A material and method for insulating a top portion of a foundation wall which includes a non-woven thermoplastic board for insulating a foundation wall. The non-woven thermoplastic board has a thermal resistance of an R-value per inch thickness of at least 1.

A modular support frame comprises trusses, purlins transverse to the trusses, and vertical posts supporting the various trusses. A supply of wedges permits flange-type connectors to be joined to complementary connectors throughout the foundation. The trusses are arranged end-to-end in parallel rows, each row comprising at least one pair of trusses or more depending on the desired size of the foundation. Vertical posts are positioned between the ends of each of the trusses within a row and at opposing ends of the row, and each post comprises a pair of flange-type connectors at predetermined heights. Each of the trusses is terminated at either end with a pair of complementary connectors such that adjacent in-line trusses can be mounted to the post between them and the outer pair of trusses can be mounted to the posts terminated the row. Purlins extend perpendicularly between the trusses in adjacent rows to reinforce the frame. To that end, the trusses comprise flange-type connectors and the purlins are terminated at either end with complementary connectors.

A building monitoring computer system for monitoring building integrity may be provided. Various types of sensors may be embedded throughout or within certain portions of different types of building or construction material making up the building, such as within roofing, foundation, or structural materials. The sensors may be in wireless communication with a home controller. The sensors may be water, moisture, temperature, vibration, or other types of sensors, and may detect unexpected or abnormal conditions within the home. The sensors and/or home controller may transmit alerts to a mobile device of the home owner associated with the unexpected condition, and/or that remedial actions may be required to repair the home or mitigate further damage to the home. The sensor data may also be communicated to an insurance provider remote server to facilitate the insurance provider communicating insurance-related recommendations, updating insurance policies, or preparing insurance claims for review for home owners.

A building sub-floor construction comprising a plurality of elongated beams formed of rigid polymer foam material, wherein the elongated beams comprise similar cross-sectional shapes, and wherein the elongated beams are configured to snuggly engage one another along their lengths to produce a continuous slab.

The present invention relates generally to a below grade, blind side, waterproofing sheet membrane with adhesive and low reflectivity granular particle layer to fully bond to concrete/shotcrete, and a method of making, and using same. More particularly, the invention encompasses a below grade, blind side, waterproofing sheet membrane with adhesive, and having at least one layer of low reflectivity granular particle layer that are fully or partly embedded into the adhesive layer, and where the average reflectivity of the exposed granular particles is about 50 or below 55 percent reflectivity on a standard reflectivity scale. The inventive waterproofing layer having the waterproofing sheet membrane, and an adhesive layer having embedded therein low reflectivity granular particles can be used in any building or wall construction, and can be placed under or around a foundation of a building or dwelling or on its below grade blind side retaining walls, etc.

A dual lap high strength adhesive for sheet membrane application, having reflectivity granular particle layer to fully bond to concrete/shotcrete, and a method of making, and using same. More particularly, the invention encompasses a below grade, blind side, waterproofing sheet membrane with an inventive high strength adhesive, and having at least one layer of reflectivity granular particle layer that are partly embedded into the adhesive layer, and where the average reflectivity of the exposed granular particles is below 55 percent reflectivity on a standard reflectivity scale. The innovative reflectivity granular particle layer system that is securely bonded to concrete or shotcrete can be used along a wall, a floor, a ceiling, or along any structure which requires water or moisture proofing. The inventive high strength adhesive is along at least one edge of the sheet membrane, and could also be used to embed the reflectivity granular particle.

Disclosed is an assembly for a flooring support structure of a prefabricated or factory made building, comprising a plate configured to boarder a peripheral edge of the flooring support structure in perpendicular planar configuration to the flooring support structure and a floor joist assembly coupled between an outer structural support beam of the flooring support structure and the plate. The floor joist assembly is configured to position below a wall framing structure supported atop the flooring support structure and to provide an open space below the wall framing structure to enable utility components to be contained within and run down the wall structure and through the open space. The disclosed assembly further allows installation of waterproofing on the exterior of the building structure and enables an exterior finish to terminate above grade level for exterior drainage and superior waterproofing.

An example system in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure includes an opening assembly and a guard assembly installable in a floor above an enclosed region. The opening assembly is actuatable between an open configuration to provide access to the enclosed region, and a closed configuration in which the opening assembly provides a closed surface. A guard assembly is mounted to the opening assembly and actuatable independent of the opening assembly, between a retracted configuration flush with the closed surface of the opening assembly, and a deployed configuration to serve as a guard for the opening assembly.

The disaster-resistant structure secured to a body of cast material comprises at least one flexible cable to resist high loads, debris impact and other hazards that occur due to high winds, tornadoes, earthquakes, or other severe storms. The structure is secured to the body of cast material by at least one flexible cable passing through. At least one hollow tube imbedded into the body of cast material. The flexible cable is looped around the structure in a substantially vertical plane, passed through the tube, traveling inside the walls and ceiling. The ends of the flexible cable are connected using any conventional means for connecting cable ends. The structure is also secured by at least one other flexible cable that is looped around the room structure in a substantially horizontal plane located within the walls and secured using any conventional means for connecting cables. In the preferred embodiment, the walls are also secured together by at least one other flexible cable that is looped around the room in a substantially horizontal plane and secured to the structure's framing. The ends of the horizontally looped flexible cable are secured to the structure's framing such as the door framing with a connector, hook, or other means of securing the end of a cable to a framing member. The at least one horizontally looped flexible cable is located within the walls. The vertically looped and horizontally looped flexible cables form a network of cables around the structure, located within the walls of the structure. In the preferred embodiment, the network of flexible cables may be encased in a cast material placed into the wall cavities and above the ceiling panel.

An example system in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure includes an opening assembly and a guard assembly installable in a floor above an enclosed region. The opening assembly is actuatable between an open configuration to provide access to the enclosed region, and a closed configuration in which the opening assembly provides a closed surface. A guard assembly is mounted to the opening assembly and actuatable independent of the opening assembly, between a retracted configuration flush with the closed surface of the opening assembly, and a deployed configuration to serve as a guard for the opening assembly.