Abstract: The present invention provides a prefabricated floor panel system used in stay in place formwork for pouring concrete floors. The prefabricated floor panel system includes a top and has walls depending downwardly at an upper lateral edge of the wall from each outermost lateral edge of the top, a lower lateral edge of each wall having a ledge extending outwardly away from the top. A first ledge of one prefabricated floor panel system is capable of overlying another ledge of an adjacent prefabricated floor panel system to allow for the one prefabricated floor panel system to be joined to the adjacent prefabricated floor panel system to form a channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to the manufacture of a reinforced slab-shaped building element (E) having a length (L), a width (W) and a thickness, said slab-shaped building element (E) comprising an upper concrete plate anchored to a lower concrete plate with a top surface and a bottom surface, said upper concrete plate being cast from relatively higher strength concrete laid out upon said top surface, said lower concrete plate being of a less strong concrete, said lower concrete plate including a base contiguous with a plurality of raised portions integral therewith, said raised portions being spaced apart in the direction of said length (L) and said width (W), said plurality of raised portions defining between them a network of recesses, at least some of said recesses including reinforcing bars (R), said raised portions and said recesses together defining said top surface.

Abstract: A protective shelter offering opposite outer supports and a roof structure extending between the supports, wherein the roof structure comprises a plurality of tray members arranged to receive earth, sand or aggregate material defining an inner skin to provide a first level of protection in the roof structure, and the tray members are arranged to be supported by transverse beams, wherein the transverse beams are arranged to be supported at their respective ends by the opposite outer supports and wherein the transverse beams form a transverse beam bridge across the shelter such that the height of the shelter centrally, and away from the opposite supports is substantially the same as the height of said supports.

Abstract: A protective shelter that provides protection within a war zone and which can be readily assembled in a quick, secure and reliable manner. The shelter is formed of opposite outer walls and a roof structure extending therebetween, wherein the roof structure comprises a plurality of tray members supported by beam supports and in which the plurality of tray members is arranged to receive earth, sand or aggregate material so as to provide a first layer of protection via the roof structure. The tray members can be supported by beams serving to define a shallow arch across the shelter such that the internal height of the shelter centrally, and away from the opposite walls, is greater than the height of the said walls.

Abstract: A protective shelter that can be used to provide protection within a war zone, and which can be readily assembled in a quick, secure and reliable manner. The shelter is formed of opposite outer walls and a roof structure extending therebetween, wherein the roof structure comprises a plurality of tray members supported by beam supports and in which the plurality of tray members is arranged to receive earth, sand or aggregate material so as to provide a first layer of protection via the roof structure. The tray members can be supported by beams serving to define a shallow arch across the shelter such that the internal height of the shelter centrally, and away from the opposite walls, which is greater than the height of the said walls.

Abstract: A composite floor or ceiling structure which comprises a profiled steel deck supported by a plurality of I-section steel beams each having an upstanding web bordered by upper and lower flange plates and covered in situ with concrete. The deck comprises a plurality of side-by-side elongate profiled deck members each including an upper generally horizontal surface bordered by downwardly and outwardly inclined side surfaces. The upper flange plate of each beam has formed in its upper surface a plurality of grooves in a pattern to increase bonding between the beam and its covering of concrete. Preferably, each supporting beam is rolled as a single piece with the width of its lower flange plate greater than that of its upper flange plate to define a supporting platform for the steel deck.

Abstract: A connector for an office partition panel which has a rectangular panel frame at the edges thereof and a wire management channel formed at an upper portion of the panel. The connector rigidly connects the rectangular panel frames together at the side edges and includes upper and lower wedge blocks on the panel edges and draw blocks adapted to grip the wedge block and draw the wedge blocks of adjacent frames together. A draw tube connects the draw blocks. A wire management channel is formed at an upper portion of the wedge blocks and at least one upper wedge block has a U-shaped configuration with a wedge surface formed at a bight portion of the U, the legs of the wedge block extend up along the upper sides of the panel and in registry with the wire management channel. A change-of-height connector which has a removable wedge block adapter can be mounted to the side of the panel frame for changing height without use of a spacer or corner. A draw tube can form a spacer or corner between adjacent panels.

Abstract: An arch beam comprising a tied arch with a low modulus filler between the compression and tension elements. A filler and wearing surface are used over the arch to form a horizontal surface and to distribute the load where desired. The filler serves to provide elastic support for the low rise arch compression member, thereby greatly increasing its buckling resistance.

Abstract: A lintel fabricated of an elongated lightweight metal plate having rigidifying beam means affixed thereto and extending longitudinally thereof.