Melencion shear wall system

Abstract

The Melencion Shear Wall Systems calls for the application of the Melencion Theory improving durability of shear walls to at least 100 years via: a. Spore barrier film preventing entry of new decay spores. b. Increase ventilation of the shear wall system by 1. Creation of an air chamber (dead air insulation) between the SBF-covered sheathing and the lap siding or external paneling with the use of 1 inch (25.4 mm) wooden spacers. 2. The use of micro-porous spore barrier film instead of moisture protective barrier film over the sheathing material. 3. The removal of the insulation stuffing (e.g. glass fibers) within the shear wall cavity. c. The dusting (inoculation) of inside the protected cavity (all wooden components) with spores of any commercially available antagonistic fungi prior to sealing with SBF.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS (IF ANY) [0001] None STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH / DEVELOPMENT (IF ANY) [0002] Privately conceived. REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL ON THE COMPACT DISC. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF COMPACT DISC INCLUDING DUPLICATES AND THE FILES ON EACH COMPACT DISC SHALL BE SPECIFIED [0003] No sequence listing, table or a computer program submitted. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] The design of the Melencion Shear Wall Systems (MSWS) is based on the Melencion Theory On Mold-Decay Fungi Interactions In A Contained Environment on fungal interactions inside the shear wall, spore exclusion and unique designs tailored to increase shear wall aeration. Melencion Theory On Mold-Decay Fungi Interactions In A Contained Environment [0005] Decay fungi present in any wooden members of the shear wall (framing lumber, studs, oriented strand boa...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0031] Melencion Shear Wall System aims to control the decay in shear wall through the application of Melencion Theory On Mold-Decay Fungi Interactions In A Contained Environment that calls for the control decay fungi initially present in wood from lumberyards and during construction with a) the use of equally present antagonistic molds (ab initio) in the wood components of the shear walls (with the possibility of supplanting it with antagonistic mold spores through dusting prior to sealing), b) spore exclusion with the use of porous film barrier (porosity of not less than 70%, and pore diameter of not less than 6 micron, thickness, 1 mm) that covers the entire shear wall system i.e. over the gypsum board and the OSB or other sheathing panels and, c) increase ventilation of the shear wall (please see attached drawings for specific designs).

Problems solved by technology

Decay fungi present in any wooden members of the shear wall (framing lumber, studs, oriented strand board, plywood, etc.) whether as hyphae, spores, chlamydospores and or any other resting fungal propagules that may have established or settled on the surface of the wood while green wood was processed into lumber, seasoned, stack in lumberyards; or in the case of sheathing panels (OSB, plywood or any other reconstructed wood (composites) during stacking, and construction in shear walls of houses, can never successfully grow and cause decay while antagonistic molds still grow on wood.

After several repetitive water intrusions-rapid drying-and imperfect reanimation of fungi, would cause the decay fungi to die due to viability exhaustion.

Oriented strand boards (OSB), on the other hand, may harbor molds due to occasional wetting while the shear wall are still under construction.

This is due to leaks in the caulking material and the dimensional movement of wood.

For prophylactic-treated lumber, this will happen after six months when preservative chemical efficacies start to fail.

Sheathing materials, however, which are mostly untreated, will readily supports the growth of molds as soon as free water becomes available.

This will only wet a small portion of the shear wall, causing molds to grow and sporolate in the wetted areas.

Decay fungi will likely be killed directly by the antagonistic molds or be forced to undergo constitution dormancy, as the prevailing biological environment is not favorable for its growth.

The volume of Water intrusion may increase as building ages (due to increase in leaks as a result of progressive degradation of the caulking material, the corrosion of nails giving more water pathways, the repetitive dimensional changes in wood may loosen adhesive properties of the caulking material etc.).

This can be due to nail punctures, inadequate sealing between film strips, and construction mishandling.

The corresponding risk for water leakage is low if the puncture is far from the high leakage zone (under window frames).

However, since these minor leakages in the system are not exposed to water ingress, whatever basidiospores that may land on the exposed wood will not germinate until the moisture content of the wood underlying the spore barrier leak reached 21%.

When water seeps through in any area within the stud-bounded confines, drying would become difficult and water will accumulate in the wood.

Water diffusion within glass fibers is not possible, except in between fibers, where its water potential is not comparable to the cellulose fibers found in wood.

In effect, moisture will tend to be confined in the area where the leak occurs.

Continuous wetting due to busted pipes or intermittent wetting due to garden sprinklers (splashing of water at the bottom of the shear wall or direct water hit) may cause eventual shear wall decay by decay fungi as soon as the molds can no longer thrived in wet wood due to nutrient depletion.

Fungi that grow outside the shear wall system and extend their hyphae (as mycelial fans, or rhizomorphs) towards and into the shear wall cavity can wreck havoc to even to the Melencion Shear Wall System (MSWS) and will cause decay.

In cases where spores of these fungi are already present in the wood before the application of SBF, subsequent wetting of the shear wall will not produce any substantial growth of these fungi as explained by the Melencion Theory and due to the fact that no adequate water source is available for these fungi to grow.

Incorporated designs to improve shear wall aeration may help shorten the time when wood is moisture saturated, thereby shortening the time for the embedded fungi to do damage on the wood.

Subsequent rewetting-drying will eventually cause the failure of the framing lumber in question and to the adjacent sheathing material.

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