Relocatable fire, storm and contaminant resistant modular building structures

Abstract

Transportable steel module units and methods for assembling such units to form structures on site to create living and workspace building environments which are non-combustible and resistant to unhealthy contaminants, and high winds and other environmental conditions and wherein each module unit is substantially completely prefabricated and finished to permit immediate occupancy and predetermined use of a structure created by connection of two or more module units.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A relocatable fire, storm and contaminate resistant modular building structure comprising; steel walls formed of outer steel panels and inner perforated steel panels having layers of thermal and sound insulation disposed therebetween, said walls being secured relative to a steel floor and to a steel roof so as to define an interior living space therebetween, at least one entry door through one of said side walls to provide access to said interior space.  
     
     
         2 . The relocatable modular building structure of    claim 1    including a plurality of modular units each having a wall portion, a floor portion and a ceiling portion and means for connecting said plurality of modular units in assembled relationship so as to define said interior space.  
     
     
         3 . The relocatable modular building structure of    claim 2    in which each roof portion includes an outer steel plate and spaced thermal insulation layers.  
     
     
         4 . The relocatable modular building structure of    claim 3    including means for suspending a ceiling from each of said roof portions.  
     
     
         5 . The relocatable modular building structure of    claim 4    in which said ceiling is formed of at least one steel panel having a plurality of sound attenuation openings formed therein.  
     
     
         6 . The relocatable modular building structure of    claim 3    including utility wiring disposed between said outer steel panel and said inner steel panel of a plurality of said wall portions, and means for connecting said utility wiring of one of said modular units with utility wiring of another of said modular units utilizing a polarized connector system.  
     
     
         7 . The relocatable modular building structure of    claim 3    including an air circulation system mounted to an outer panel of one of said plurality of modular units, said air circulation unit having at least one discharge opening through an inner panel to said interior space.  
     
     
         8 . The relocatable modular building structure of    claim 7    including an air circulation area defined between said ceiling and said steel roof, and duct means for communicating said plenum to said air circulation means.  
     
     
         9 . The relocatable modular building structure of    claim 3    including a steel support frame structure for each of said modular units.  
     
     
         10 . The relocatable modular building structure of    claim 2    in which each of said wall portions is connected in air tight manner to said roof portions and said floor portions of each of said plurality of modular units.  
     
     
         11 . The relocatable modular building structure of    claim 2    including at least one window provided through one of said side walls, and means extending from said outer steel panel adjacent said at least one window for supporting a barrier cover for protecting said at least one window in the event of adverse environmental conditions.  
     
     
         12 . The relocatable modular building structure of    claim 2    in which each of said side wall portions of each of said modular units includes at least one vertical steel post, means for securing said at least one steel post of one of said modular units to said at least one steel post of an adjacent modular unit, and means for sealing an interface defined between assembled steel posts of said modular units.  
     
     
         13 . A method of building and assembling a modular building structure which may be selectively relocatable and which is resistant to fire, storm and biological contaminants comprising the steps of; 
 a) forming a plurality of modular building units in a controlled environment wherein each modular unit is formed having side walls with an outer steel panel and an inner steel panel having thermal and sound insulation disposed therebetween;    b) assembling said wall panels to steel floor panels and steel roof panels and providing thermal insulation adjacent said roof panels;    c) providing utility wiring within at least one of said modular units; and    d) transporting said plurality of modular units from said controlled environment to a building site and assembling said modular units at said building site by connecting said modular units to one another to thereby define a habitable interior living space.    
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 13    including the steps of providing polarized mechanical and electrical connectors for each of said plurality of modular units and assembling said plurality of modular units by aligning said polarized connections with respect to one another.