Apparatus for a wind resistant and post load re-tensioning system utilizing a composite fabric and attachment apparatus
A roof fastening system that joins building walls or roof structures of a building frame to its foundation to provide a continuous load path that resists upward and lateral forces without interfering with the natural downward forces exerted on the frame over time. This system includes a composite material that combines the properties of a house wrap with high tensile strength low elongation fibers along one direction of the fabric and lower tensile strength high elongation fibers along one or more fabric directions that cross the high tensile strength low elongation fibers. The composite material extends from the top plates or heel truss of the framing of the structure down to its foundation to hold the frame together against high wind loading.
1. A structural fastening apparatus comprising:
a flexible sheeting having top and bottom edge portions;
a first holding member attached along the top edge portion of the flexible sheeting;
a second holding member attached along the bottom edge portion of the flexible sheeting; and
a mounting bracket that is configured and dimensioned for attachment to a building foundation, comprising a flange for engaging the second holding member portion that is configured and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the second holding member,
wherein the mounting bracket has openings for accepting fasteners suitable for anchoring the mounting bracket to a cement, block or brick foundation, and further wherein at least some of the openings are vertical slots that facilitate movement of the retaining member to apply tension to the flexible sheeting.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the first holding member has openings for accepting mechanical fasteners for mechanically anchoring the first holding member to an upper portion of a building frame;
the second holding member is secured to the mounting bracket flange such that the flexible sheeting provides a continuous tensile load path between the upper portion of the building frame and the building foundation, in order to direct upward or lateral forces to the building foundation.
3. A structural fastening apparatus comprising:
a flexible sheeting having top and bottom edge portions;
a first holding member attached along the top edge portion of the high strength, flexible sheeting;
a second holding member attached along the bottom edge portion of the high strength, flexible sheeting;
a retaining member that is configured and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the second holding member for tensioning the high strength, flexible sheeting; and
fasteners having an extended length to provide a gap between the bottom surface of the mounting bracket and an upper surface of a building foundation to adjust the tensioning of the flexible sheeting by tightening or loosening the fasteners, thereby reducing or increasing the gap between the mounting bracket and the upper surface of the foundation; and
wherein the retaining member is a mounting bracket that is configured and dimensioned for attachment to a building foundation, and includes a flange for engaging the second holding member portion.
4. A frame structure having at least a roofing member and one or more wall members erected upon a foundation, the structure comprising:
a structural fastening apparatus according to claim 3 providing a continuous tensile load path between the roofing member and the structure's foundation to direct upward or lateral forces to the structure's foundation;
wherein:
the first holding member is mechanically affixed to an upper portion of a frame building wall;
the mounting bracket is mechanically anchored to the structure's foundation;
at least a portion of the second holding member is secured to the mounting bracket; and
the flexible sheeting is attached to the first and second holding members to provide a continuous load path from the frame wall members through the flexible sheeting to the foundation.
5. The frame structure of claim 4 , wherein the flexible sheeting is positioned on the outside face of the frame, and is directly adjacent to and in contact with a sheathing layer of an exterior frame wall to create a continuous load path from the upper portion of a building wall frame to the foundation along a length of the building wall.
6. The frame structure of claim 5 further comprising one or more polymer batten strips, or an additional scrim layer or a plurality of scrim layers, affixed to an exterior frame wall, wherein the polymer batten strip, or the additional scrim layer or the plurality of scrim layers, is affixed in a vertical direction adjacent to one or more openings framed into the exterior frame wall to create a reinforced continuous load path from the upper top plate or upper portion of a building wall frame to the foundation.
7. The frame structure of claim 5 , further comprising a roof fastening member mechanically affixed to and operatively connecting one or more roofing member(s) to the building wall frame.
8. The frame structure of claim 4 , wherein:
the first holding member has openings for accepting mechanical fasteners for fastening the first holding member in a vertical position to a plurality of roof trusses and blocking members, and the first holding member is mechanically anchored to the building wall frame in a vertical position by the mechanical fasteners;
the mounting bracket is mechanically anchored to the building foundation by the fasteners, wherein the mounting bracket can be retensioned by retightening the fasteners;
the second holding member is secured to the mounting bracket flange; and
the high strength, flexible sheeting connects the first holding member to the second holding member to thereby create a continuous tensile load path between a top wall member of the building wall frame and the building foundation, and directs upward or lateral forces to the building foundation.
9. The frame structure of claim 4 , wherein the roofing member forms at least part of a raised or high heel roof comprising roof blocking or sheathing, and the first holding member is attached to a sidewall of the roof blocking or sheathing.
10. The frame structure of claim 9 , wherein the retaining member is a bracket that is initially affixed to the foundation with adjustable bolts and after adjustment of tension on the flexible member is permanently affixed to a foundation wall.
11. A frame structure having at least a roofing member and one or more wall members erected upon a foundation, the structure comprising:
a flexible sheeting having top and bottom edge portions;
a first holding member attached along the top edge portion of the flexible sheeting, and mechanically affixed to an upper portion of a frame building wall;
a second holding member attached along the bottom edge portion of the flexible sheeting; and
a mounting bracket that is configured and dimensioned for attachment to a building foundation, and comprises a flange that is configured and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the second holding member to provide a continuous tensile load path between the roofing member and the structure's foundation to direct upward or lateral forces to the structure's foundation, wherein:
the mounting bracket is mechanically anchored to the structure's foundation;
at least a portion of the second holding member is secured to the mounting bracket; and
the flexible sheeting is attached to the first and second holding members to provide a continuous load path from the frame wall members through the flexible sheeting to the foundation.
12. The frame structure of claim 11 , further comprising a roof fastening member mechanically affixed to and operatively connecting one or more roofing member(s) to the building wall frame.
13. The frame structure of claim 11 , wherein:
the first holding member has openings for accepting mechanical fasteners for fastening the first holding member in a vertical position to a plurality of roof trusses and blocking members, and the first holding member is mechanically anchored to the building wall frame in a vertical position by the mechanical fasteners;
the mounting bracket is mechanically anchored to the building foundation by fasteners, such that the mounting bracket can be retensioned by retightening the fasteners;
the second holding member is secured to the mounting bracket flange; and
the flexible sheeting connects the first holding member to the second holding member to thereby create a continuous tensile load path between a top wall member of the building wall frame and the building foundation, and directs upward or lateral forces to the building foundation.