# US 8,769,894 B2 · Insulation and ventilation systems for building structures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,769,894 B2 - Document ID: US8769894B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/471,106 - Filed: 2012-05-14 - Published: 2013-05-23 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-12 - Assignees: Powerhouse Building Solutions (2009) Inc. - Applicants: Ross Patrick Power; Scott Emo - Inventors: Ross Patrick Power; Scott Emo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8769894B2 ## CPC - E04B 1/7076: {Air vents for walls} - E04B 1/70: Drying or keeping dry, e.g. by air vents ({using damp-proof courses E04B1/644; using sealings, e.g. sealing masses or foils, E04B1/66}; during erection E04G21/28) - E04B 2/707: {obturation by means of panels} - E04F 13/0869: {having conduits for fluids} - E04B 2001/386: {Nailable or screwable inserts for foam panels} - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) ## Abstract One aspect of the invention relates to an insulation and ventilation system for a building envelope (e.g. a building wall and/or a building roof). The system includes: one or more interior building envelope layers; an insulation panel having an interior side abutting against at least one of the one or more interior building envelope layers and an exterior side having a plurality of transversely spaced and continuously longitudinally extending grooves interspaced between a plurality of transversely spaced and continuously longitudinally extending protrusions; and one or more exterior building envelope layers located exterior to the insulation panel to provide a plurality of transversely localized venting channels defined at least in part by an interior surface of the one or more exterior building envelope layers and the grooves of the exterior side of the insulation panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An insulation and ventilation system for a building envelope, the system comprising: one or more interior building envelope layers; an insulation panel having an interior side abutting against at least one of the one or more interior building envelope layers and an exterior side having a plurality of transversely spaced and continuously longitudinally extending grooves interspaced between a plurality of transversely spaced and continuously longitudinally extending protrusions, the continual longitudinal extension of the grooves and protrusions orthogonal to the transverse spacing of the grooves and protrusions; and one or more exterior building envelope layers located exterior to the insulation panel to provide a plurality of transversely localized venting channels defined at least in part by an interior surface of the one or more exterior building envelope layers and the grooves of the exterior side of the insulation panel; and a plurality of transversely spaced apart and longitudinally extending insert members, each insert member inserted into a corresponding one of the grooves. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more exterior building envelope layers is mounted to at least one of the one or more interior building envelope layers by fasteners which project through the at least one of the one or more exterior building envelope layers and through the insulation panel and into the at least one of the one or more interior building envelope layers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein a cross-sectional perimeter of one or more of the transversely localized venting channels is completely defined by the interior surface of the one or more exterior building envelope layers and the grooves of the exterior side of the insulation panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein the interior surface of the one or more exterior building envelope layers abuts against exterior surfaces of the insert members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 4 wherein the interior surface of the one or more exterior building envelope layers is spaced apart from the exterior side of the insulation panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 4 wherein the insert members have depths that are greater than a depth of their corresponding grooves such that the exterior surfaces of the insert members are located outwardly beyond an outward extension of the protrusions and wherein one or more of the transversely localized venting channels are defined at least in part by the insert members. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein each insert member has a transverse dimension larger than a transverse dimension of its corresponding groove for providing a resilient deformation fit of the insert member into its corresponding groove. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more exterior building envelope layers is mounted to the one or more interior building envelope layers by fasteners which project through the at least one of the one or more exterior building envelope layers, through the insert members and into the one or more interior building envelope layers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein the insert members are additionally mounted in their corresponding grooves by a first plurality of fasteners which project through the insert members and into the one or more interior building envelope layers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 9 wherein at least one of the one or more exterior building envelope layers is mounted to the insert members by a second plurality of fasteners which project through the at least one of the one or more exterior building envelope layers and into the insert members. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein the one or more interior building envelope layers comprise a plurality of studs, and wherein the corresponding one of the grooves in which the insert member is inserted is aligned with a corresponding one of the studs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein the transversely localized venting channels are defined at least in part by the grooves which are free of the insert members. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein the insulation panel is made of polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, mycelium, flax fiber, straw, cellulose, fiber glass, fiber cement, mineral wool or a combination thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein the system comprises a plurality of longitudinally adjacent insulation panels aligned with each other such that the continuously longitudinally extending grooves extend across the longitudinally adjacent insulation panels. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of grooves are evenly transversely spaced from one another. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein a ratio of a sum of transverse widths of the longitudinally extending grooves of the insulation panel to a sum of transverse widths of the longitudinally extending protrusions of the insulation panel is greater than or equal to 3:1. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein in at least a portion of the insulation panel, a ratio of a transverse width of one of the longitudinally extending grooves to a transverse width of an adjacent one of the longitudinally extending protrusions is greater than or equal to 3:1. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein the grooves have a generally rectangular-shaped cross-section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein the grooves have beveled sidewalls to provide a trapezoidal-shaped cross-section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein the grooves are transversely wider at their exterior edges and transversely narrower at their base surfaces. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein the grooves are transversely narrower at their exterior edges and transversely wider at their base surfaces. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein a cross-section of the grooves has one or more of a stepped base profile; and a flanged sidewall profile. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein the interior side of the insulation panel comprises an adhesive in the shape of spaced apart vertical columns for mounting the insulation panel to the at least one of the one or more interior building envelope layers. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein a transverse width of at least one of the grooves varies along its longitudinal length. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein the interior side of the insulation panel comprises a non-planar surface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 25 wherein the interior side of the insulation panel comprises a plurality of protrusions interspaced between a plurality of grooves. ### Claim 27 An insulation and ventilation system for a building envelope, the system comprising: one or more interior building envelope layers; an insulation panel having an interior side abutting against at least one of the one or more interior building envelope layers and an exterior side having a plurality of transversely spaced and continuously longitudinally extending grooves interspaced between a plurality of transversely spaced and continuously longitudinally extending protrusions, the continual longitudinal extension of the grooves and protrusions orthogonal to the transverse spacing of the grooves and protrusions; and one or more exterior building envelope layers located exterior to the insulation panel to provide a plurality of transversely localized venting channels defined at least in part by an interior surface of the one or more exterior building envelope layers and the grooves of the exterior side of the insulation panel; wherein the one or more interior building envelope layers comprise a plurality of studs and wherein an insert member is inserted in at least one of the grooves which is aligned with the studs. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 27 wherein a cross-sectional perimeter of one or more of the transversely localized venting channels is completely defined by the interior surface of the one or more exterior building envelope layers and the grooves of the exterior side of the insulation panel. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 27 wherein a ratio of a sum of transverse widths of the longitudinally extending grooves of the insulation panel to a sum of transverse widths of the longitudinally extending protrusions of the insulation panel is greater than or equal to 3:1. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 27 wherein the insert member has a transverse dimension larger than a transverse dimension of the at least one of the grooves for providing a resilient deformation fit of the insert member into the at least one of the grooves. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) An insulation and ventilation system according to claim 27 wherein the system comprises a plurality of longitudinally adjacent insulation panels aligned with each other such that the continuously longitudinally extending grooves extend across the longitudinally adjacent insulation panels. ### Claim 32 A kit for assembling an insulation and ventilation system for a building envelope having one or more interior building envelope layers and one or more exterior building envelope layers, the kit comprising: an insulation panel having an interior side shaped for abutting against at least one of the one or more interior building envelope layers and an exterior side having a plurality of transversely spaced and continuously longitudinally extending grooves interspaced between a plurality of transversely spaced and continuously longitudinally extending protrusions, the continual longitudinal extension of the grooves and protrusions orthogonal to the transverse spacing of the grooves and protrusions and the panel shaped for fitting on an interior of the one or more exterior building envelope layers to provide a plurality of transversely localized venting channels defined at least in part by an interior surface of the one or more exterior building envelope layers and the grooves of the exterior side of the insulation panel; and a plurality of transversely spaced apart and longitudinally extending insert members, each insert member inserted into a corresponding one of the grooves. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) A kit according to claim 32 wherein a ratio of a sum of transverse widths of the longitudinally extending grooves of the insulation panel to a sum of transverse widths of the longitudinally extending protrusions of the insulation panel is greater than or equal to 3:1. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) A kit according to claim 32 wherein a cross-sectional perimeter of one or more of the transversely localized venting channels is completely defined by the interior surface of the one or more exterior building envelope layers and the grooves of the exterior side of the insulation panel. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) A kit according to claim 32 wherein each insert member has a transverse dimension larger than a transverse dimension of its corresponding groove for providing a resilient deformation fit of the insert member into its corresponding groove. ### Claim 36 A method for providing insulation and ventilation in a building envelope, the method comprising: providing an insulation panel having an interior side and an exterior side having a plurality of transversely spaced and continuously longitudinally extending grooves interspaced between a plurality of transversely spaced and continuously longitudinally extending protrusions, the continual longitudinal extension of the grooves and protrusions orthogonal to the transverse spacing of the grooves and protrusions; abutting the interior side of the insulation panel against an exterior surface of one or more internal building envelope layers; and mounting one or more exterior building envelope layers at locations outward of the insulation panel to thereby provide a plurality of transversely localized venting channels defined at least in part by an interior surface of the one or more exterior building envelope layers and the grooves of the exterior side of the insulation panel; and inserting each of a plurality of transversely spaced apart and longitudinally extending insert members into a corresponding one of the grooves. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) A method according to claim 36 wherein a ratio of a sum of transverse widths of the longitudinally extending grooves of the insulation panel to a sum of transverse widths of the longitudinally extending protrusions of the insulation panel is greater than or equal to 3:1. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) A method according to claim 36 wherein a cross-sectional perimeter of one or more of the transversely localized venting channels is completely defined by the interior surface of the one or more exterior building envelope layers and the grooves of the exterior side of the insulation panel. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) A method according to claim 36 wherein each insert member has a transverse dimension larger than a transverse dimension of its corresponding groove, such that inserting each insert member into its corresponding groove comprises forming a resilient deformation fit of the insert member into its corresponding groove.