Ember and Fire-Resistant Vent

Abstract

An air intake or exhaust vent for an external roof or wall of a building. The vent is made of an elongate strip of ventilation material providing a plurality of ventilation passageways therethrough permitting air flow therethrough. In addition, an ember-resistant, fireproof material or coating is located on portions of the ventilation material that communicate with ambient atmosphere. Accordingly, wind blown embers are prevented from igniting and passing into and/or through the vent.

1 . An intake or exhaust vent for a building, comprising:
 a strip of ventilation material providing a plurality of ventilation passageways therethrough; and   an ember-resistant, fireproof material or coating located on portions of said ventilation material that communicate with ambient atmosphere.   
     
     
         2 . A vent according to  claim 1 , wherein said fireproof material or coating is at least one of an air permeable layer of a Class A fireproof material, a fiberglass fabric, a fiberglass mat, and a coating of intumescent material. 
     
     
         3 . A vent according to  claim 1 , further comprising an air permeable filter material covering said portions of said ventilation material that communicate with ambient atmosphere. 
     
     
         4 . A vent according to  claim 3 , wherein said filter material is a nylon-polyester non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         5 . A vent according to  claim 3 , wherein said fireproof material or coating is a fireproof coating or a coating of intumescent material applied to said filter material. 
     
     
         6 . A vent according to  claim 1 , wherein said strip of ventilation material is selected from a group consisting of an openwork mat of filaments, a corrugated material, and a molded plastic material. 
     
     
         7 . A vent according to  claim 6 , wherein said ventilation material is an elongate openwork mat of randomly convoluted polymeric filaments, and wherein said fireproof material or coating is a fireproof coating or a coating of intumescent material applied on said randomly convoluted polymeric filaments. 
     
     
         8 . A vent according to  claim 7 , wherein said openwork mat has a plurality of hollow, openwork spacer elements projecting from a face thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A vent according to  claim 7 , wherein said strip of ventilation material is rollable into a spiral roll for efficient storage and shipment. 
     
     
         10 . A vent according to  claim 1 , wherein said vent is a roof ridge vent, said strip of ventilation material has a pair of longitudinally-extending outer peripheral side edge portions that provide paths of ventilation therethrough, and said ember-resistant, fireproof material or coating is located on said side edge portions of said ventilation material. 
     
     
         11 . A vent according to  claim 1 , wherein said vent is a soffit vent, and said fireproof material or coating is located on a face of said ventilation material. 
     
     
         12 . A vent according to  claim 1 , wherein said vent is provided in a bulk roll for being cut to size. 
     
     
         13 . A vent installation comprising:
 a building having an intake or exhaust opening through which ambient air enters the building or through which air in the building is exhausted to ambient atmosphere;   a strip of ventilation material positioned within or adjacent said opening and providing a plurality of ventilation passageways therethrough; and   an ember-resistant, fireproof material or coating on portions of said ventilation material that communicate with ambient atmosphere.   
     
     
         14 . A vent installation according to  claim 13 , wherein said fireproof material or coating is at least one of an air permeable layer of a Class A fireproof material, a fiberglass fabric, a mat of fiberglass, and a coating of intumescent material. 
     
     
         15 . A vent installation according to  claim 13 , further comprising an air permeable filter material covering said portions of said ventilation material that communicate with ambient atmosphere. 
     
     
         16 . A vent installation according to  claim 15 , wherein said filter material is a nylon-polyester non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         17 . A vent installation according to  claim 15 , wherein said strip of ventilation material is selected from a group consisting of an openwork mat of filaments, a corrugated material, and a molded plastic material. 
     
     
         18 . A vent installation according to  claim 17 , wherein said ventilation material is an elongate openwork mat of randomly convoluted polymeric filaments and wherein said fireproof material or coating is a fireproof coating or a coating of intumescent material applied on said randomly convoluted polymeric filaments. 
     
     
         19 . A vent installation according to  claim 18 , wherein said openwork mat has a plurality of hollow, openwork spacer elements projecting from a face thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A vent installation according to  claim 13 , wherein said opening permits air exchange between an area directly below a roof of the building and ambient atmosphere. 
     
     
         21 . A vent installation according to  claim 20 , wherein said opening is an open slot extending on a roof ridge of the building, said vent is a roof ridge vent secured to said roof overlying said ridge and open slot, and cap shingles are secured to said roof overlying said ridge vent, and wherein said ventilation material has a pair of longitudinally-extending side edges that provide paths of ventilation therethrough. 
     
     
         22 . A vent installation according to  claim 21 , wherein said ember-resistant, fireproof material or coating is located on said side edge portions of said ventilation material. 
     
     
         23 . A vent installation according to  claim 20 , wherein said opening is an open slot extending in a soffit structure of the roof of the building, said vent is an elongate soffit vent, and said fireproof material is located on a face of said ventilation material. 
     
     
         24 . A vent installation according to  claim 13 , wherein said fireproof material is laminated to said ventilation material, and said vent is cut to size and installed behind a pre-existing screen or mesh vent. 
     
     
         25 . A method of preventing embers from forest fires and the like from entering a building opening that permits air exchange between an area within the building and ambient atmosphere, comprising a step of installing a vent within or over said opening, said vent including a strip of ventilation material providing a plurality of ventilation passageways therethrough and an ember-resistant, fireproof material or coating on portions of said ventilation material that communicate with ambient atmosphere.