Pressure equalized compartment for exterior insulation and finish system

A pressure equalizing exterior insulation and finish system for a building structure having a frame comprising:

• at least one pressure equalizing compartment comprising:
• an inner member attached to the exterior of said frame having oppositely facing inner and outer surfaces, said outer surface substantially uniformly coated with an air/weather barrier;
• a closure member horizontally disposed on a portion of said outer surface of said inner member;
• spaced apart closure members contacting a portion of said outer surface of said inner member and extending vertically along said inner member and in contact with a portion of said horizontally disposed closure members, a space being defined between said vertically spaced closure members and said horizontally disposed closure member;
• a drainage cavity forming means disposed in said space defined by said closure members and substantially contacting said air/weather barrier;
• an outer insulating member having oppositely facing inner and outer surfaces disposed substantially over said drainage cavity forming means within said space defined by said closure members to form a compartment;
• wherein said compartment has an air and moisture vent communicating to the outside environment;
• and
• an exterior finish applied to said outer surface of said outer insulating member.

The pressure equalizing exterior insulation and finish system 15, wherein the exterior finish comprises:

• a reinforcing mesh;
• a base coat;
• and
• a finish coat applied to said base coat.

A pressure equalized building wall comprising:

• a frame having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
• an inner member having oppositely facing inner and outer surfaces and having top and bottom edges, wherein said inner member is attached to the exterior surface of said frame;
• an air/weather barrier having opposite facing inner and outer surfaces, wherein said inner surfaces is in contact with said outer surface of said inner member;
• a closure member horizontally disposed on a portion of said outer surface of said air/weather barrier;
• spaced apart closure members contacting said outer surface of said air/weather barrier and extending vertically along said air/weather barrier and in contact with a portion of said horizontally disposed closure member, a space being defined between said vertically spaced closure members and said horizontally disposed closure member;
• a drainage cavity forming means disposed in said space defined by said closure members and substantially contacting said air/weather barrier;
• and
• an outer insulating member having oppositely facing inner and outer surfaces disposed substantially over said drainage cavity forming means within said space defined by said closure members to form a compartment;
• wherein said compartment has an air and moisture vent communicating to the outside environment.

The pressure equalized building wall 50, wherein the exterior finish comprises:

• a reinforcing mesh;
• a base coat;
• and
• a finish coat applied to said base coat.

A process for installing a pressure equalized building wall comprising:

• attaching an inner member having oppositely facing inner and outer surfaces to the exterior surface of a frame;
• applying an air/weather barrier substantially uniformly over the outer surface of said inner member;
• attaching a closure member on said outer surface of said air/weather barrier in a substantially horizontal direction;
• attaching spaced apart closure members to said outer surface of said air/weather barrier, wherein said spaced apart closure members are extending vertically along said air/weather barrier and in contact with a portion of said horizontally disposed closure member, a space being defined between said vertically spaced closure members and said horizontally disposed closure member;
• disposing a drainage cavity forming means on the outer surface of the air/weather barrier within the spaced defined between said closure members;
• and
• disposing an outer insulating member having an inner surface and an outer surface substantially over the drainage cavity forming means within the space between said closure members.