Insulation Batt Having Integral Baffle Vent

Abstract

A baffled insulation product and a method for insulating and ventilating a space between rafters for supporting a roof includes, an elongated insulation mat having an integral baffle, at least one channel on a roof facing side of the baffle for passage of ventilating air, and at least one vapor permeable membrane covering at least a portion of the insulation mat facing the channel, wherein each vapor permeable membrane transmits water vapor emanating from the insulation mat.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 996,225 filed Nov. 23, 2004, entitled “Insulation Batt Having Integral Baffle Vent” (D0932-00490), the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. [0002] This application is also related to commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 666,657 to Richard Duncan and Dustin Ciepliski, entitled “Baffled Attic Vent Including Method of Making and Using Same” filed Sep. 19, 2003 (D0932-00389), the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates to insulation products for vented air spaces, vented insulation product installations and methods of installing insulation products for vented air spaces. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] In response to a need for energy conservation, there is a need for installing thicker insulation batts to reduce both heat loss in win...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The baffled insulation product of the present invention greatly reduces labor and time associated with installation of a separate baffle followed by installation of insulation material. The baffled insulation product promotes ventilation under a roof by maintaining an open ventilation channel through to the soffit area. A vapor permeable membrane of the insulation product transmits, and allows migration of, water vapor emanating from the insulation mat into the ventilating air stream. The membrane is substantially impervious to water or ambient condensate or other sources of liquid water, and covers at least a portion of the insulation mat to repel liquid water from seeping or percolating therethrough and wetting the insulation mat. Further, the vapor permeable membrane transmits, and permits escape of, excess water vapor due to moisture that builds up in the insulation in the form of increased relative humidity, due to perceptibly slow water leaks from rain or plumbing, and further, due to moisture from other sources inside a building that get behind a vapor retarder facing on the insulation.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the invention, the vapor permeability of the vapor permeable membrane increases with increased relative humidity in the insulation. According to another embodiment of the invention, the vapor permeable membrane is substantially impervious to water to prevent the water from seeping into the insulation mat.

[0013] Weather conditions involving high ambient wind speeds tend to increase the rate of air exchange between ambient air and quiescent air among the insulation fibers. The heat transfer rate due to the air exchange undesirably increases. The vapor-permeable membrane covers the insulation exposed by the perforated area to reduce the rate of air exchange.

Problems solved by technology

The heat transfer rate due to the air exchange undesirably increases.

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