Abstract: A cladding panel and a method of forming a cladding panel. The panel comprises a plurality of facing building members mounted on a backing of settable material. The facing building members are mounted in rows which are usually aligned horizontally in use, with settable material located in joints between adjacent building members in the rows, and settable material located in joints between neighbouring rows of facing building members. The joints between adjacent facing building members in a row are not aligned with the joints between adjacent facing building members in neighbouring rows of facing building members. The facing building members have front faces and a rear side, with recesses in the rear side of at least some of the facing building members in each row. The recesses extend part way into the facing building member and receive settable material.

Abstract: An ironing apparatus (100) comprises a rotating cylinder (11) and a burner assembly (2) comprising a main body (20) in which a passage (21) for a mixture of air and gas is defined. The main body comprises an outlet surface (22) in which a plurality of holes (220) are defined, through which the mixture of air and gas exits from the passage, wherein the passage is elongate-shaped, extends in a longitudinal direction inside said rotating cylinder and has a decreasing cross section along the longitudinal direction (x).

Abstract: The invention relates to a spacer (1) for a reinforcement layer (16), a reinforcement system (29) for a concrete component (21), and a method for the production of a reinforcement system (29). The spacers (1) described allow especially mesh-type reinforcement layers (16) to be kept at a distance from other bodies (24, 28) in a particularly simple manner. The spacers (1) are fitted by inserting them into a mesh (8) of the reinforcement layer (16) and connecting them thereto by twisting.

Abstract: A composite floor panel includes a concrete floor deck having a side portion and an edge member secured to the side portion. The edge member is configured to be positioned in proximity to an adjacent edge member. The adjacent edge member is coupled to an adjacent concrete floor deck. The edge member is further configured to have a junction formed between the edge member and the adjacent edge member to define a channel. The edge member is further configured to have a binder material placed in the channel to form a joint between the concrete floor deck and the adjacent concrete floor deck.

Abstract: There is provided a 2-cyanoacrylate composition useful as cyanoacrylate adhesives that maintain a high speed of adhesion to poorly adherent materials and porous materials and have an improved light stability. The 2-cyanoacrylate composition contains a 2-cyanoacrylate, (1) a hindered phenol compound having a specific structure and (2) a compound having a clathrating ability.

Abstract: A composite building system includes open webbed joists with lower flanges aligned parallel to one another and spaced at a distance to create longitudinal block accepting channels. The channels are sized to accept standard masonry blocks. Masonry blocks and compressible spacers of a height less than the height of the masonry blocks are alternately laid in the longitudinal channels such that rows of blocks are aligned transversely across the channels thereby creating a grid-like pattern of blocks separated transversely by the joists and longitudinally by the spacers. Transverse grooves are created above the spacers and between adjacent blocks in each channel. Longitudinal troughs are created between adjacent blocks across each channel. Wire reinforcement is laid in the transverse grooves and grout is poured to fill the transverse grooves and the longitudinal troughs to form an integral steel reinforced concrete structure having a substantially planar top surface.

Abstract: There is provided a self-supporting insulated deck structure for buildings whereby the deck can be constructed inexpensively and efficiently and can attain a desirable fire rating in addition to improved sound absorption properties. The self-supporting insulated deck structure is made of a cementitious material and has no exposed structural steel members. Formwork for the insulated deck structure is made of integral panels formed from foam insulation members, fire retarding boards, and sound attenuating boards. The integral panels are supported on shored steel support brackets. Once the cementitious material cures, the shoring is removed as the deck structure is self-supporting. The adjacent integral panels provide the insulated deck structure with desirable fire rating and sound absorption properties.

Abstract: A floor is supported above an area of expansive soil by foam blocks defining an elongated channel along a top surface of the foam block. A plurality of supports attached to a bottom surface of each foam block positions the bottom surface of the foam block a predetermined distance above the soil and on a level substantially equal to the level of a flat surface defined by opposing foundation walls. The foam blocks are aligned between the opposing foundation walls and the elongated channels are filled with concrete to form concrete joists extending between the flat surfaces of the opposing foundation walls. The floor is installed on top of the concrete joists and the foam blocks while a void is effectively maintained between the concrete joists and the expansive soil. The supports may be made from a crushable foam material to increase the effective size of the void.

Abstract: A precast concrete panel for a composite floor has a number of concavities provided in a surface thereof. Each concavity is in the form of a groove and includes alternately formed shallow and deep sections which are adjacent each other. The concavities extend in a transverse direction of the concrete panel and are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the panel.

Abstract: A composite building system includes a joist having a lower flange, a plurality of masonry blocks supported on opposite sides of the joist by the flange and defining a longitudinal trough in which the joist is disposed, the blocks having mutually co-planar upper surfaces and at least one stepped upper edge, the stepped upper edges of the plurality of blocks running substantially transverse the trough in a grid-like pattern, a network of wire lateral reinforcement disposed in at least some of the stepped edges; and a flowable grout filling the stepped edges and the trough and, when cured, binding the joist and the plurality of blocks to form an integral structure having a substantially planar upper surface.

Abstract: An element of insulating material, particularly for heat and/or sound insulation of buildings and for mounting between supports, has a body which has been cut into a plurality of separate parts by at least one continuous beveled cut and shaped so that they are displaceable relative to one another during mounting and can be clamped between supporting elements.

Abstract: A special stud which permits drywall installation on walls and ceiling surfaces independent of the structural qualities of the synthetic plastic material used in building panels. A stud member is positioned between adjacent building panel members which are preformed to form conduits in both the wall and ceiling members. Male attaching members such as lag screws or nails are partially inserted into the stud members so that their heads remain in the conduits to permit fastening thereto of column or roof beam structural steel members as well as rebar members. Furring strip members may be attached to the inside of the studs so that drywall members may be attached to the furring strip members.

Abstract: A system for forming concrete structural elements including a plurality of runners forming a spaced array; a plurality of supports extending upwardly from and connecting intersecting runners; and a plurality of coffer plates secured in position over the supports by a plurality of anchor nuts capable of interacting with the concrete poured to form the structural element. The coffer plates initially act as a mold for the structural element being formed. Thereafter, the array of runners and supports are used to suspend finishing components (plumbing lines, eletrical conduit, electrical wiring and fixtures, ceilings, non-load-bearing walls, etc.) from the structural element without requiring alteration of the concrete forming the structural element.

Abstract: A system for forming concrete structural elements including a plurality of runners forming a spaced array; a plurality of supports extending upwardly from and connecting intersecting runners; and a plurality of coffer plates secured in position over the supports by a plurality of anchor nuts capable of interacting with the concrete poured to form the structural element. The coffer plates initially act as a mold for the structural element being formed. Thereafter, the array of runners and supports are used to suspend finishing components (plumbing lines, electrical conduit, electrical wiring and fixtures, ceilings, non-load-bearing walls, etc.) from the structural element without requiring alteration of the concrete forming the structural element.

Abstract: Prefabricated building components such as panels, roofing units, and floor locks and a method and machinery for producing the same. The prefabricated components are obtained by casting in form a mix containing granules of expanded polystyrene or other suitable light thermal and sound insulating material which is bonded to cement by adhesive. Depending upon their particular application, the components may be used for either load bearing or non-load bearing purposes.

Abstract: A construction system for constructing multistory buildings is disclosed. Concrete joists are poured in place, using high-strength concrete. The concrete is poured into a removable, reusable ganged-form structure. The sides of the joist forms swing away from the joists after the concrete is set. Monolithic slab soffits, comprising an underlayer of gypsum board and an overlayer of concrete are pre-cast and moved into place to connect the joists before pouring of the joist concrete. The combination of pre-cast soffits and poured-in-place joists permits rapid and inexpensive construction of the multiple floors of a building. Alternatively, the slab soffit may be poured in place, in the same pour as for the joists, by placing fire-resistant boards between adjacent joist forms, thereby eliminating the need for cleaning any form work in those areas.