Prefabricated sealed composite insulating panel and method of utilizing same to insulate a building

An insulated building structure, having at least one story, said structure comprising:

• a load-bearing frame;
• a plurality of prefabricated panels fastened to the load-bearing frame, each panel comprising a rectangular core of insulating material sandwiched between a skin and a board layer;
• the rectangular core of insulating material having first and second opposed lateral sides defining a width dimension therebetween, first and second opposed transverse ends defining a length dimension therebetween, and opposed first and second surfaces defining a thickness dimension therebetween;
• the rectangular board layer having first and second opposed lateral sides defining a width dimension therebetween, first and second opposed transverse ends defining a length dimension therebetween, and opposed first and second surfaces, and the width and length dimensions of the rectangular core of insulating material and the rectangular board being substantially identical to one another;
• a plastic channel secured about and encapsulating a perimeter edge of the rectangular core of insulating material;
• the skin being attached to the second surface of the rectangular core of insulating material;
• and
• the second surface of said rectangular board layer being attached to the first surface of the rectangular core of insulating material such that a portion of the rectangular core of insulating material, on the first lateral side and on the first transverse end, being recessed with respect to the adjacent first lateral side and the adjacent first transverse end of the rectangular board layer and a portion of the rectangular core of insulating material, on the second lateral side and on the second transverse end, protruding with respect to an adjacent second lateral side and an adjacent second transverse end of the rectangular board layer.

A method for insulating the walls of a building structure having at least one story, said method comprising:

• providing a building frame having a plurality of wall stud members, each stud member having an interior and exterior face;
• providing a plurality of prefabricated panels, said panels having a rectangular core of insulating material sandwiched between a board layer and a skin of paper-backed aluminum foil such that the core of insulating material and the skin of paper-backed aluminum are recessed relative to the board layer on a first lateral side and a first transverse end of the panel, and such that the core of insulating material and the skin of paper-backed aluminum protrude relative to the board layer on a second lateral side and a second transverse end of the panel, said core of insulating material having a channel made of polyvinyl chloride secured to and encapsulating a perimeter edge of said core of insulating material;
• fastening the prefabricated panels to the exterior faces of the wall stud members such that the board layer of the panel is directed away from the exterior faces of the wall stud members and such that the skin of paper-backed aluminum foil is directed toward the exterior faces of the wall stud members;
• aligning panels adjacent to one another on each story of the building structure, prior to fastening the panels to the stud members, such that the first lateral side of a first adjacent panel is engaged with the second lateral side of a second adjacent panel, such that the recessed core of insulating material and recessed skin of paper-backed aluminum foil of the first lateral side of the first adjacent panel is overlapped by the protruded core of insulating material and protruded skin of kraft aluminum foil of the second lateral side of the second adjacent panel;
• and
• applying sealing material to the engaged lateral sides of laterally adjacent panels.

An insulated sheet material subassembly for a building structure, comprising:

• a generally rectangular sheet of board material;
• an insulating panel generally conforming in size and shape to said sheet of board material and having a first face attached to a first face of said board material;
• a vapor barrier covering a second face of said insulating panel opposite said first face of said insulating panel;
• a plastic film sealing a peripheral edge of said insulating panel, said peripheral edge transverse to the first and second faces of said insulating panel;
• and
• said sheet of board material and said insulating panel being aligned in an offset relation relative to one another adapted to form an interlocking engagement between said sheet material subassembly and an adjacent like subassembly.