Devices and methods to provide air circulation space proximate to insulation material

Abstract

Devices and associated methods are provided for improving ventilation of insulation material and building construction and renovation. Specifically, the present disclosure includes devices and system(s) to achieve the ventilation of exterior walls and roofs. Components of the system(s) consider shut-down of the ventilation process when it is not necessary, such as in winter, and in the event of fire, where the prevention of vertical and horizontal fire spread is desired.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of building a structure, comprising:
 a) erecting a frame from at least one of studs and rafters, and sheathing the frame with sheathing, wherein at least one of the studs, rafters and sheathing is made at least in part from a wood product;   b) installing a spacer device between the portion of the frame and sheathing made at least in part form a wood product to at least partially cover said portion of the frame and sheathing made at least in part form a wood product;   c) spraying foam insulation over the spacer device and said portion of the frame and sheathing made at least in part from a wood product to define a ventilation channel between the spacer device and said portion of the frame and sheathing made at least in part from a wood product to permit trapped moisture of wet lumber to be transported to the atmosphere.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer device is installed in a wall cavity to define an air space between the spacer device and a portion of the structure defining the wall cavity to permit trapped moisture of wet lumber to be transported to the atmosphere. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disposing a wicking pad between a stud face or rafter face and adjacent sheathing to cause moisture to wick away from the stud face, rafter face or adjacent sheathing wet lumber and into the ventilation channel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer device maintains a separation of about one quarter of an inch between the insulation and said portion of the frame and sheathing made at least in part from a wood product. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer device has spacing struts that are spaced apart in a spaced apart pattern on in a plane of the ventilation device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer device includes a solid backing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising fastening the spacer device to wood framing using at least one fastener in a designated attachment area. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer device is made from a sheet of material having lines of weakness to permit the spacer to fold to permit the spacer device to sit squarely in corners of a framing bay prior to being sprayed with insulation. 
     
     
         9 . A method of constructing a building comprising:
 a) constructing a wall structure from a plurality of vertically-oriented studs to form an external wall of the building;   b) applying sheathing to an outer surface of the studs;   c) applying an elongate spacer device to an inner surface of the sheathing in a space defined by adjacent studs, the spacer device having a body that permits moisture to pass therethrough; and   b) disposing insulation material proximate the spacer device, wherein the spacer device defines a vertically-oriented ventilation channel between the building sheathing and the insulation material, wherein the spacer body permits moisture to be passed from the insulation material through the body of the spacer device into the ventilation channel.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the spacer device is defined by an openwork of polymeric fibers. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the spacer device further includes a plurality of struts oriented obliquely with respect to the body, wherein the struts help the vertically-oriented ventilation channel between the building sheathing and the insulation material. 
     
     
         12 . A method of constructing a building structure comprising:
 a) forming a portion of a building structure from a plurality of studs or rafters;   b) applying sheathing to an outer surface of the studs or rafters;   c) applying a spacer layer to an inner surface of at least one of the sheathing, the studs, and the rafters on the inner surface of a framing cavity defined by the sheathing and adjacent studs or rafters, the spacer layer having a body that permits moisture to pass therethrough; and   d) spraying foam insulation over the spacer device, sheathing and the studs or rafters, wherein the spacer layer defines at least one ventilation channel between the spray foam insulation material and the sheathing, studs or rafters to permit moisture to be passed from the sheathing, studs or rafters into the at least one ventilation channel to permit the moisture to be evacuated from the building structure.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the spacer device is defined by an openwork of polymeric fibers. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the spacer device further includes a plurality of struts oriented obliquely with respect to the body, wherein the struts help define the ventilation channel.