Roof And Wall Insulation Air Gap to Eliminate Thermal Bridging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current building insulation systems in pre-engineered metal buildings suffer from thermal bridging due to structural fastening, compression of insulation, and trapped humidity, leading to reduced thermal performance and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A building insulation system that creates an air gap between the insulation layer and conductive exterior sheeting, using a tension-supported flexible sheet material and active heat collection and distribution system to manage air flow, heat, and humidity, eliminating the need for interior fasteners and enhancing solar heat absorption and utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If structural fasteners are used to secure insulation to building members, then the insulation is securely fastened, but thermal bridges are created that reduce thermal performance by up to fifty percent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes fasteners from the insulation system entirely, extracting the problematic thermal bridge creation. Instead of fastening insulation to structural members, the system uses the building members themselves as support surfaces, eliminating the need for penetrating fasteners and the associated thermal losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary support system consisting of rigid support members positioned against the building members, which then support the insulation. This intermediary layer allows secure support without direct fastener penetration through the insulation, maintaining both structural integrity and thermal performance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If insulation is compressed between structural members and exterior sheeting, then the insulation is securely positioned, but the compression reduces thermal performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the insulation support function from the building envelope compression. By using separate rigid support members to hold the insulation in place, the system eliminates the need to compress the insulation between structural members and exterior sheeting, maintaining both positioning stability and thermal performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If insulation is installed during the roof and wall sheeting process from the interior, then fastening is required, but this method is shunned by installers in favor of exterior compression methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the building members to serve dual purposes: both structural support and insulation support. The rigid support members leverage the existing building structure to hold the insulation, eliminating the need for separate fastening operations from the interior while maintaining thermal performance.
4Strength
If exterior sheeting is applied directly over insulation with fasteners, then the sheeting is securely attached, but thermal bridging fasteners are created at a frequency of one per ten square feet or less
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts fasteners from the insulation layer, eliminating the source of thermal bridging. The exterior sheeting is attached to the building members rather than through the insulation, removing the thermal bridge pathway while maintaining secure attachment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system improves thermal performance, reduces energy consumption by actively collecting and using solar heat, and minimizes humidity-related issues, potentially achieving net zero energy usage for building conditioning and lighting.
Implementation Method 1
enhancing solar heat absorption and utilization
Implementation Method 2
the solar heat energy from being absorbed and radiated off the interior surface of the sheeting materials
Implementation Method 3
an active mechanical heat pump collection, concentration, transfer and distribution system
Implementation Method 4
which provides better insulating properties than that of the prior art
Data Source
AI summary
A building insulation system for roofs and walls supported from the interior side of the building, which eliminates thermal bridges and bottom side ceiling fasteners to support the insulation system materials during the insulation and exterior sheeting process of the building construction. The insulation system creates an air gap space layer in roofs and in walls between the exterior wall and roof sheeting panels and the interior sheet material, which supports the insulation material layer. An air gap space enables active solar energy collection and its use to reduce the overall purchased energy for operation of the building. The insulation system preferably includes a support sheet material, a sheet material tensioning devices, an insulation material layer, insulation hanger retention devices, heat and air collection and distribution ducts, dampers, louvers, pipes, dehumidification and condensate collection devices used in the air gap layers of the building to improve the building energy efficiency.