Systems And Methods For Building Construction

Abstract

Systems and methods for building construction that utilize frame members (e.g., studs) having attachment portions to which construction panels can be secured. In one embodiment, a stud designed to support vertical wall panels consists of a pair of metal C-channel studs that are oriented back-to-back with a stiffener plate between them. The stiffener plate extends outward from the stud so that it can be used to secure the wall panels against the stud. The stiffener plate has slots through it that allow biscuits to be placed through the stiffener plate and into the edges of the wall panels that abut the stiffener plate. The biscuits hold the edges of the wall panels in alignment with each other and, because the biscuits extend through the slots in the stiffener plate, the wall panels are held against the stud, thereby stiffening the wall formed by the panels.

1 . A component for a use in a building system comprising: 
 a substantially rigid frame member which is elongated in a first direction; and    an attachment portion extending outward from the frame member in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the attachment portion is configured to have one or more construction panels secured thereto.    
   
   
       2 . The building system component of  claim 1 , wherein the frame member is configured to be vertically oriented and to support a horizontally oriented beam.  
   
   
       3 . The building system component of  claim 1 , wherein the frame member comprises at least one metal stud.  
   
   
       4 . The building system component of  claim 3 , wherein the metal stud comprises at least one C-channel stud.  
   
   
       5 . The building system component of  claim 4 , wherein the metal stud comprises two metal C-channel studs that are secured together to form an I-stud.  
   
   
       6 . The building system component of  claim 5 , wherein the attachment portion comprises a stiffener plate secured between the two C-channel studs.  
   
   
       7 . The building system component of  claim 6 , wherein the stiffener plate includes one or more slots therethrough, wherein each slot is configured to enable a biscuit to be positioned in the slot and to extend on each side of the stiffener plate into cavities in the construction panels.  
   
   
       8 . The building system component of  claim 7 , further comprising a base track and a top beam, wherein the frame member is vertically oriented with a lower end connected to the base track and an upper end connected to the top beam, wherein the frame member is vertically supported by the base track, and wherein the frame member supports the top beam.  
   
   
       9 . The building system component of  claim 8 , further comprising the construction panels and the biscuits, wherein the biscuits extend through the slots and into the construction panels to hold the construction panels in alignment with the stiffener plate.  
   
   
       10 . A building system comprising: 
 a frame including 
 a base track;  
 a top beam; and  
 one or more studs;  
 wherein each of the studs is vertically oriented with a lower end connected to the base track and an upper end connected to the top beam and wherein each of the studs includes an attachment portion which extends outward from the stud and is configured to have one or more construction panels secured thereto.  
   
   
   
       11 . The building system of  claim 10 , further comprising the one or more construction panels, wherein the construction panels are secured to the studs.  
   
   
       12 . The building system of  claim 11 , wherein the attachment portion of each stud includes one or more slots configured to accommodate biscuits therethrough and wherein the construction panels have recesses in the edges of the construction panels to accommodate the biscuits.  
   
   
       13 . The building system of  claim 10 , wherein each stud comprises at least one C-channel stud.  
   
   
       14 . The building system of  claim 13 , wherein the metal stud comprises two metal C-channel studs that are secured together to form an I-stud.  
   
   
       15 . The building system of  claim 14 , wherein the attachment portion comprises a stiffener plate secured between the two C-channel studs.  
   
   
       16 . The building system of  claim 10 , wherein the base track comprises one or more channels configured to accommodate lower ends of the construction panels therein.  
   
   
       17 . The building system of  claim 16 , wherein each channel includes one or more construction panel supports configured to elevate construction panels placed in the channel above a bottom portion of the base track.  
   
   
       18 . The building system of  claim 10 , wherein the top beam is configured to accommodate upper ends of the construction panels.  
   
   
       19 . The building system of  claim 18 , wherein the top beam comprises one or more tabs configured to enable attachment of support members to the top beam.  
   
   
       20 . The building system of  claim 19 , wherein the support members comprise roof trusses.