Floor Assembly

Abstract

In one embodiment, a floor assembly includes a first perimeter joist including a first length with first and second ends; a second perimeter joist including a second length with third and fourth ends; a third perimeter joist including a third length with fifth and sixth ends; and a fourth perimeter joist including a fourth length with seventh and eighth ends. The first and fourth perimeter joists are secured to each other at the first and eighth ends with one or more welds. The first and second perimeter joists are secured to each other at the second and third ends with one or more welds. The second and third perimeter joists are secured to each other at the fourth and fifth ends with one or more welds.

1 . A floor assembly comprising:
 a first perimeter joist comprising a first length with a first end and a second end;   a second perimeter joist comprising a second length with a third end and a fourth end;   a third perimeter joist comprising a third length with a fifth end and a sixth end; and   a fourth perimeter joist comprising a fourth length with a seventh end and an eighth end;   wherein:
 the first and fourth perimeter joists are secured to each other at the first and eighth ends with one or more welds; 
 the first and second perimeter joists are secured to each other at the second and third ends with one or more welds; 
 the second and third perimeter joists are secured to each other at the fourth and fifth ends with one or more welds; 
 the third and fourth perimeter joists are secured to each other at the sixth and seventh ends with one or more welds; and 
 the first, second, third, and fourth perimeter joists are configured to be welded to embed plates in piers of a foundation. 
   
     
     
         2 . The floor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first gusset at a first corner formed by the first and fourth perimeter joists where they are secured to each other, wherein the first gusset is secured to the first and fourth perimeter joists with one or more welds;   a second gusset at a second corner formed by the first and second perimeter joists where they are secured to each other, wherein the second gusset is secured to the first and second perimeter joists with one or more welds;   a third gusset at a third corner formed by the second and third perimeter joists where they are secured to each other, wherein the third gusset is secured to the second and third perimeter joists with one or more welds; and   a fourth gusset at a fourth corner formed by the third and fourth perimeter joists where they are secured to each other, wherein the fourth gusset is secured to the third and fourth perimeter joists with one or welds.   
     
     
         3 . The floor assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the gussets comprise steel and are triangular in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The floor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more cross members that each comprise a fifth length with a ninth end and a tenth end, wherein:
 the fifth length is substantially parallel to the lengths of the second and fourth perimeter joists; and   the ninth end is secured to the first perimeter joist with one or more welds and the tenth end is secured to the third perimeter joist with one or more welds.   
     
     
         5 . The floor assembly of  claim 4 , wherein each of one or more of the cross members comprises a continuous C-channel beam comprising American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) A992 steel. 
     
     
         6 . The floor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more brace members that each comprise a sixth length with an eleventh end and a twelfth end, wherein:
 the sixth length is substantially parallel to the lengths of the second and fourth perimeter joists; and   the eleventh end is secured to the first perimeter joist with one or more welds and the twelfth ends is secured to the third perimeter joist with one or more welds.   
     
     
         7 . The floor assembly of  claim 6 , wherein each of one or more of the brace members is a continuous steel C-channel beam. 
     
     
         8 . The floor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pan spanning an interior of the floor assembly; and   concrete set in the pan.   
     
     
         9 . The floor assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the pan:
 is supported by one or more cross members in the floor assembly; and   is secured to one or more of the cross members with one or more welds.   
     
     
         10 . The floor assembly of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the pan comprises a 22-gauge 2″ composite steel deck; and   the concrete is lightweight concrete, has a total slab depth of approximately 4″, and is reinforced with a wire mesh.   
     
     
         11 . The floor assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more pour stops secured to one or more of the perimeter joists and configured to contain the concrete within an interior area of the floor assembly when the concrete is poured. 
     
     
         12 . The floor assembly of  claim 11 , wherein one or more of the pour stops are positioned to create when one or more leaveouts when the floor assembly is mated to another floor assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The floor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the floor assembly is part of a pre-fabricated or modular home. 
     
     
         14 . The floor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the perimeter joists is a continuous steel C-channel beam. 
     
     
         15 . The floor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first and third lengths are approximately equal to each other and greater than the second and fourth lengths; and   the second and fourth lengths are approximately equal to each other and less than the first and third lengths.   
     
     
         16 . The floor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first and third perimeter joists comprise channels that face an interior of the floor assembly; and   the second and fourth perimeter joists comprise channels that face an exterior of the floor assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The floor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the piers comprise helical piers. 
     
     
         18 . A building comprising:
 a floor assembly comprising:
 a first perimeter joist comprising a first length with a first end and a second end; 
 a second perimeter joist comprising a second length with a third end and a fourth end; 
 a third perimeter joist comprising a third length with a fifth end and a sixth end; and 
 a fourth perimeter joist comprising a fourth length with a seventh end and an eighth end; 
 wherein:
 the first and fourth perimeter joists are secured to each other at the first and eighth ends with one or more welds; 
 the first and second perimeter joists are secured to each other at the second and third ends with one or more welds; 
 the second and third perimeter joists are secured to each other at the fourth and fifth ends with one or more welds; and 
 the third and fourth perimeter joists are secured to each other at the sixth and seventh ends with one or more welds; 
 
   a foundation comprising a plurality of piers comprising embed plates, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth perimeter joists are welded to at least some of the embed plates of at least some of the piers of the foundation.   
     
     
         19 . The building of  claim 18 , wherein at least some of the piers comprise helical piers. 
     
     
         20 . The building of  claim 1 , wherein the floor assembly further comprises:
 a first gusset at a first corner formed by the first and fourth perimeter joists where they are secured to each other, wherein the first gusset is secured to the first and fourth perimeter joists with one or more welds;   a second gusset at a second corner formed by the first and second perimeter joists where they are secured to each other, wherein the second gusset is secured to the first and second perimeter joists with one or more welds;   a third gusset at a third corner formed by the second and third perimeter joists where they are secured to each other, wherein the third gusset is secured to the second and third perimeter joists with one or more welds;   a fourth gusset at a fourth corner formed by the third and fourth perimeter joists where they are secured to each other, wherein the fourth gusset is secured to the third and fourth perimeter joists with one or welds;   one or more cross members that each comprise a fifth length with a ninth end and a tenth end, wherein:
 the fifth length is substantially parallel to the lengths of the second and fourth perimeter joists; and 
 the ninth end is secured to the first perimeter joist with one or more welds and the tenth end is secured to the third perimeter joist with one or more welds. 
   one or more brace members that each comprise a sixth length with an eleventh end and a twelfth end, wherein:
 the sixth length is substantially parallel to the lengths of the second and fourth perimeter joists; and 
 the eleventh end is secured to the first perimeter joist with one or more welds and the twelfth ends is secured to the third perimeter joist with one or more welds; 
   a pan spanning an interior of the floor assembly, wherein in the pan is supported by one or more of the cross members and secured to one or more of the cross members with one or more welds; and   concrete set in the pan.