Hurricane panel

Abstract

A hurricane panel configured to cover a building opening that is made of a geocomposite having an impermeable core and surrounded by both sides with batting, and anchoring means for attachment to a building.

1 . A method of protecting a building opening, comprising
 a) obtaining a geocomposite membrane shaped to cover a building opening and having at least one edge, said geocomposite membrane having a core of impermeable plastic surrounded on both sides by batting and having a puncture resistance of 250 lbs when measured by ASTM D-4833, wherein said geocomposite comprises anchoring means,   b) attaching said geocomposite membrane to said building via said anchoring means so as to cover said building opening.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said anchoring means comprises grommets placed along the edges of said geocomposite membrane at a first spacing. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising a deflection inhibitor comprising at least one elongated member so placed as to span said building opening and placed underneath said geocomposite membrane. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one elongated member is telescoping so as to fit a range of building opening sizes. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said elongated member is aluminum. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the geocomposite membrane has two layers of 16 oz/square yard nonwoven polyester batting bonded to 50 mils of an EVA geomembrane. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the geocomposite membrane is C ANAL   3  123012™. 
   
   
       8 . A protective building panel, comprising a geocomposite membrane having a core of impermeable plastic surrounded on both sides by batting and having a puncture resistance of 250 lbs when measured by ASTM D-4833, said geocomposite membrane being configured to cover a building opening wherein a plurality of grommets are placed along each edge at a first spacing, said grommets aligned to a fastener affixed to a building said fastener comprising a plurality of attachments for passing through said aligned grommets. 
   
   
       9 . The protective building panel of  claim 8 , wherein the geocomposite membrane is C ANAL   3  123012™. 
   
   
       10 . A kit for protecting a building opening, said kit comprising:
 a protective building panel, comprising a geocomposite membrane having a core of impermeable plastic surrounded on both sides by batting and having a puncture resistance of 250 lbs when measured by ASTM D-4833, said geocomposite membrane being reinforced along each edge and having anchoring means along each edge.   
   
   
       11 . The kit of  claim 10 , further comprising attachment means that can operatively couple said anchoring means and said building. 
   
   
       12 . The kit of  claim 11 , further comprising a deflection limiter that is an elongated member and having anchoring means at each edge. 
   
   
       13 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein the geocomposite membrane has two layers of 16 oz/square yard nonwoven polyester batting bonded to 50 mils of an EVA geomembrane. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the geocomposite membrane is C ANAL   3  123012™. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the geocomposite membrane is C ANAL   3  123012™. 
   
   
       16 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein said deflection limiter is a telescoping elongated member. 
   
   
       17 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein the anchoring means is a plurality of grommets. 
   
   
       18 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the grommets are placed about 6 inches apart. 
   
   
       19 . The kit of  claim 18  further comprising one or more rectangular strips with anchoring means, said rectangular strips configured to as to contribute to the attachment means. 
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 19  wherein said rectangular strip and said deflection limiter comprise aluminum.