upper stand-off portion extends above the top of the wall and is encapsulated within the cementitious slab. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the lower portion is heat treated to a higher degree of hardness relative to the remainder of the stand-off screw.