Insulated Expansion Joint Vapor Barrier

Abstract

An insulated vapor barrier system for expansion joints is disclosed. The insulated vapor barrier is a tailored technology solution that is designed to provide both thermal and vapor management within structural openings. The system blocks the migration of air and moisture even while the expansion joint moves. The insulated vapor barrier may involve a quantity of insulation encased in a vapor barrier which is attachable to expansion joint components and/or opposing substrates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulated vapor barrier for a building joint comprising:
 a quantity of insulation sized to fill a joint; and   a vapor barrier surrounding a top, bottom, first side and second side of the quantity of insulation.   
     
     
         2 . The insulated vapor barrier of  claim 1  further comprising a first wing on the first side that is extendable away from the insulation. 
     
     
         3 . The insulated vapor barrier of  claim 2  wherein the vapor barrier further comprises a second extending wing on the second side that is extendable away from the insulation. 
     
     
         4 . The insulated vapor barrier of  claim 2  wherein the first extending wing is formed of the same material as the vapor barrier. 
     
     
         5 . The insulated vapor barrier of  claim 1  wherein the insulation is fiberglass. 
     
     
         6 . The insulated vapor barrier of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the vapor barrier material extends past a distal end of the quantity of insulation forming a pocket at the distal end. 
     
     
         7 . The insulated vapor barrier of  claim 1  further comprising an end strap extending from a top of the quantity of insulation to the bottom. 
     
     
         8 . The insulated vapor barrier of  claim 1  further comprising a quantity of splice tape attached to a proximal end of the insulated vapor barrier. 
     
     
         9 . The insulated vapor barrier of  claim 1  further comprising a second quantity of insulation having the vapor barrier surrounding the top, bottom, first side, and second side, the second quantity of insulation attached to the quantity of insulation end to end. 
     
     
         10 . A building expansion joint comprising:
 a first building substrate;   a second building substrate spaced apart from the first building substrate by a gap;   an insulated vapor barrier positioned in the gap, the insulated vapor barrier comprising:
 a quantity of insulation sized to fill a joint; and 
 a vapor barrier surrounding a top, bottom, first side and second side of the quantity of insulation. 
   
     
     
         11 . The building expansion joint of  claim 10  wherein the insulated vapor barrier is attached to the first building substrate at the first side, and attached to the second building substrate at the second side. 
     
     
         12 . The building expansion joint of  claim 11  wherein the insulated vapor barrier further comprises a first wing extending from the first side, the first wing attached to the first building substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The building expansion joint of  claim 12  wherein the insulated vapor barrier further comprises a second wing extending from the second side, the second wing attached to the first building substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The building expansion joint of  claim 13  wherein the first wing and second wing each comprise a strip of adhesive tape or a mounting rail extending along their lengths, the strip of adhesive tape or the mounting rail used to attach the first wing to the first substrate and the second wing to the second substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The building expansion joint of  claim 12  wherein the first wing is folded at least once and attached to the building substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The building expansion joint of  claim 10  wherein the insulation is fiberglass. 
     
     
         17 . The building expansion joint of  claim 10  wherein a portion of the vapor barrier material extends past a distal end of the quantity of insulation forming a pocket at the distal end. 
     
     
         18 . The building expansion joint of  claim 12  wherein the first extending wing is formed of the same material as the vapor barrier. 
     
     
         19 . The building expansion joint of  claim 10  further comprising a cover plate covering the joint. 
     
     
         20 . A method installing a vapor barrier in a seismic expansion joint comprising the steps of:
 attaching a first wing of an insulated vapor barrier to a first substrate of the expansion joint, the insulated vapor barrier comprising a quantity of insulation sized to fit in the expansion joint, and a vapor barrier surrounding a top, bottom, first side and second side of the quantity of insulation, the first wing extending from the first side;   the attaching of the first wing comprising folding the first wing along its length and urging the first side of the insulated vapor against the first substrate;   attaching a second wing of the insulated vapor barrier to a second substrate of the expansion joint, the attaching of the second wing comprising folding the second wing along its length and urging the second side of the insulated vapor against the second substrate.