Structural wall panel for use in light-frame construction and method of construction employing structural wall panels

A method of construction employing a number of panels to produce a framed structural wall, wherein each panel includes:

• (i) an elongated shared structural framing member having a first face defining a first lateral side of the panel;
• (ii) one or more elongated intermediate structural framing members, each elongated intermediate structural framing member extending substantially parallel to the shared structural framing member and being positioned in the panel at a respective location spaced apart from the first lateral side of the panel and a second lateral side of the panel;
• (iii) an elongated top track including an elongated web part and two top track legs extending perpendicular to the web part so as to define a C-shaped cross-section, the elongated top track being positioned with the web part abutting a top end of the shared structural framing member and a respective top end of each intermediate structural framing member with each top track leg extending along a portion of the length of the shared structural framing member and each intermediate structural framing member with the shared structural framing member and each intermediate structural framing member being connected to the top track, a first end of the top track partially overlapping the top end of the shared structural framing member and a second end of the top track terminating at the second lateral side of the structural wall panel, the first and second ends of the top track having the C-shaped cross-section;
• (iv) an inner sheet secured with a number of inner sheet fasteners to the shared structural framing member and each intermediate structural framing member so as to form an inner face of the structural wall panel;
• and
• (v) an outer sheet secured with a number of outer sheet fasteners to the shared structural framing member and each intermediate structural framing member so as to form an outer face of the structural wall panel, the inner sheet and outer sheet each including a respective first edge aligned with the first end of the top track and a respective second edge aligned with the second end of the top track at the second lateral side of the structural wall panel, the alignment of the respective first edge with the first end of the top track leaving a portion of the shared structural framing member protruding past the first end of the top track at the top end of the shared structural framing member and protruding past the respective first edge of the inner and outer sheet along the length of the shared structural framing member,
• the method including:
• (a) securing an elongated bottom track on a suitable foundation surface to define the position of a wall section for a building, the bottom track defining at least two panel locations, each panel location for receiving a respective one of the panels;
• (b) positioning a first one of the panels in an installation orientation at a first panel location on the bottom track, the installation orientation comprising an orientation in which athe bottom side of the respective panel aligns with the bottom track and the panel extends substantially vertically from the bottom track;
• (c) positioning an additional one of the panels in the installation orientation at each remaining panel location so that the shared structural framing member of one of two adjacent panels is received between the respective inner and outer sheet second edges of the other of the two adjacent panels and with the respective inner and outer sheet second edges of one of two adjacent structural wall panels abutting the respective inner and outer sheet first edges of the other of the two adjacent panels;
• (d) securing the bottom of each panel in the installation orientation at the respective panel location to the bottom track;
• (e) for each pair of two adjacent panels, driving a respective fastener through the inner sheet of one panel into the shared structural framing member of the adjacent panel at spaced apart locations along the shared structural framing member and including a location through the respective top track leg of the one panel;
• and
• (f) for each pair of two adjacent panels, driving a respective fastener through the outer sheet of the one panel into the shared structural framing member of the adjacent panel at spaced apart locations along the shared structural framing member and including a location through the respective top track leg of the one panel.

A panel for use in producing framed structural walls in building construction, the panel including:

• (a) an elongated shared structural framing member having a first face defining a first lateral side of the panel;
• (b) one or more elongated intermediate structural framing members, each elongated intermediate structural framing member extending substantially parallel to the shared structural framing member and being positioned in the panel at a location spaced apart from the first lateral side of the panel and a second lateral side of the panel;
• (c) an elongated top track connected to a top end of each intermediate structural framing member and the shared structural framing member and including a first end located at an intermediate point of the top end of the shared structural framing member and a second end terminating at the second lateral side of the panel;
• (d) a first sheet secured with a number of first sheet fasteners to the shared structural framing member and each intermediate structural framing member so as to form a first face of the panel, the first sheet including a first edge aligned in an intermediate position along the length of the shared structural framing member and a second edge aligned with the second end of the top track at the second lateral side of the panel, the position of the first edge of the first sheet and the first end of the top track relative to the shared structural framing member leaving a portion of the shared structural framing member protruding past the first end of the top track at the top end of the shared structural framing member and protruding from the first edge of the first sheet along the length of the shared structural framing member;
• (e) a portion of the first sheet adjacent to the second edge of the first sheet together with the second end of the top track forming a female receiver for receiving a portion of the shared structural framing member of an adjacent panel;
• and
• (f) a bottom receiver structure associated with a bottom end of each intermediate structural framing member and the shared structural framing member for receiving a portion of a bottom track to secure the panel to a foundation.