Z-shaped Girts To Prevent Thermal Bridging

Abstract

An improved girt for building construction that provides structural stability and significantly reduces thermal bridging in facade and cladding wall assemblies. The girt is made of a reinforced, fire-resistant, thermoset resin that does not readily burn. The girt completely eliminates metal-to-metal connection points between internal building structures such as columns or posts and external wall panels, resulting in substantially reduced thermal bridging and U values.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composite construction system comprising: a load bearing frame anchored on a concrete foundation; a plurality of non-metal girts, each girt comprising a unitary body that is substantially Z-shaped with a first substantially flat thermoset resin panel attached to a first end of a central substantially flat thermoset resin panel, which is attached on a second end to a second substantially flat thermoset resin panel, wherein the first end and second end are on opposite sides of the central panel, further wherein the first and second resin panels are substantially parallel with each other, wherein the plurality of girts are fastened to the load bearing frame along the first resin panel in a laterally extending direction, a plurality of wall panels, each comprising at least one lateral groove that is placed over the second resin panel and the central panel of the girts; at least one layer of urethane foam interposed between the load bearing frame and the plurality of girts, and wherein the plurality of girts eliminates any metal to metal contact between the load bearing frame and the plurality of wall panels. 
     
     
         2 . The girt of  claim 1 , wherein the girt is substantially fire-resistant. 
     
     
         3 . The girt of  claim 1 , wherein the girt improves the U value of a wall assembly by at least 60 percent. 
     
     
         4 . The girt of  claim 1 , wherein the girt improves the U value of a wall assembly by at least 75 percent. 
     
     
         5 . The girt of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels are each substantially perpendicular to the central panel. 
     
     
         6 . The girt of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the central panel is attached to the second panel at a downward angle of 3 to 5 degrees relatively to the first end attachment of the central panel to the first panel. 
     
     
         7 . The girt of  claim 1 , wherein the girt comprises a depth of 64 to 101 millimeters. 
     
     
         8 . The girt of  claim 1 , wherein the girt comprises a height of 78 to 83 millimeters. 
     
     
         9 . The girt of  claim 1 , wherein the girt comprises a thickness of 3 to 5 millimeters. 
     
     
         10 . The girt of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels each comprise a length of 40 millimeters. 
     
     
         11 . The girt of  claim 1 , wherein the girt withstands up to 500 pounds of tension force before failure. 
     
     
         12 . The girt of  claim 1 , wherein the girt withstands up to 9000 pounds of compression force before failure. 
     
     
         13 . A composite construction system comprising: a load bearing frame anchored on a concrete foundation; a plurality of girts, each girt comprising a unitary body that is substantially Z-shaped with a first substantially flat thermoset resin panel attached to a first end of a central substantially flat thermoset resin panel, which is attached on a second end to a second substantially flat thermoset resin panel, wherein the first end and second end are on opposite sides of the central panel, further wherein the first and second resin panels are substantially parallel with each other, wherein the plurality of girts are fastened to the load bearing frame along the first resin panel in a laterally extending direction, a plurality of wall panels, each comprising at least one lateral groove that is placed over the second resin panel and the central panel of the girts; at least one layer of urethane foam interposed between the load bearing frame and the plurality of girts, and wherein the plurality of girts substantially prevents thermal bridging between the load bearing frame and the plurality of wall panels. 
     
     
         14 . The girt of  claim 13 , wherein the girt improves the U value of a wall assembly by at least 60 percent. 
     
     
         15 . The girt of  claim 13 , wherein the girt improves the U value of a wall assembly by at least 75 percent. 
     
     
         16 . The girt of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second panels are each substantially perpendicular to the central panel. 
     
     
         17 . The girt of  claim 13 , wherein the second end of the central panel is attached to the second panel at a downward angle of 3 to 5 degrees relatively to the first end attachment of the central panel to the first panel. 
     
     
         18 . The girt of  claim 13 , wherein the girt withstands up to 500 pounds of tension force before failure. 
     
     
         19 . The girt of  claim 13 , wherein the girt withstands up to 9000 pounds of compression force before failure.