System for modular building construction

A building structure comprising a plurality of interconnected pre-fabricated modular building units configurable in tandem to create a habitable building space, each unit comprising a frame shaped as a rectangular parallelopiped and comprised of framing members and a plurality of nodes, each node situated at a corner of said frame for selective interconnection with other units, the nodes and the exterior dimensions of the frame meeting the ISO International Standards for intermodal transport, said framing members comprising a plurality of edge rails, at least one edge rail in one modular building unit being adapted for interconnection with a respective edge rail in at least one other modular building unit to form a flexurally stiffened composite beam, each said interconnectable edge rail having at least one non-nodal attachment point, each said at least one non-nodal attachment point comprising a bolt insertion aperture adapted to receive a bolt which is insertable therein, said flexural stiffening being achievable by positioning said interconnectable edge rails such that at least one bolt insertion aperture in one interconnectable is axially aligned with at least one bolt insertion aperture in the other interconnectable edge rail, and by securing said interconnectable edge rails to one another through said at least one non-nodal attachment point by inserting and tightening a bolt in said axially aligned bolt insertion apertures.

A method for forming a habitable building space comprising the steps of (a) providing a plurality of construction modules, each said module being prefabricated and configurable in tandem with other modules to create a habitable building space, each said module comprising a frame shaped a rectangular parallelopiped and comprised of framing members and a plurality of nodes, each node situated at a corner of said frame for selective interconnection with other modules, the nodes and the exterior dimensions of the frame meeting the ISO International Standards for intermodal transport, said framing members comprising a plurality of edge rails, at least one edge rail in one module being adapted for interconnection with a respective edge rail in at least one other module to form a flexurally stiffened composite beam, each said interconnectable edge rail having at least one non-nodal attachment point, each said at least one non-nodal attachment point comprising a bolt insertion aperture adapted to receive a bolt which is insertable therein, said flexural stiffening being achievable by positioning said interconnectable edge rails such that at least one bolt insertion aperture in one interconnectable edge rail is axially aligned with at least one bolt insertion aperture in the other interconnectable edge rail, and by securing said interconnectable edge rails to one another through said at least one non-nodal attachment point by inserting and tightening a bolt in said axially aligned bolt insertion apertures;

• (b) fastening to the frame of each said module a floor system and a roof system comprising a ceiling, (c) assembling a plurality of said modules in at least two different dimensions, and (d) securing said modules together to provide a habitable building space.

A method of constructing a habitable building structure comprising the steps of (a) producing in a manufacturing facility a plurality of construction modules, each said module configurable in tandem with other modules to create a habitable building space, each said module comprising a frame shaped as a rectangular parallelopiped and comprised of framing members and a plurality of nodes, each node situated at a corner of said frame for selective interconnection with other modules, the nodes and the exterior dimensions of the frame meeting the ISO International Standards for intermodal transport, said framing members comprising a plurality of edge rails, at least one edge rail in one module being adapted for interconnection with a respective edge rail in at least one other module to form a flexurally stiffened composite beam, each said interconnectable edge rail having at least one non-nodal attachment point, each said at least one non-nodal attachment point comprising a bolt insertion aperture adapted to receive a bolt which is insertable therein, said flexural stiffening being achievable by positioning said interconnectable edge rails such that at least one bolt insertion aperture in one interconnectable edge rail is axially aligned with at least one bolt insertion aperture in the other interconnectable edge rail, and by securing said interconnectable edge rails to one another through said at least one non-nodal attachment point by inserting and tightening a bolt in said axially aligned bolt insertion apertures;

• (b) constructing each of said plurality of modules to a semi-finished state in said manufacturing facility;
• (c) transporting said semi-finished modules to a staging area at or near a construction site utilizing the ISO intermodal transportation system;
• (d) preparing the construction site by providing a foundation for said building structure, wherein step (d) may be carried out prior to or simultaneously with step (c);
• (e) craning a plurality of said semi-finished modules onto said foundation and securing said semi-finished modules to said foundation;
• (f) fastening abutting semi-finished modules to one another at least through said nodes and through said at least one non-nodal attachment point;
• and (g) constructing said semi-finished modules to a finished state, said construction comprising at least connecting utilities to said modules, to form one or more habitable spaces within said building structure, wherein step (g) may be carried out prior to or simultaneously with step (f).