Abstract: A method prevents hose stream penetration into an interior of an enclosure from firefighting activity in a location adjacent to the enclosure. The method forms a wall structure between the enclosure and the adjacent location. The wall structure is covered with a laminated wall panel having a noncombustible wallboard secured to a metallic sheet. Each wall panel is secured to studs of the wall structure with the metallic sheet against studs of the wall structure. The metallic sheets block water of a hose stream from penetrating into the enclosure. The wall structure may also include laminated wall panels secured to the exterior side of the wall structure. Even if the noncombustible wallboard on one of the exterior laminated panels is weakened or destroyed by a fire or by the hose stream in the location adjacent to the enclosure, the metallic sheet of the exterior laminated wall panel blocks hose penetration.

Abstract: In a system and a method for erecting a structure, the walls of the structure are securely interconnected with a foundation, such as, a concrete slab or footing. The system includes a laminated shear panel formed by bonding a thin shear layer (e.g., a layer of sheet steel or other suitable high-strength material) to a surface of a non-structural layer. The thin shear layer has one dimension longer than the non-structural sheet so that a tab of the shear layer extends from one edge of the non-structural sheet. The shear panel is mounted on the exterior walls of a structure with the panel secured to the vertical studs of the wall and with the extended tab secured to the foundation. The shear panel binds the walls of the structure to the foundation to inhibit the walls from lifting or shifting during high wind conditions.

Abstract: In a system and a method for erecting a structure, the walls of the structure are securely interconnected with a foundation, such as, a concrete slab or footing. The system includes a laminated shear panel formed by bonding a thin shear layer (e.g., a layer of sheet steel or other suitable high-strength material) to a surface of a non-structural layer. The thin shear layer has one dimension longer than the non-structural sheet so that a tab of the shear layer extends from one edge of the non-structural sheet. The shear panel is mounted on the exterior walls of a structure with the panel secured to the vertical studs of the wall and with the extended tab secured to the foundation. The shear panel binds the walls of the structure to the foundation to inhibit the walls from lifting or shifting during high wind conditions.