Building structures containing external vapor permeable foam insulation

Abstract

Attach a thermoplastic polymeric foam to multiple spaced apart structural support members of a structure wherein the foam has a resistance to water vapor permeability (mu) that is less than 50, a thermal conductivity that is less than 40 milliwatts per meter*Kelvin, a compressive strength that is greater than 80 kilopascals, and a density of 48 kilograms per cubic meter or less to provide insulation while also providing water vapor-permeability and structural durability to the structure.

1 . A building structure comprising:
 a. multiple support members spaced apart from one another so that two neighboring support members have a space between them and each support member having opposing inside and outside surfaces; and   b. an extruded thermoplastic polymer foam spanning the space between two neighboring support members and attached to the outside surface of two or more of the support members;   wherein, the thermoplastic polymer foam: (i) has a resistance to water vapor permeability that is less than 50 according to EN 12086; (ii) a thermal conductivity that is less than 40 milliWatts per meter*Kelvin as measured according to EN12667; (iii) a compressive strength greater than 80 kilopascals as measured according to EN 826; and (iv) a density of 48 kilograms per cubic meter or less according to EN 1602.   
     
     
         2 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer foam has a continuous polymer phase comprising an alkenyl aromatic polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the building structure is free of a vapor barrier component having a resistance to water vapor permeability higher than 50 as measured according to EN12086 and that extends across two or more support members spanned by the thermoplastic polymer foam. 
     
     
         4 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer foam has a resistance to water vapor permeability of 10 or more. 
     
     
         5 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer foam is further characterized by having a density of 24-48 kilograms per cubic meter according to ISO 845-95. 
     
     
         6 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer foam is further characterized by having an open cell content of 40% or more and 100% or less according to ASTM D2856. 
     
     
         7 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer foam is further characterized by having a thickness of 50 millimeters or more. 
     
     
         8 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the building structure is one or more structure selected from a group consisting of roof structures and wall structures. 
     
     
         9 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the building structure is a timber frame wall structure. 
     
     
         10 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the building structure is a pitched roof structure. 
     
     
         11 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein adjacent support members define a cavity between them and the building structure further comprises insulation residing in more than one cavity between support members. 
     
     
         12 . A method for insulating a building structure comprising the following steps:
 a. providing multiple support members spaced apart from one another so that two neighboring support members have a space between them and each having opposing inside and outside surfaces;   b. providing an extruded thermoplastic polymer foam that has a resistance to water vapor permeability that is less than 50 as measured according to EN12086, a thermal conductivity that is less than 40 milliWatts per meter*Kelvin as measured according to EN 12667, a compressive strength that is greater than 80 kilopascals as measured according to EN 826, and a density of 48 kilograms per cubic meter or less according to EN 1602; and   c. attaching the thermoplastic polymer foam to two or more of the support members such that the foam spans the space between two neighboring support members.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer foam has a continuous polymer phase comprising an alkenyl aromatic polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer foam has a resistance to water vapor permeability of 10 or more. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer foam is further characterized by having a density of 24-48 kilograms per cubic meter according to EN 1602. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer foam is further characterized by having an open cell content of 40% or more and 100% or less according to ASTM D2856. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer foam is further characterized by having a thickness of 50 millimeters or more. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the building structure is one or more structure selected from a group consisting of roof structures and wall structures. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the building structure is a timber frame wall structure. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the building structure is a pitched roof structure.