A fireproof covered structure for covering a penetration part formed in a fireproof beam of a wooden building to make the penetration part fireproof, wherein a tubular fireproof covering material is attached to the penetration part while covering an inner peripheral surface of the penetration part. The tubular fireproof covering material is formed by stacking a plurality of gypsum board pieces cut out from commercially available gypsum boards of thicknesses of 9.5 mm to 25.5 mm, in the thickness direction and unitarily connecting the gypsum board pieces. The tubular fireproof covering material is inserted into and attached to the penetration part such that a connecting portion That connects gypsum board pieces That are adjacent in the stacking direction is disposed at a boundary portion between a structural member and a covering member of the fireproof beam, or at a portion close to the boundary portion.

A damper frame includes a structural frame and a damper assembly secured to the structural frame. The damper assembly includes a damper support secured to the structural frame. A damper is secured to the damper support. A diagonal link is secured to the structural frame. A lever is secured to the damper support and the damper. The lever is pivotally connected to the diagonal link so displacement of the diagonal link is amplified and transferred to the damper. The damper support includes a laterally-extending cantilevered portion and the damper is secured to the damper support at the cantilevered portion.

A device for compensating for the natural shrinkage of building materials includes a hinged expander mounted on an elongate base plate. The base plate includes a plurality of spaced apart teeth on each longitudinal end that define a notch between each pair of adjacent spaced teeth. The hinged expander included two leafs that are joined at an apex in a hinged relationship. Each leaf has an outer edge configured for receipt within a notch in the base plate. Apex is biased in a direction away from the base plate. The teeth prevent outward movement of the leaf edges while permitting inward movement. The base plate is securely fastened to a first building member. A fastener is longitudinally fixed relative to a second building member and the apex of the hinged expander but not fixed longitudinally relative to the base plate and first building member.

A permanent wood foundation wall which includes a frame having a first member, a second member spaced apart from the first member, and two side members. The first member, second member, and two side members each have a front surface and a rear surface that form the front frame surface and the rear frame surface. A cavity is formed between the front frame surface and the rear frame surface of the frame and the first member, second member, and two side members are formed from a wood material including a preservative. Further, the permanent wood foundation wall includes a sheathing board having a first side attached to the rear frame surface of the frame and a second side opposite the first side, a waterproofing membrane applied to the second side of the sheathing board, and a foam layer formed within the cavity of the frame.

A building wall includes a bottom plate and a top plate; a first stud and a second stud extending between the bottom plate and the top plate, the first stud and the second stud are spaced apart and next to each other; a tie rod including a first end portion operably anchored to a foundation and a second end operably attached to the building wall; a sheathing attached to the bottom plate, the top plate, the first stud and the second stud; a longitudinal member including a longitudinal hole, the tie rod extending through the hole; and the longitudinal member is operably attached to the sheathing.

This invention relates to the construction of a building using Braced Frame Slab Assemblies Having Heavy Perimeter Rails that comprise Floor Slab and Wall Slab Assemblies formed of heavy perimeter Rails, with Rail Frame Connectors, such as a plurality of heavy threaded screws, joining the heavy perimeter Rails to form the Floor Slabs and Wall Slabs. The Slab can then be equipped with joists for floors or studs for walls, and with structural sheathing to provide shear load carrying capacity. The Slab to Slab Connectors also secure juxtaposed Floor Slabs and Wall Slabs.

A reinforced building wall includes a first stud wall disposed above a foundation; the first stud wall including a bottom plate, a top plate and first and second vertical studs extending between the bottom plate and the top plate; a first threaded rod having a first end portion embedded in the foundation and a second end portion extending through the bottom plate; a compression rod having a first end portion operably attached to the second end portion of the first threaded rod and a second end portion operably bearing onto a bottom surface of the top plate, the compression rod is configured to handle compression forces from the top plate without buckling; an anchor embedded in the foundation, the anchor is operably attached to the first end portion of the first threaded rod.

A fireproof covered structure for covering a penetration part formed in a fireproof beam of a wooden building to make the penetration part fireproof, wherein a tubular fireproof covering material is attached to the penetration part while covering an inner peripheral surface of the penetration part. The tubular fireproof covering material is formed by stacking a plurality of gypsum board pieces cut out from commercially available gypsum boards of thicknesses of 9.5 mm to 25.5 mm, in the thickness direction and unitarily connecting the gypsum board pieces. The tubular fireproof covering material is inserted into and attached to the penetration part such that a connecting portion That connects gypsum board pieces That are adjacent in the stacking direction is disposed at a boundary portion between a structural member and a covering member of the fireproof beam, or at a portion close to the boundary portion.

A device for compensating for the natural shrinkage of building materials includes one or more gear members mounted on a base plate. A fastener extends through a hole in the base plate and axially fixed relative to the gear member. The gear member is engaged with teeth in the base plate and rotatable relative to the fastener. The axis of rotation of the gear member is not aligned with its central axis. The base plate can be securely fastened to a first building member with the fastener axially fixed relative to a second building member but not axially fixed relative to the base plate and first building member.

A coupling nut includes: a simple fastening nut housing case having bolt insertion holes for insertion, from end portions of the simple nut housing case, of bolts to be coupled, and, in sections of the housing case toward end portions thereof, simple fastening nut housing portions configured to non-rotatably house simple fastening nuts that screw together with the bolts inserted into the bolt insertion holes; and a simple fastening nut that is housed in each simple fastening nut housing portion of the housing case, provided with at least two or more nut segments that are biased by biasing springs, and configured to screw together with a screw portion of the inserted bolt when the housing case is rotated in a screwing direction after insertion of the bolts. One simple fastening nut has a left-hand thread and the other has a right-hand thread.