In a lumber factory, an automated laminated veneer lumber (LVL) process supported by a lumber production line employing a cross-cutting and rip-sawing stage, a dip-coating stage, a spray-coating stage, a print-marking stage, and a stacking, packaging and wrapping stage. At the dip-coating stage, cross-cut and rip-sawed LVL product is automatically transported and submerged through a dipping reservoir containing clean fire inhibiting chemical (CFIC) liquid, and then wet-stacked and set aside to dry. Once dried, the dip-coated LVL products are returned to the production line and sprayed coated with a moisture, fire and UV protective coating at the spray-coating stage, and then passed through a drying tunnel for quick drying of the spray-coating to produce Class-A fire-protected LVL products. The Class-A fire-protected LVL products are stacked, packaged and wrapped at the stacking, packaging and wrapping stage into a package of Class-A fire-protected LVL products, ready for shipping.

A method of producing packaged bundles of Class-A fire-protected lumber for use in wood-framed building construction. The method involved maintaining a dipping tank in a lumber factory, containing a water-based clean fire inhibiting chemical (CFPC) liquid at a depth sufficient to cover pieces of raw lumber while being treated during dip-coating operations. Untreated lumber pieces are submerged into the dipping tank, piece by piece, in an automated manner to coat all surfaces of the lumber pieces in CFIC liquid, and then removed from the dipping tank to produce pieces of Class-A fire-protected lumber having a CFIC liquid coating. The Class-A fire-protected lumber pieces are automatically wet stacked, packaged and wrapped into a packaged bundle, and allowed to dry.

A method of and system for producing Class-A fire-protected oriented strand board (OSB) sheets. Each Class-A fire-protected OSB sheet has: a core medium layer made of wood pump, binder and/or adhesive materials; a pair of OSB layers bonded to the core medium layer; a clean fire inhibiting chemical (CFIC) coating on the surface of each OSB layer, made from CFIC liquid applied to the surface by dipping the OSB sheet into the CFIC liquid in a dipping tank, allowing shallow surface absorption into the OSB layers and ends of the core medium layer at atmospheric pressure; and a moisture, fire and UV protection coating spray coated over the the CFIC coating to provide protection against moisture, fire and UV radiation from Sunlight, which is quickly dried by passing through a drying tunnel on the production line.

A method of and system for producing wood-framed buildings having Class-A fire-protection and defense against total fire destruction during the construction phase, and certifying and documenting the same. The system includes a reservoir for containing a supply of clean fire inhibiting liquid chemical (CFIC) liquid for spray application over over the interior surfaces of raw and treated lumber and sheathing used in a completed section of a wood-framed assemblies in a wood-framed building during its construction phase; a liquid spray pumping subsystem operably connected to the reservoir tank containing the supply of CFIC liquid. A hand-held liquid spray gun, operably connected to the liquid spray pumping subsystem, is used to for spray CFIC liquid from the reservoir tank onto the exposed interior wood surfaces of lumber and sheathing used to construct each completed section of the wood-framed building, to form a CFIC coating on the treated interior wood surfaces providing Class-A fire-protection to the completed section of the wood-framed building.

Prefabricated Class-A fire-protected mass timber building components are first sprayed or curtain-coated with clean fire inhibiting chemical (CFIC) liquid, in an automated prefabricated wood building factory environment, to provide Class-A fire-protection under the ASTM 84E test standard. Thereafter, the prefabricated Class-A fire-protected mass timber building components are sprayed or coated again with a different chemical liquid so as to provide added UV-light, moisture and termite protection to the Class-A fire-protected CLT building components. Preferably, a multi-axis robotic spray system is used for spraying CFIC liquid over all of the surfaces of the prefabricated mass timber. Machine vision systems can be used to collect video data of the spraying operations, analyzing the collected video data against preconstructed reference models, and providing guidance as required to achieve predetermined standards of quality control (QC) along the production line.

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.

Structural connectors used as a component to construct an arch including a plurality of closely adjacent, polygonal rows of stringer beams. The multiple row polygonal arch is a low-cost, general purpose support structure for bridges, shelters and arbors applicable to many cost-, time- or environmentally-sensitive situations. The structural connectors may be a Y-shaped connectors with three brackets, two upper brackets and a lower bracket, which collectively enable a union of three beams forming one node of the multiple row polygonal arch. Using these Y-shaped connectors to join the beams at each node creates the arch structure, and additionally provides the features of cantilevering, modularity, generic component shape, reusability and safety. Structural connectors are applicable to a variety of structures such as pedestrian and vehicular bridges, shelters, arbors, as well as jewelry, furniture and toys. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.

In an embodiment, an assembly includes a first plate comprising a first primary portion and a first flange disposed orthogonally to the first primary portion. The first primary portion is configured to contact a first structural member and the first flange defining a first through hole. A second plate comprises a second primary portion and a second flange disposed orthogonally to the second primary portion. The second primary portion is configured to contact a second structural member and the second flange defines a second through hole. A cover receives the first and second flanges. A bolt is received through the first through hole, and tightening the bolt tends to draw the second plate towards the first plate.

A construction panel includes a concrete layer and a plurality of framing members coupled to the concrete layer. Each framing member includes first and second channels having respective webs and flanges extending from the webs to form openings in first and second channels facing away from each other. Each framing member also includes a plurality of flanges positioned in and extending across a gap between the first and second channels. Each framing member further includes at least one bent bar including a first plurality of bar sections, with each bar section of the first plurality of bar sections positioned adjacent to at least one flange of the plurality of flanges and extending out from within the gap and into the concrete layer.

A method for connecting at least two wooden panels for acoustic and/or thermal insulation. In a first step a metal plate or a metal strip with a thickness less than 1.5 mm with teeth, which face the surface of the at least one wooden panel, is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the metal plate or the metal strip.

An insulating element is attached to the second surface of the wood construction panel with teeth.

A second metal plate or metal strip with a thickness of 1.5 mm or less is attached on the insulating element.

A third element of a wood construction panel is attached on the second surface of the second metal plate or strip with teeth.

Screws are inserted through at least one panel and at least one plate and the screws pierce the metal plate or strip.