An insert for lifting and leveling a precast concrete slab is provided. The insert includes a sleeve that extends through the concrete slab and has two distinct threaded portions on an inner surface of the sleeve. This configuration allows a lifting bolt to be positioned into an upper end of the sleeve to lift the concrete slab, and a different-sized leveling bolt to be positioned in the sleeve to selectively elevate or raise part of the concrete slab relative to a ground surface.

A plurality of panel subassemblies are used to erect a building on a footing or foundation. Each panel subassembly includes at least one column formed of a thermally-insulating material, and a concrete portion at least partially attached to the at least one column. The concrete portion may be formed as a single precast unit. The panel subassemblies are secured together and to the foundation, and may be secured to a floor element of the building to at least partially support the floor element.

A hollow prefabricated masonry wall panel is made at a fabrication site and is configured for transportation to a build site. The hollow prefabricated wall panel has a base row and an upper row formed of hollow blocks. A slit is formed in the top of each of the two side walls of the hollow blocks of the base row and upper row, the slit having a width no larger than 20% a width of a side wall. Provisional reinforcement is provided within each slit with a bonding material, a size of the slit and the provisional reinforcement configured to provide tensile strength during transportation of the hollow prefabricated wall panel from the fabrication site to the build site. At least one mid-row is laid between the base row and upper row so the hollow cavities are aligned to preserve hollow wall cavities that can accept code required reinforcement once transported to the build site.

A reinforced anchor assembly for lifting a tilt-up and precast insulated concrete panel provides an erection anchor that is configured to be precast in an edge portion of an insulated concrete panel and span between outer concrete layers of the insulated concrete panel. The erection anchor includes a central portion with a lifting hole configured to be positioned between the outer concrete layers for engage a lifting device. The erection anchor also includes lateral portions on opposing sides of the central portion that each include reinforcement apertures. A plurality of reinforcement bars are each configured to be precast in one of the outer layers of concrete and engage one of the reinforcement apertures in the erection anchor, such that the plurality of reinforcement bars support the insulated concrete panel under shear and tension loading forces.

A hollow prefabricated masonry lintel made at a fabrication site and configured for transportation to a build site has a base row formed of U-shaped blocks laid end to end with adjacent ends adhered with mortar. A hollow horizontal cavity along a length of the base row is formed of each recess of the U-shaped blocks. A slit is formed in a top surface of each of the two side walls of the U-shaped blocks along the length of the base row, the slit having a width no larger than 20% of a width of the top surface. Provisional reinforcement is fully embedded within the slit with a bonding material, with a size of the slit and the provisional reinforcement providing tensile strength during transportation of the prefabricated masonry lintel from the fabrication site to the build site with the hollow horizontal cavity having no grout and no code-required reinforcement.

A reinforced anchor assembly for lifting a tilt-up and precast insulated concrete panel provides an erection anchor that is configured to be precast in an edge portion of an insulated concrete panel and span between outer concrete layers of the insulated concrete panel. The erection anchor includes a central portion with a lifting hole configured to be positioned between the outer concrete layers for engage a lifting device. The erection anchor also includes lateral portions on opposing sides of the central portion that each include reinforcement apertures. A plurality of reinforcement bars are each configured to be precast in one of the outer layers of concrete and engage one of the reinforcement apertures in the erection anchor, such that the plurality of reinforcement bars support the insulated concrete panel under shear and tension loading forces.

An insert for lifting and leveling a precast concrete slab is provided. The insert includes a sleeve that extends through the concrete slab and has two distinct threaded portions on an inner surface of the sleeve. This configuration allows a lifting bolt to be positioned into an upper end of the sleeve to lift the concrete slab, and a different-sized leveling bolt to be positioned in the sleeve to selectively elevate or raise part of the concrete slab relative to a ground surface.

A plurality of panel subassemblies are used to erect a building on a footing or foundation. Each panel subassembly includes at least one column formed of a thermally-insulating material, and a concrete portion at least partially attached to the at least one column. The concrete portion may be formed as a single precast unit. The panel subassemblies are secured together and to the foundation, and may be secured to a floor element of the building to at least partially support the floor element.

An apparatus for strengthening a lifting anchor includes a ring configured to be disposed within concrete around a concrete anchor. The ring includes an inner wall facing the concrete anchor, an outer wall opposite to the inner wall, a lower lip protruding from the outer wall, and an upper lip protruding from the inner wall.

A lifting yoke 200 for lifting a heavy element 300 is disclosed, wherein the heavy element being of the type comprising a body having two or more lifting anchors 302 exposed at an edge 304 thereof. The lifting yoke 200, in the orientation intended during lifting, comprises: a horizontally arranged beam 2 having an extension in a longitudinal direction X between a first extreme end 4 and a second extreme end 6, a first grabbing mechanism 8, a second grabbing mechanism 10. The first grabbing mechanism 8 is being connected to said horizontally arranged beam 2 and is comprising a first clutch 12 which is being configured to be able to shift between an engaged configuration for engagement with a lifting anchor 302 of a heavy element 300, and a disengaged configuration for disengaging with said lifting anchor 302, and vice versa, wherein said first clutch 12 comprises a first clutch actuator 14, which is being configured for enabling remote controlling of the configuration of said first clutch 12; wherein said second grabbing mechanism 10 is being connected to said horizontally arranged beam 2 and is comprising a second clutch 16 which is being configured to be able to shift between an engaged configuration for engagement with a lifting anchor 302 of a heavy element 300 and a disengaged configuration for disengaging with said lifting anchor 302, and vice versa, wherein said second clutch 16 comprises a second clutch actuator 18 which is being configured for enabling remote controlling of the configuration of said second clutch 16; wherein said first clutch 12 and said second clutch 16 are being arranged at mutual distance D; wherein said lifting yoke 200 comprises one or more attachment means 20 for attachment of a lifting chain/wire 22 to be connected to a lifting boom of a crane.