A fastener system attaches a connector or other upper member to a lower structural member such as a post or beam. The fastener systems consists of a fastener having an extending shank that is driven into a lower structural member and the fastener is received by a washer that also has an extending tube, and the extending tube of the washer is received by the connector or upper member.

The present invention relates to using interlocking spacer braces between support members to construct wood and metal framed walls, floors and building trusses. Spacer braces have indentations, extensions, fingers that interlock horizontally, vertically or diagonally between support members. The spacer braces can form diagonal and lateral wall bracing, diagonal and vertical chords within building truss with either horizontally or vertical orientations, beams, hold-downs and shear walls. The spacer braces can be installed between wood or metal framing members.

A connector is provided to attach a supported member to a supporting member, with the supported member being in sloped and skewed relation to the supporting member. The hanger has left and right back members and left and right side support members attached to the left and right back members respectively. A seat member attaches to both the left and right back members along aligned left and right seat bend lines. A pair of seat side members can extend from the seat member. A pair of left and right jutting tabs extend from the left and right back members respectively.

A rafter bracket configured to connect a vertical post to a rafter and beam(s) is described herein. The rafter bracket may include lower vertical side plates, a horizontal plate, and upper vertical side plates. The horizontal plate may be perpendicular to the upper and lower vertical side plates and may separate the upper vertical side plates from the lower vertical side plates. The horizontal plate and lower vertical side plates may create a lower cavity that receives the vertical post. Meanwhile, the rafter may be positioned on one of the upper vertical side plates and positioned between two of the upper vertical side plates and may be angled at an acute angle relative to the vertical post as well as the upper and lower vertical side plates. One or more of the lower vertical side plates may receive lateral plates that define a lateral cavity receiving the beam.

The present invention relates to an anchoring device for walls, comprising a plate-shaped metal element, and a plurality of holes passing through the plate-shaped metal element adapted to house elements fastening the plate-shaped metal element to a first and a second wall. The plate-shaped metal element has a substantially X geometrical shape with four curved arms that converge in a central connecting portion and comprises at least two holes on two distinct arms.

Two connectors are used to improve a system of wood framing commonly used to form roof and floor assemblies. The first, the end-to-end connector, allows end-to- end connection of secondary members. The joint thus formed acts as a structural hinge which, when properly located, significantly reduces maximum moment and deflection compared to current simple-span conditions. The second, the top mount connector, provides a secure connection between continuous secondary members and the tops of primary members. This connector provides support for the secondary members and, by resisting rotation between the primary and secondary members, provides superior bracing of the primary member. Used together, the connectors provide an new way of supporting members in a structure, that both reduces maximum moment and deflection and resists rotation between the primary members and the secondary members.

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 cloud-based system network for verifying and documenting prefabricating Class-A fire-protected wood-framed buildings produced from a prefabricated Class-A fire-protected wood-framed building factory system supporting multiple production lines for producing Class-A fire-protected wood-framed components including wall panels, floor panels, stair panels, floor trusses, and roof trusses for use in constructing custom and pre-specified prefabricated Class-A fire-protected wood-framed buildings. The system network includes (i) a data center with web, application and database servers for supporting a web-based site for hosting digital images of barcoded/RFID-tagged certificates attached to prefabricated Class-A fire-protected wood-framed building components, and other certification documents, and (ii) mobile smart-phones used to capture digital photographs and video recordings of Class-A fire-protected wood-framed building sections, and upload the captured digital images to the data center, for each prefabricated wood-framed building project, so that building purchasers, insurance companies, builders, architects and other stakeholders can review such certifications and documentations during the prefabrication of wood-framed buildings from the factory system.

A method of and system for producing Class-A fire-protected truss structures constructed from: a plurality of lumber pieces dip-coated with clean fire inhibiting chemical (CFIC) liquid to form a plurality of Class-A fire-protected lumber pieces; and a set of heat-resistant chemical-coated metal truss connector plates for connecting together the plurality of Class-A fire-protected lumber pieces to form a Class-A fire-protected truss structure. The improved Class-A fire-protected truss structures can be used in constructing safer roofing and/or flooring systems in wood-framed buildings, having improved fire performance characteristics.

An automated lumber fabrication factory supporting an automated process for continuously fabricating cross-laminated timber (CLT) products that are automatically dip-coated in a reservoir of clean fire inhibiting chemical (CFIC) liquid, so as to produce Class-A fire-protected CLT products in a highly automated matter.