Wall finishing panel system

Abstract

Disclosed are an insulation product and an insulation system incorporating such a product for insulating exterior walls, particularly masonry walls, that incorporates at least one internal fire retardant layer and, optionally, a wicking material for transporting condensate away from the interface between the insulating product and the exterior wall. The insulation system includes an integrated support element that can be used to increase the rate of evaporation via various methods, provide for the concealed distribution of cables and wiring and / or improve the aesthetic appearance of the insulating product.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY [0001] This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for insulating walls, particularly subsurface walls, that provides improved flame retarding performance and which may also provide improved moisture control at the interface between the insulation material and the masonry wall. More particularly, this invention pertains to an insulating process and apparatus in which at least one flame retardant layer is incorporated into an insulating system in combination with insulating materials for finishing walls and, for exterior or other cooled spaces, optionally including at least one layer of sorbent and / or wicking materials, for finishing walls. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The exterior walls of a building are typically insulated in order to reduce the heating and cooling demands resulting from variations between the exterior temperature from the desired interior temperature. A wide range of fibrous, solid and foam insulati...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The insulation product is preferably installed with a corresponding support element to form an insulation system. The support element will typically be provided along the lower edge of the insulation product and define a space between the insulation product and the floor. The support element may comprise several cooperating elements or structures and may, for example, include a baseboard portion to create a more finished appearance for the interior surface of the insulation system.

[0012] This space defined by the support element portion of the insulation system may be used for routing an extension portion of the primary wicking material toward and / or into the interior space in order to increase the evaporation rate. Additional elements, such as vents, grills, fans, ducts, sorbent material, cable channels, secondary wicking materials and heaters, may be included in or connected to the support element for further improving the performance and versatility of the insulation system.

Problems solved by technology

Water present at the interface between the insulating product and the inside surface of the exterior wall and / or the outer portion of the insulation product is associated with a host of problems including mold growth, efflorescence, reduced insulating efficiency and, if sufficiently cold, frost spalling resulting from water freezing and expanding within cracks and gaps in the masonry.

A major contributing factor to the accumulation of water at the interface and the resulting decreased performance of the associated masonry wall system is the leakage of warm humid air through the building envelope to surfaces that are at temperatures below the dew point of the adjacent air and the associated accumulation of condensation within the insulating layer and / or on the inside surface of the exterior wall.

Further, the use of such finishing and insulating systems for finishing residential basements can result in the materials being placed in general proximity to heated surfaces and potential ignition sources such as furnaces, boilers, water heaters, space heaters, etc.

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