System for modular building construction

Abstract

Construction systems for erecting budding structures comprise a plurality of prefabricated interconnectable modular budding units, each unit comprising framing members and a plurality of nodes, each node situated for selective interconnection with other units, the nodes and the exterior dimensions of the frame conforming to ISO shipping standards such that each unit is transportable using the ISO intermodal transportation system, and such that when the units are interconnected, a building structure is formed. The modular units are assembled at a remote location, and are there constructed to a semi-finished state, following which the semi-finished modular units are transported from the remote location to the job site, where they are secured to form the structure being erected, and the semi-finished modular units are thereafter constructed to a finished state.

1 . A system for building construction comprising a plurality of interconnectable 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 nod s, 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 eight edge rails, each of said edge rails comprising at least one inwardly projecting flange. 
     
     
         2 . A system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein at least some of said framing members further comprise a plurality of attachment points separate from the nodes for selective attachment to respective framing members in the frames of adjacent modular units, and wherein said plurality of attachment points are disposed substantially in a row along said at least one inwardly-projecting flange. 
     
     
         3 . A building structure comprising a plurality of interconnectable 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 eight edge rails, each of said edge rails comprising a least one inwardly projecting flange. 
     
     
         4 . A structure in accordance with  claim 3  wherein at least some of said framing members further comprise a plurality of attachment points separate from the nodes for selective attachment to respective framing members in the frames of adjacent modular units, and wherein a first plurality of said attachment points are disposed substantially in a row along said at least one inwardly-projecting flange. 
     
     
         5 . A module for construction of a modular building structure, the module being prefabricated and 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 conforming to ISO shipping standards, said framing members comprising eight edge rails, each of said edge rails comprising at least one inwardly projecting flange. 
     
     
         6 . A module in accordance with  claim 5  wherein at least some of said framing members have a plurality of attachment points separate from the nodes for selective attachment to respective framing members in the frames of adjacent modules, and wherein a first plurality of said attachment points are disposed substantially in a row along said at least one inwardly-projecting flange. 
     
     
         7 . 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 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 eight edge rails, each of said edge rails comprising at least one inwardly projecting flange, (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. 
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with  claim 7  wherein step (b) further comprises providing at least some of said modules with one or more systems selected from the group consisting of interior fit-out systems, exterior envelope systems, plumbing systems, electrical systems, environmental systems, and fire protection systems. 
     
     
         9 . 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 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 eight edge rails, each of said edge rails comprising at least one inwardly projecting flange; (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; 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). 
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the construction of each said module to a semi-finished state in step (b) comprises at least providing each said module with a floor and a ceiling. 
     
     
         11 . A method in accordance with  claim 10  wherein step (b) further comprises providing at least some of said modules with one or more systems selected from the group consisting of interior fit-out systems, exterior envelope systems, plumbing systems, electrical systems environmental systems, and fire protection systems. 
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 11  wherein at least some of said semi-finished modules may be configured with other adjoining semi-finished modules to produce at least one residential floor layout. 
     
     
         13 . A method in accordance with  claim 9  wherein step (e) comprises craning a first plurality of semi-finished modules onto said foundation, and wherein said method further comprises, subsequent to step (e), craning a second plurality of said semi-finished modules onto said first plurality of semi-finished modules to form a stack, and thereafter repetitively craning further pluralities of said semi-finished modules onto said stack to form a multi-story building structure. 
     
     
         14 . A method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein at least some of said semi-finished modules may be configured with other adjoining semi-finished modules to produce a plurality of residential floor layouts. 
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with  claim 9  wherein, in step (a), each module is configured to provide at least a part of the floor layout of a finished habitable space, each module is adapted to be disposed with its sides and/or ends abutting another module, and the modules may be configured to produce at least one floor layout for habitable spaces within said modular building, wherein step (e) comprises craning one or more of said semi-finished modules onto said foundation and securing said one or more semi-finished modules to said foundation to form a ground floor, the method further comprising the steps of (h) craning another one or more semi-finished modules onto the previously-craned one or more semi-finished modules to form at least one stack; and (i) repeating steps (f), (g) and (h) to form additional levels of said stack and to form one or more additional habitable spaces in each said additional level. 
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein step (b) further comprises providing at least some of said modules with one or more systems selected from the group consisting of interior fit-out systems, exterior envelope systems, plumbing systems, electrical systems, environmental systems, and fire protection systems.