CA2843797A1

CA2843797A1 - Modular system

Info

Publication number: CA2843797A1
Application number: CA2843797A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Nicholas Varias
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-02-27
Filing date: 2014-02-27
Publication date: 2015-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2034-02-27
Also published as: CA2843797C

Abstract

A pre-engineered modular building system that is adaptable, expandable and demountable with independent stand-alone square cuboid modules assembled from prefabricated elements that can be transported in small containers. The modules create flexible building blocks on one, two or three storeys, which can expand or contract within a three-dimensional grid, without disturbing the adjacent modules. This novel spatial flexibility is generated by demountable bolted connections between posts and beams, using special saddles prefabricated from steel plates, welded together. Post extensions through the roof parapet support the guardrails, and in addition can carry pole-mounted solar panels, mini wind turbines, satellite dishes and antennae, or other devices. Flexsola Modular can create buildings, which are healthy, safe and address climate change, are affordable, wheelchair-accessible on all levels, respect the natural landscape, minimize land use, and can achieve self-sufficiency; furthermore they can generate urban communities, which are sustainable socially, economically and environmentally.

Description

DESCRIPTION
(a) The Title of the Invention: FLEXSOLA MODULAR
(b) Technical Field: Flexsola Modular relates to sustainable mixed-use residential and/or commercial buildings, and to urban planning of sustainable medium density communities.
(c) Background Art: Current conventional building systems are no longer sustainable environmentally, socially and economically because they destroy the natural environment, contribute to global warming and ignore climate change; they waste land and natural resources, and create unfriendly neighbourhoods; furthermore, they are not affordable, do not adapt to human needs, are expensive to maintain and are financial liabilities.
Flexsola Modular provides solutions to these problems. It is an innovative building system, which can function as a living architectural organism. The modules, like living cells in the natural world, create building blocks, which can grow, shrink, and move.
Flexsola Modular achieves flexible growth, reduction of the built environment, adaptation, relocation, and reuse & recycling of building components, reduces the use of land per building unit, and uses renewable forms of energy, including solar and wind power.
FlexSola Modular can create urban communities at human scale, which can expand and/or change configuration according to the needs of the occupants and of the community; it can create urban developments, which are harmoniously integrated into the existing urban fabric, and can support active and public transportation. Furthermore, Flexsola Modular can reduce the need for municipal services, including power grid, water supply and sewage disposal, by creating buildings that can be self-sufficient, and thus achieve effective sustainability.
Flexsola Modular can serve a wide range of end users representing a growing percentage of the population: seniors (i.e. snowbirds), people with special needs (i.e.
home care patients), first-home buyers, empty nesters, the self-employed and small businesses. The concept allows a variety of ownership and/or tenancy arrangements that can accommodate customer needs and local planning and zoning by-laws.

By comparing the projected longterm live-in costs between a conventional building unit and a FlexSola Modular unit, considering its full revenue-generating potential, it appears that FlexSola Modular can be a profitable investment for the owner and could pay for itself in less than 20 years. This economic advantage over conventional units will ensure a growing consumer demand, and consequently its successful adoption by governments and developers worldwide.
The idea behind Flexsola Modular has originated from Nicholas Varias's winning design in Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's FlexHousing Design Competition of 1995, a model of which was built at the Canadian Centre for Housing Technology in Ottawa. The concept is made easy to understand by Amanda's story, which was edited and published by CMHC as "The Circle of Life" in FlexHousing: Homes that Adapt to Life's Changes. cl 999, ISBN: 0660174114.
A survey conducted by the Royal Bank, released in March 1997, indicates increasing demand for FlexHousing TM. "Increasingly, home buyers will be looking for flexible and adaptable homes - dwellings that can accommodate home offices, multi-generational families and the special needs of empty nesters and single families - that allow owners to live in their homes as long as they like without costly renovations or the need to move ...each time they go through a major change," said Christian Findlay, vice-president of residential mortgages at Royal Bank. "Flexible homes are likely to become an important trend in the next century."
There currently exist several patents for building systems, which are pre-engineered, prefabricated, modular, demountable, noncombustible, or transported in shipping containers. However, FEXSOLA MODULAR is uniquely novel, by combining all these features, and adding the following:
= It creates independent stand-alone modules, which can be added, removed and relocated, without disturbing the adjacent modules.
= It uses a novel saddle bolted connection between post and beams, which facilitates the erection and installation of each module structure, and its disassembling, relocation, and/or reuse, as needed.
= It provides complete wheelchair access to each floor, including future expansions, at minimal cost and disruption to the existing building.

2 (d) The Technical Problems and the Solutions:
Flexsola Modular solves the following problems:
i) How to facilitate the efficient and economic packaging and delivery of prefabricated buildings for a worldwide market:
Flexsola Modular is specifically designed and manufactured for transportation in medium-size shipping containers. This is achieved by fabricating all building elements with a length not exceeding 3.5m (11.5ft), in order to fit into a 6m (20ft) long shipping container (fig 1).
ii) How to achieve building flexibility, adaptability, reuse and relocation:
Flexsola Modular introduces stand-alone structural modules, which similar to Lego blocks, can be added within a three-dimensional grid, or demounted and relocated as needed, without disturbing the adjacent modules (fig 4, 5, 6).
There are two types of square cuboid modules: typical floor module X is used for floor areas; stair module Y provides horizontal and vertical access to modules X, by incorporating a hallway with a stair wrapped around an elevator structure.
The stand-alone capability of each square cuboid module is achieved with a structure consisting of four Main Posts (component 07) that support Open-Web Beams (component 05) and Secondary Beams (component 06), connected by Beam Saddles A, B, C & D
(components 04a, 04b, 04c & 04d).
The typical floor module X can be assembled in the following scenarios:
1. For one-storey building blocks, module X requires two sets of beams, one at the bottom of the main posts to support the floor, and the second at the top of the posts to support the roof.
2. For second or third storeys, module X requires only one set of beams located at the top of the posts, as the top set of beams of the first storey module X
would support the floor, which previously carried the rooftop.

3. The vertical expansion of a building block can be performed as follows:

Firstly, the Roof Deck Assembly (component 16) of a particular module X is demounted and its subcomponents temporarily stored on site, or the entire assembly is temporarily placed on the ground.
Secondly, a new module X is assembled, or preassembled on site, lifted and set in place on top of the existing module X.
Thirdly, The existing demounted Roof Deck Assembly is reassembled on top of the new module X.
Flexsola Modular provides flexibility for the installation and modification of ducts, pipes, conduits and cables required for all services, including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, electricity and communication, by providing an open space at the underside of each floor, including the first storey raised above a crawl space; this is achieved with Open-Web Beams (component 05).
In order to create a larger clear space without columns, four adjacent modules can be structurally merged by removing the central cluster of four posts and saddles, and by joining and reinforcing the beams (fig 3).
The Flexsola Modular physical flexibility creates unique functional adaptability for the occupants, by providing a multitude of choices for several criteria, including type of occupancy, changes in social needs, rental revenue, and energy generation.
This functional adaptability applies the main FlexHousing TM principles of allowing the division of a building unit into two or more autonomous tenancies, as needed (fig 16).
Flexsola Modular can be used in a variety of ownership and/or tenancy arrangements that can accommodate customer needs and local planning and zoning by-laws.
iii) How to achieve economical and efficient installation, demountability and reuse of the building components:
Flexsola Modular provides four different types of steel saddles for the installation and connection of posts and beams (fig 8, 9, 10), for accommodating each corner of the module. In addition, two smaller saddles connect the smaller posts and beams that support the entrance porch (fig 8).

4 The Floor Panels have all four corners notched and provided with cast-in steel plates for demountable bolted connections to the beams. After installation, the notches are filled with removable plugs.
All components, and subcomponents are manufactured in sizes that can be easily handled, and are fastened on site with demountable bolted connections, following detailed instructions, by using proper tools, lifting equipment and scaffolding.
Alternatively, for larger developments, the modules can be preassembled on site, and then lifted and set in place with a crane.
iv) How to install pole-mounted solar panels, mini-wind turbines and communication devices on a rooftop terrace, without affecting the usable outdoor space:
The Beam Saddles A, B, C & D at the top, in lieu of receiving Main Posts, can accommodate Parapet Post Extensions, which in addition to supporting the guardrails around the rooftop terrace, can also support pole-mounted solar panels, mini wind turbines, and communication devices, which are elevated overhead. (fig 5, 6, 10, 11).
e) Description of figures:
Legend 01 Footing 02 Pier 02a Helical Foundation 03 Crawl Space Post 04a Beam Saddle A
04b Beam Saddle B
04e Beam Saddle E
04f Beam Saddle F
05 Open-Web Beam 06 Secondary Beam 07 Main Post 08 Floor Panel 08a Floor Plug 09 Parapet Post Extension Parapet Guardrail 10a Parapet Flashings 10b Parapet Panel 11 Wall Support Panel lla Wall Finish Panel 12 Glazed Panel 12a Lintel Panel 13 Greenhouse 14 Stair Elevator Structure 16 Rooftop Deck Assembly 16a Roof Drain 17 Dual Axis Solar Tracking Device 18 Entrance Stair 18a Entrance Stair Handrail 19 Entrance Ramp Ramp Guard 21 Elevator Door 22 Landing 23 Terrace Door 24 Barrier-Free Sill Barrier-Free Entry Door 26 Entrance Porch 27 Module Grid 28 Mini Wind Turbine 29 Natural Ground Communication Devices Figure 1: illustrates the main module components, sized to fit in a medium-size 6m (20ft) long shipping container.

01 Footing: it can be prefabricated, precast and/or cast in place concrete or reinforced concrete, with a square section, or bell shaped.
02 Pier: it can be prefabricated, precast and/or cast in place concrete or reinforced concrete, with a square section, or round sonotube.
02a Helical Foundation: it can be a helical pile system consisting of a giant metal screw, screwed into the ground with hydraulic machinery until the desired bearing capacity is achieved. The top of the helical pile supports a Pier.
03 Crawl Space Post: fabricated from steel, with a hollow square section, a welded bottom plate with a pre-drilled hole for an anchor bolt, and a square side opening to facilitate fastening to an anchor bolt set in the Pier. Its purpose is to raise the first floor above the ground for protection against flooding, and to create a crawl space used to install and maintain various services.
04a Beam Saddle A: prefabricated welded assembly of steel plates, with pre-drilled holes for bolts. It has a square central steel plate that sits on a Main Post, or on a Crawl Space Post and has a central hole that allows the transfer of pipes and/or cables.
This saddle connects an Open-Web Beam and a Secondary Beam to a Main Post, or to a Crawl Space Post, in the South/East corner of the module.
04b Beam Saddle B: has the same specifications as Beam Saddle A, but configured to accommodate the South/West corner of the module.
04c Beam Saddle C: has the same specifications as Beam Saddle A, but configured to accommodate the North/West corner of the module.
04d Beam Saddle D: has the same specifications as Beam Saddle A, but configured to accommodate the North/East corner of the module.

04e Beam Saddle E: prefabricated welded assembly of steel plates that create a smaller saddle, with pre-drilled holes for bolts, to connect the two beams and post that support the porch slab at the left side of the entrance.
04f Beam Saddle F: has the same specifications as Beam Saddle E, but configured to accommodate the right side of the entrance.
05 Open-Web Beam: fabricated from steel with top and bottom chords connected by an open steel web; it supports the Floor Panels and allows the transfer of ducts, pipes and cables through the ceiling space; it is manufactured with pre-drilled holes for bolts.
05a Triangular Brace: structural element fabricated from steel with pre-drilled holes for bolted connection to a post and a beam, installed on site to supplement the rigidity of the post/beam connections, at locations recommended by a structural engineer to provide additional lateral stability against horizontal loads, subject to the geographic location of the site.
06 Secondary Beam: fabricated from steel with rectangular hollow section, and is perpendicular to the Open-Web Beam to provide lateral stability of the structural module against horizontal loads; it is manufactured with pre-drilled holes for bolts.
07 Main Post: fabricated from steel, with a hollow square section, manufactured with pre-drilled holes for bolts; the interior hollow space allows the transfer of pipes and/or cables.
08 Floor Panel: prefabricated from reinforced concrete-based material, or from concrete-based material poured on top of corrugated metal sheet, or from steel members supporting a floor decking material, or from reinforced fiberglass-based materials, or from reinforced plastic-based materials, and/or wood-based materials. The floor panels are supported by Open-Web Beams, and are prefabricated with shiplap edges to minimize thermal and sound transmission, with all four corners notched and provided with cast-in steel plates with pre-drilled holes for demountable fastening to the beams with bolts. After installation, the notches are filled with removable plugs. The prefabricated floor panels may incorporate a radiant floor heating and cooling piping system.
08a Floor Plug: fabricated from the same material as the Floor Panel to fill in the corner notches, and provided with predrilled holes for a demountable bolted connection to the corner cast-in steel plate of the Floor Panel.
09 Parapet Post Extension: fabricated from steel, with a hollow square section, pre-manufactured with a top steel plate with a central hole, and four pre-drilled holes at each corner for bolts, and pre-drilled holes for bolted connections of the Parapet Guardrails. It can also support an optional pole, which can be used to mount various devices or equipment, including an assembly of solar panels, a mini wind turbine, or a satellite dish and/or antenna.
Parapet Guardrail: engineered and prefabricated elements assembled on site and fastened to the Parapet Post Extensions with demountable bolted connections.
10a Parapet Flashings: fabricated in modular sections from prefinished sheet material, supplied with accessories including rustproof screws, waterproofing tape, gaskets and screw caps; all elements are installed on site and are demountable and reusable.
10b Parapet Panel: engineered and prefabricated from a concrete-based materials. The panel is supported by an Open Web Beam, or a Secondary Beam, and is fastened to the Parapet Post Extensions with demountable bolted connections.
11 Wall Support Panel: engineered and prefabricated from lightweight concrete-based material, with a nominal width and height that is a multiple of 250mm, manufactured with shiplap edges to minimize thermal and sound transmission. The interior joints are sealed with demountable cover strip. The panels are fastened to the beams with demountable bolted connections.

11 a Wall Finish Panel: engineered and prefabricated in a composite panel consisting of a layer of rigid insulation sandwiched between an exterior layer of water-resistant finishing material and a layer of sheathing material, with a nominal width and height that is a multiple of 250mm. The panels are manufactured with shiplap edges to minimize thermal and sound transmission, and are fastened to the Wall Support Panels with demountable bolted connections. The exterior joints are sealed with demountable cover strips, and the bolts are covered with weatherproofing caps.
12 Glazed Panel: manufactured with thermally broken frames and insulated sealed glazed units, with a nominal width and height that is a multiple of 250mm.
12a Lintel Panel: engineered and manufactured from the same materials as the Wall Support Panel, fastened to the beams with demountable bolted connections, and provided with metal plates with pre-drilled holes for the installation of the Glazed Panels.
13 Greenhouse: engineered assembly of thermally broken frames and insulated sealed glazed units factory manufactured, and assembled on site to form the greenhouse component.
14 Stair: it revolves around the Elevator Structure, and has prefabricated treads supported by structural framing assembled on site with bolts.
15 Elevator Structure: a steel structure consisting of posts and beams with rectangular section, assembled on site with bolts; it can accommodate a small elevator suitable for one person in a wheelchair; it can also provide structural support for the stair wrapped around it.
16 Rooftop Deck Assembly: composed of the following subcomponents installed on site: Vapor Barrier, Roofing Membrane, rigid insulation panels with shiplap edges, top tapered rigid insulation panels to create a 2% slope to the central roof drain, concrete pavers, roof drains and rain water pipes.

Alternatively, the slope may be achieved with a light-weight poured-in-place material.
The Rooftop Deck Assembly can be pre-assembled on the construction site to form a rigid assembly, which fits on top of a module, and which can be lifted and set in place with a crane. This method allows the removal, reuse and relocation of the entire Rooftop Deck Assembly for vertical expansion.
16a Roof Drain: connected to a drainage pipe, which leads to the underside of the roof deck and can cross through the Open-Web Beam, and discharge into an exterior downpipe, which can collect the rainwater in a cistern placed on ground in the crawl space.
17 Dual Axis Solar Tracking Device: an assembly consisting of photovoltaic panels, support framing and moving gears, which can track the sun to obtain maximum efficiency of solar energy collection. The solar altitude can be adjusted with a pivoting support system with counterweight; the entire assembly can also rotate on the vertical axis to follow the solar azimuth angle.
18 Entrance Stair: can be prefabricated or constructed on site and is fastened to the Entrance Porch.
18a Entrance Stair Handrail: engineered and prefabricated elements assembled on site and fastened to the Entrance Stair.
19 Entrance Ramp: prefabricated or constructed on site, and fastened to the Entrance Porch.
20 Ramp Guardrail: engineered and prefabricated elements assembled on site and fastened to the Entrance Ramp and Entrance Porch.
21 Elevator Door: installed to protect the opening in the Elevator Structure; it serves a future elevator.

22 Landing Panel: manufactured from the same materials used for the Floor Panel.
23 Terrace Door: it can provide barrier-free access for a person in wheelchair to the rooftop terrace.
24 Barrier-Free Sill: provides a threshold with a maximum step of 13mm (1/2in) for wheelchair access.
25 Barrier-Free Entry Door: it can provide barrier-free access for a person in wheelchair.
26 Entrance Porch: constructed from water-resistant materials.
27 Module Grid: imaginary lines in a three-dimensional rectangular grid, used to plan and locate the modules, with dimensions that are a multiple of 250mm, and are established to suit a specific development. The figures illustrate a grid of 3500mm x 3500mm x 3000mm.
28 Mini Wind Turbine: small size electricity generator from wind power, supported on a pole, which can be installed on a Parapet Post Extension.
29 Natural Ground: the surface of the natural ground existing before construction, which could be preserved, subject to local soil conditions, existing vegetation and other natural features, including rocks, which do not interfere with the proposed construction.
30 Communication Devices: includes a satellite dish, and/or an antenna, installed on a pole, which can be mounted on a Parapet Post Extension.
Figure 2: illustrates the module structure and its components.
Figure 3: illustrates the option of removing posts and reinforcing the beams.

Figure 4: illustrates the vertical expansion of modules.
Figure 5: illustrates a one-storey building block with four modules and a greenhouse, which also provides access to the rooftop terrace.
Figure 6: illustrates a two-storey building block with eight modules and a greenhouse, which also provides access to the rooftop terrace.
Figure 7: illustrates the barrier-free access to all levels, including rooftop terrace. The stair wraps around the elevator structure, which can be extended to accommodate the addition of a second storey. The elevator door is indicated as item 21.
Figure 8: illustrates four post/beam saddle connections at the entrance porch.
Figure 9: illustrates a cluster of four adjacent post/beam saddle connections.
Figure 10: illustrates the post/beam connection at the parapet post extension.
Figure 11: illustrates a pole-mounted Dual Axis Solar Tracking Device with four photovoltaic panels, installed on a Parapet Post Extension.
Figure 12: illustrates adding modules to a building block.
Figure 13: illustrates an example of adding modules to second storey.
Figure 14: illustrates an example of phasing of twelve building blocks ¨ 1st Storey.
Figure 15: illustrates an example of Flexsola Modular Community Plan.
Figure 16: illustrates an example of Flexsola Modular Multiple Tenancies.
Figure 17: illustrates six views of a Dual Axis Solar Tracking Device.
Figure 18: illustrates a Dual Axis Solar Tracking Device Gear view A.
Figure 19: illustrates a Dual Axis Solar Tracking Device Gear view B.
f) Plan to implement the invention:
Phase 1: R&D and create prototype in partnership with university, developer and/or manufacturers.
Phase 2: Develop pilot project in partnership with municipality and/or developer.

Phase 3: Promotion and marketing: Exporting Flexsola Modular intellectual property and consulting to projects in Canada and abroad.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A building system based on square cuboid floor modules, and square cuboid staircase &
elevator structure modules, assembled from the following non-combustible prefabricated components, which can be transported in a medium-size shipping container:
footings, foundations, steel beam saddles A, B, C, D, E & F, open-web steel beams, secondary steel beams, main steel posts, floor panels, floor plugs, parapet steel post extensions, parapet guardrails, parapet flashings, parapet panels, wall support panels, wall finish panels, glazed panels, lintel panels, stairs, entrance stairs, entrance stair handrails, entrance ramps, ramp guards, elevator steel structure, elevator doors, floor landings, terrace doors, barrier-free sills, barrier-free entry doors, and entrance porches.

2. A building system as defined in Claim 1, wherein all modules are independent and stand-alone, and can be added, removed and/or relocated within a three-dimensional rectangular grid, without disturbing the adjacent modules.

3. A building system as defined in Claims 1 & 2, wherein the top surface of each module can accommodate a Rooftop Deck Assembly composed of vapor barrier, roof membrane, rigid insulation panels with shiplap edges, top tapered rigid insulation panels to create a 2% slope to the central roof drain, concrete pavers, and roof drains.

4. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2 & 3, wherein the slope is achieved with a poured-in place lightweight material.

5. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2 & 3, wherein the elements of the Rooftop Deck Assembly are pre-assembled on the construction site into a rigid assembly, which can be lifted and set in place with a crane on top of a floor module, allowing the removal, reuse and relocation of the entire Rooftop Deck Assembly for vertical expansion.

6. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2 & 3, wherein the staircase and elevator structure module is covered with a greenhouse, which is engineered with thermally broken frames and insulated sealed glazed units.

7. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3 & 6, wherein the Greenhouse is preassembled on site, lifted and set in place with a crane on top of the staircase and elevator module, allowing relocation in case of vertical expansion.

8. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2 & 3, wherein, all levels, including rooftop, can be accessed by an elevator, which access can also be provided in case of vertical building expansion when a storey is added, and which access can be achieved with minimal cost and disruption to the adjacent modules.

9. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2 & 3, in which the first storey is raised above the ground, with Crawl Space Posts supported by individual footings and foundations to create a crawl space for services and equipment, to minimize the impact on the existing natural features, and to provide protection from flooding.

10. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3 & 9, in which the individual footings and foundations consist of square-section piers, round-section piers, sonotube piers, helical piers, wood piles, steel piles, and/or concrete piles, subject to site soil conditions and local construction methods.

11. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2 & 3, wherein the floor construction consists of prefabricated concrete panels, spanning between the supporting Open-Web Beams, with shiplap edges to minimize thermal and sound transmission, and all four corners notched for removable plugs, and provided with cast-in steel plates with pre-drilled holes for demountable fastening to the beams with bolts.

12. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3 & 11, wherein the prefabricated floor panels include a wire or rod-type reinforcing, steel members, corrugated metal sheet, fiberglass-based materials, plastic-based materials, and/or wood-based materials.

13. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3 & 11, wherein the prefabricated floor panels incorporate a radiant floor heating and cooling piping system.

14. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2 & 3, wherein the exterior walls are engineered, and prefabricated in Wall Supports Panels and exterior Wall Finish Panels, in nominal widths and lengths that are multiples of 250mm, with shiplap edges to minimize thermal and sound transmission, and installed with demountable fasteners.

15. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3 & 14, wherein the Wall Support Panels are prefabricated from lightweight concrete-based material and the interior joints are sealed with demountable cover strips.

16. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3 & 14, wherein the Wall Finish Panels are prefabricated in composite panels with rigid insulation sandwiched between a water-resistant finishing material and a sheathing material, the exterior joints are sealed with demountable cover strips, and the bolts are covered with weatherproofing caps.

17. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 & 9, wherein the exterior walls are constructed by using conventional methods with studs, insulation, air & vapour barriers, interior and exterior sheathing, exterior finishing material, and all required accessories, preassembled in wall panels, or installed on site.

18. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 & 9, wherein the posts are fabricated from hollow square section material, manufactured with pre-drilled holes for bolts; the interior hollow space allows the transfer of pipes and/or cables.

19. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3 & 9, wherein the Crawl Space Posts are fabricated from steel with a hollow square section, and a welded bottom plate with a pre-drilled hole for an anchor bolt, and a square side opening for bolting to the Pier.

20. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3, 6 & 9 wherein the connection method between two posts and two beams uses only bolts, and a steel saddle prefabricated from steel plates welded together to create a bottom pocket for the lower Main Post, a top and side pocket to support the higher Main Post, or a Parapet Post Extension, and an Open-Web- Beam, a small horizontal pocket to support a Secondary Beam, and which saddle provides a rigid structural moment connection, and is demountable and reusable.

21. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 & 20, wherein the saddle square plate that sits on top of the lower Main Post and supports the higher Main Post, or a Parapet Post Extension, has a round hole to allow the transfer of pipes and/or cables.

22. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 20 & 21, wherein the roof parapet incorporates Parapet Panels, which are engineered and prefabricated from concrete-based material, and are fastened with demountable bolted connections.

23. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3 & 9, wherein in order to create a clear space without columns, four adjacent modules can be structurally merged by removing the central cluster of four Main Posts and Saddles A, B, C & D, and by joining and reinforcing the Open-Web Beams that were supported by the four Main Posts and Saddles A, B, C &
D.

24. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3 & 6, wherein the roof parapet incorporates a Parapet Post Extension, which in addition to supporting the guardrails, can also support a pole-mounted assembly of photovoltaic panels, a pole-mounted wind turbine, or a pole-mounted satellite dish and/or antenna.

25. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3, 6 & 24, wherein the pole-mounted assembly of photovoltaic panels is a Dual Axis Solar Tracking Device with pivoting gears, which can adjust the orientation of photovoltaic panels to follow the solar altitude and azimuth angles.

26. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 & 9, wherein isolated interior courtyards are created to provide a safe outdoor space for children and pets.

27. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9 & 26, which creates a flexible planning pattern for sustainable mixed-use residential and/or commercial communities, at medium-density human scale, which can expand and/or change configuration, according to the needs of the occupants and of the community.

28. A building system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9 & 26, which provides longterm functional flexibility and adaptability for the community, by making it possible to create multiple tenancies with minimal disruptions and costs, through built-in longterm physical flexibility and adaptability of the buildings.