Structural systems for supporting a building utilizing light weight steel framing for walls and hollow core concrete slabs for floors

Abstract

An improved structural system for supporting a building includes prefabricated light weight steel framed bearing wall panels supporting hollow core concrete slabs which are joined with grout. The invention presents improved devices for attaching exterior finishing to exterior bearing walls without requiting a studded non-bearing exterior wall, improved attachment devices for connecting upper level and lower level bearing walls, improved design of bearing walls to eliminate the need for bearing plates between studs and tracks, and an improved splice member for aligning reinforcing bars. The exterior finish mounting device includes a deck stud channel which is mounted to a reinforcing bar by a channel clip and secured in grout by a gusset plate with a hole in it. The exterior finish is attached to the stud channel by screws which are also secured in the grout. Flat metal straps welded to the tops of double studs eliminate the previously used threaded members with angled bearings, nuts and washers. The studs are ground at their ends to fit more perfectly within tracks and avoid the need for bearing plates. An open slide clip replaces the former splice member to allow for more latitude in positioning reinforcing bars and providing a better surface area for grout.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.