Systems, methods and devices for building envelope system

Abstract

A building envelope system includes several elements that aid in reducing heat transfer. Panels combining insulation and radiant barrier materials, a weather-resistant textile (e.g., canvas) cover, tube insulation, a vestibule and strip curtains can all contribute to reducing heat transfer and, correspondingly, reducing energy requirements for heating and/or cooling. The panel can include a tongue and groove or similar (e.g., dovetail) coupling allowing two panels to mate. The panel can include a top insulation layer, top air gap layer(s), radiant barrier layer(s), bottom air gap layer(s), phase change insulation layer(s) and a bottom insulation layer. By including an air gap on both sides of the radiant barrier, the radiant barrier is effective at reducing heat transfer in and out of the shelter.

1 . A building envelope system comprising:
 a set of panels configured to surround a temporary building, the panels comprising:
 a set of layers, the layers comprising:
 a top insulation panel; 
 a bottom insulation panel; 
 a radiant barrier configured to reduce heat transfer through radiation; 
 a top supporting structure substantially a same size as the top insulation panel and coupled to the top insulation panel and the radiant barrier, the top supporting structure configured to provide a first air gap in conjunction with the radiant barrier and the top insulation panel, the top supporting structure comprising a supporting member having a thickness that causes a separation between the top insulation panel and the radiant barrier resulting in the first air gap; and 
 a bottom supporting structure substantially the same size as the top insulation panel and coupled to the bottom insulation panel and the radiant barrier, the bottom supporting structure configured to provide a second air gap in conjunction with the radiant barrier and the bottom insulation panel layer; and 
 
 an inter-panel coupling at an edge of the panel configured to couple with another panel; 
   a compressible layer of insulation configured to be installed below the panels and in a gap between the temporary building and a ground surface; and   a cover configured to surround the set of panels and shaped to conform to a shape of the building with the panels installed.   
     
     
         2 . The building envelope system of  claim 1 , wherein the inter-panel coupling is a tongue and groove coupling or dovetail coupling. 
     
     
         3 . The building envelope system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of panels further comprises removable panels to cover windows and doors of the temporary building. 
     
     
         4 . The building envelope system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of panels are configured to be placed around the temporary building without attaching to the temporary building. 
     
     
         5 . The building envelope system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible layer of insulation is formed into a tube shape. 
     
     
         6 . The building envelope system of  claim 1 , further comprising a vestibule configured to attach to a subset of the panels and surround a door of the temporary building. 
     
     
         7 . The building envelope system of  claim 1 , further comprising a set of strip curtains configured to attach to a doorframe of the temporary building and reduce airflow between an inside of the temporary building and an outside of the temporary building. 
     
     
         8 . The building envelope system of  claim 1 , wherein the first air gap is enclosed. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The building envelope system of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of phase change insulation attached to the top insulation panel or bottom insulation panel. 
     
     
         11 . The building envelope system of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is formed from a weather-resistant textile material. 
     
     
         12 . The building envelope system of  claim 11 , wherein the weather-resistant textile material is a canvas material. 
     
     
         13 . A panel of a building envelope system comprising:
 a top insulation panel;   a bottom insulation panel;   a top supporting structure attached to the top insulation panel and configured to form a first air gap with the top insulation panel;   a bottom supporting structure attached to the bottom insulation panel and configured to form a second air gap with the bottom insulation panel;   a radiant barrier attached to the top supporting structure and configured to form the first air gap between the radiant barrier and the top insulation panel using the top supporting structure and form the second air gap between the radiant barrier and the bottom supporting structure and the bottom insulation panel using the bottom supporting structure; and   an inter-panel coupling at an edge of the panel configured to couple with another panel.   
     
     
         14 . The panel of  claim 13 , wherein the inter-panel coupling is a tongue and groove coupling or a dovetail coupling. 
     
     
         15 . The panel of  claim 13 , wherein the bottom supporting structure further comprises a perimeter supporting member and middle strip supporting member having a thickness that causes a separation between the radiant barrier and the bottom insulation layer creating the second air gap. 
     
     
         16 . The panel of  claim 15 , wherein the supporting member is constructed of a same material as the top insulation layer. 
     
     
         17 . The panel of  claim 13 , further comprising a layer of phase change insulation attached to the top insulation layer. 
     
     
         18 . The panel of  claim 13 , further comprising a layer of phase change insulation attached to the bottom insulation layer. 
     
     
         19 . A method of installing a building envelope system on a temporary building, the method comprising:
 storing a set of panels for the building envelope system within the temporary building during transit, the panels comprising:
 a top insulation layer; 
 a bottom insulation layer; 
 a top supporting structure attached to the top insulation layer and configured to provide a first air gap with the top insulation layer; 
 a bottom supporting structure attached to the bottom insulation layer and configured to provide a second air gap with the bottom insulation layer; 
 a radiant barrier attached to the top supporting structure and configured to form the first air gap between the radiant barrier and the top insulation layer using the top supporting structure and form the second air gap between the radiant barrier and the bottom insulation layer using the bottom supporting structure; and 
 an inter-panel coupling at an edge of the panel configured to couple with another panel; 
   coupling, using the inter-panel coupling of the set of panels, the set of panels together along an outside surface of the temporary building to form an installed set of panels; and   covering the installed set of panels with a pre-formed cover to conform to the dimensions of the installed set of panels.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein coupling, using the inter-panel coupling of the set of panels, the set of panels together along the outside surface of the temporary building further comprises installing the set of panels without permanently attaching the panels to the outside of the building. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising placing a compressible layer of insulation below the panels and in a gap between the building and a ground surface. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising attaching a vestibule around a door of the temporary building. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising attaching a set of strip curtains to cover an entry into the temporary building. 
     
     
         24 . The building envelope system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of layers further comprises an additional radiant barrier and additional supporting structure between the bottom supporting structure and the bottom insulation panel to form a structure.