Abstract: A method of designing a building frame by a computer includes the building frame having a number of structural members of which at least some are intersecting structural members. On the computer is stored a predetermined plan of the layout and orientation of the structural members in the frame. This plan includes a design length for each of the structural members. A joint type is selected from a plurality of different joint types for each intersection of the intersecting structural members. The stored predetermined plan is then analysed to derive specifications of actual lengths and jointing details for the structural members to enable the structural members made according to specification to fit together to form the frame. The actual length for each intersecting structural member is variable from the design length depending on the selected joint types.

Abstract: A method of designing a building frame by a computer includes the building frame having a number of structural members of which at least some are intersecting structural members. On the computer is stored a predetermined plan of the layout and orientation of the structural members in the frame. This plan includes a design length for each of the structural members. A joint type is selected from a plurality of different joint types for each intersection of the intersecting structural members. The stored predetermined plan is then analysed to derive specifications of actual lengths and jointing details for the structural members to enable the structural members made according to specification to fit together to form the frame. The actual length for each intersecting structural member is variable from the design length depending on the selected joint types.

Abstract: A method of designing structural members for a building frame using a computer includes the steps of inputting a predetermined plan of the layout and orientation of the structural members. This information is then stored. The computer then analyses the stored plan information to provide specifications of length and jointing details for each structural member to enable the structural members made according to specification to fit together to form the frame. The specifications of each structural member are outputted from the computer. In another method of fabricating structural members the members are formed on a forming machine which also creates the connecting features enabling the structural members to be assembled as a building frame. A forming machine to fabricate structural members includes a memory to store structural member specifications of length and jointing features enabling the structural members to be assembled as a building frame.

Abstract: A steel framed building construction (50) includes external wall frames (52, 54) and internal wall frames (57, 58) which support one or more planar ceiling frames (56). A roof structure includes one or more substantially planar roof frames (76, 78) extending substantially parallel to associated roof surfaces which the roof frames support. The roof structure further includes support means (70, 74) extending between the roof frames (76, 78) and the ceiling frames (56) to transfer the weight of the roof structure to the ceiling frames (56) to thereby distribute the combined weight of the roof structure and the ceiling frames (56) and the support means (70, 74) through the external and internal wall frames (52, 54, 57, 58). A new roof structure is also claimed. A construction methodology whereby the wall frames, the roof frames and the roof support frames are all constructed from the same steel section is also claimed.