Structure with Structural Insulated Panels Having Integrated Girders

Abstract

The present invention relates to a structure comprising a first level and a second level, wherein the second level is a mezzanine. The structure includes a first structural insulated panel (SIP) forming a portion of a wall or a supporting wall of the mezzanine, and a second SIP forming a wall of an open space adjacent to the mezzanine. The second SIP has a height at least twice that of the first SIP. A third SIP forms at least a portion of a floor of the mezzanine. The first and second SIPs include columns and stress and load-bearing insulators adhered between the columns. The third SIP includes joists and stress and load-bearing insulators adhered between the joists. The second SIP further includes a girder integrated at the height of the mezzanine to support additional joists.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A structure, comprising:
 a first level and a second level, wherein the second level is a mezzanine;   a first structural insulated panel (SIP) having a first height, wherein the first SIP forms a portion of a wall or a supporting wall of the mezzanine;   a second SIP having a second height, the second height being at least twice the first height, wherein the second SIP forms a wall of an open space adjacent to the mezzanine, the open space extending from the first level and through the second level; and   a third SIP forming at least a portion of a floor of the mezzanine,   wherein the first SIP or the second SIP comprises:
 a first column and a second column, the first column being approximately parallel to the second column; and 
 a first stress and load-bearing insulator between and adhered to the first column and the second column, 
   wherein the third SIP comprises:
 a first joist and a second joist, the first joist being approximately parallel to the second joist; and 
 a second stress and load-bearing insulator between and adhered to the first joist and the second joist, and 
   wherein the second SIP comprises a girder integrated into the second SIP at a height of the mezzanine, the girder configured to support one or more additional joists.   
     
     
         2 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the additional joists are for a future modification of the structure that converts the second level into an additional floor of the structure. 
     
     
         3 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first SIP is an external wall of the structure. 
     
     
         4 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the second SIP is an external wall of the structure. 
     
     
         5 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first SIP is positioned beneath the floor of the mezzanine. 
     
     
         6 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein first SIP is positioned on top of the floor of the mezzanine. 
     
     
         7 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first insulator of the second SIP is further adhered to the girder. 
     
     
         8 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the girder is attached to the first column or the second column of the second SIP. 
     
     
         9 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the girder is supported by the first column and the second column of the second SIP. 
     
     
         10 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the girder protrudes from a face of the second SIP towards an interior of the structure. 
     
     
         11 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the girder protrudes from a face of the second SIP towards an exterior of the structure. 
     
     
         12 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the second SIP comprises a joist opening adjacent to the girder, the joist opening configured to receive the one or more additional joists. 
     
     
         13 . A structure, comprising:
 a first level and a second level, wherein the second level is a mezzanine;   a first structural insulated panel (SIP); and   a second SIP comprising a girder integrated into the second SIP,   wherein a first set of walls comprising the first SIP at least partially define and support the mezzanine, and   wherein the second SIP at least partially defines an open space adjacent to the mezzanine, the open space extending from the first level and through the second level.   
     
     
         14 . The structure of  claim 13 , wherein the integrated girder is positioned at a top end of the SIP, at a bottom end of the SIP, or between the top end and the bottom end of the SIP. 
     
     
         15 . The structure of  claim 13 , wherein the first SIP comprises:
 a first column and a second column, the first column being approximately parallel to the second column;   a stress and load-bearing insulator between and adhered to the first column and second column; and   an integrated girder supported by the first column and the second column, by the first column and the insulator, by the second column and the insulator, or by the first column, the second column, and the insulator.   
     
     
         16 . The structure of  claim 15 , wherein the integrated girder is configured to support one or more joists. 
     
     
         17 . The structure of  claim 16 , wherein the second SIP comprises a joist opening adjacent to the girder, the joist opening configured to receive the one or more joists. 
     
     
         18 . A structure, comprising:
 a first level and a second level, wherein the second level is a mezzanine; and   a structural insulated panel (SIP) comprising a girder integrated into the SIP, wherein the SIP at least partially defines or supports the mezzanine.   
     
     
         19 . The structure of  claim 18 , wherein the girder supports a floor of the mezzanine. 
     
     
         20 . The structure of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a first set of walls that at least partially define and support the mezzanine; and   wherein the SIP at least partially defines an open space in the structure adjacent to the mezzanine, the open space extending from the first level and through the second level.