GB2096667A

GB2096667A - Ventilating fascia boards

Info

Publication number: GB2096667A
Application number: GB8210342A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Glidevale Building and Products Ltd
Current assignee: Glidevale Building and Products Ltd
Priority date: 1981-04-09
Filing date: 1982-04-07
Publication date: 1982-10-20
Also published as: GB2096667B

Abstract

A ventilating fascia board (1) located behind an external gutter (10) has a slot (2) and hole (3) arrangement to permit atmospheric air to ventilate a roof space (6). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ventilating fascia boards The present invention relates to ventilating fascia boards.

The positioning of fascia boards in relation to the surrounding masonry varies greatly for reasons of aesthetics, cost implications or even tradition.

For example, a continuing awareness, within the building industry, of the energy crisis has led to particular arrangements which avoid shadowing, caused by traditional protruding eaves, of southerly oriented windows designed to take maximum advantage of passive solar gain. Such arrangements are particularly common in recent low energy developments.

Normal good building practice provides the facility of ventilation to a roof space via a soffite board and a fascia board, effected by natural air flow over the roof structure. Omitting the soffite board, as is sometimes desirable, precludes such a facility and in these instances ventilation to the roof space is provided by other means. Such means are often unsatisfactory and usually unsightly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a ventilating fascia board which allows satisfactory ventilation of the roof space.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a ventilating fascia board for location behind an external gutter in a roof structure comprising a board having apertures therein to permit air to pass in and out of a roof space defined by the roof structure, each aperture comprising a hole extending from an outer face to an inner face of the board, said hole communicating with a wedge shaped slot in the outer face of the board, the angle of the base of said slot being from 50 to 1 50 relative to the face of the board.

Preferably the angle of the base of the slot is between 70 and 130 relative to the face of the board. More preferably the angle of the base of the slot is at about 100 relative to the face of the board.

Advantageously, the holes are located at a position above the longitudinal axis of the board.

The slot is preferably located between the holes and the longitudinal axis.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cut-away section of an embodiment of the ventilating fascia board of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a detail section through a typical roof construction utilising an embodiment of the ventilating fascia board of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a section of a ventilating facia board, generally designated 1.

The board has a wedge shaped slot 2 on its outer face, which communicates with a hole 3, creating an aperture through which air may flow. It is preferred that the apertures are so sized and spaced that they provide 0.01 m2 ventilation area per metre of fascia board. The fascia boards may be constructed from a number of materials such as timbers or a plastics material, provided that they are of suitable strength and weathering properties.

Referring now to Figure 2, the ventilating fascia board 1 is shown in position, fixed to the brickwork 4. Reference numeral 5 indicates a window frame. A roof space 6 is surrounded by a roof 7 and a floor 8. The floor is shown lined with an insulating material 9. Fixed to the fascia board is an external gutter 10. The arrow shows the direction of airflow through the fascia board and into the roof space. The gutter protects the hole 3, in the fascia board, while the slot 2, maintains the required gap at the back of the gutter.

The invention finds many applications within the building industry. It may be applied to new housing of traditional construction, particularly those designed with low energy considerations. It is also useful for housing with flat roofs where the air flow to the space between the joists may be limited. A further use is as replacement work to the roofs of houses with problems of roof space condensation brought about by restricted ventilation of the roof space.

1. A ventilating fascia board for location behind an external gutter in a roof structure comprising a board having apertures therein to permit air to pass into and out of a roof space defined by the roof structure, each aperture comprising a hole extending from an outer face to an inner face of the board, said hole communicating with a wedge shaped slot in the outer face of the board, the angle of the base of said slot being from 5 to 1 50 relative to the face of the board.

2. A ventilating fascia board according to Claim 1, in which the angle of the base of the slot is between 70 and 130 relative to the face of the board.

3. A ventilating fascia board according to Claim 1 in which the angle of the base of the slot is about 100 relative to the face of the board.

4. A ventilating fascia board according to Claims 1 to 3 in which the apertures are located at a position above the longitudinal axis of the board.

5. A ventilating fascia board according to Claim 4 in which the slot is located between the hole and the longitudinal axis of the board.

6. A ventilating fascia board according to

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Ventilating fascia boards The present invention relates to ventilating fascia boards. The positioning of fascia boards in relation to the surrounding masonry varies greatly for reasons of aesthetics, cost implications or even tradition. For example, a continuing awareness, within the building industry, of the energy crisis has led to particular arrangements which avoid shadowing, caused by traditional protruding eaves, of southerly oriented windows designed to take maximum advantage of passive solar gain. Such arrangements are particularly common in recent low energy developments. Normal good building practice provides the facility of ventilation to a roof space via a soffite board and a fascia board, effected by natural air flow over the roof structure. Omitting the soffite board, as is sometimes desirable, precludes such a facility and in these instances ventilation to the roof space is provided by other means. Such means are often unsatisfactory and usually unsightly. It is an object of the present invention to provide a ventilating fascia board which allows satisfactory ventilation of the roof space. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a ventilating fascia board for location behind an external gutter in a roof structure comprising a board having apertures therein to permit air to pass in and out of a roof space defined by the roof structure, each aperture comprising a hole extending from an outer face to an inner face of the board, said hole communicating with a wedge shaped slot in the outer face of the board, the angle of the base of said slot being from 50 to 1 50 relative to the face of the board. Preferably the angle of the base of the slot is between 70 and 130 relative to the face of the board. More preferably the angle of the base of the slot is at about 100 relative to the face of the board. Advantageously, the holes are located at a position above the longitudinal axis of the board. The slot is preferably located between the holes and the longitudinal axis. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cut-away section of an embodiment of the ventilating fascia board of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a detail section through a typical roof construction utilising an embodiment of the ventilating fascia board of the present invention. Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a section of a ventilating facia board, generally designated 1. The board has a wedge shaped slot 2 on its outer face, which communicates with a hole 3, creating an aperture through which air may flow. It is preferred that the apertures are so sized and spaced that they provide 0.01 m2 ventilation area per metre of fascia board. The fascia boards may be constructed from a number of materials such as timbers or a plastics material, provided that they are of suitable strength and weathering properties. Referring now to Figure 2, the ventilating fascia board 1 is shown in position, fixed to the brickwork 4. Reference numeral 5 indicates a window frame. A roof space 6 is surrounded by a roof 7 and a floor 8. The floor is shown lined with an insulating material 9. Fixed to the fascia board is an external gutter 10. The arrow shows the direction of airflow through the fascia board and into the roof space. The gutter protects the hole 3, in the fascia board, while the slot 2, maintains the required gap at the back of the gutter. The invention finds many applications within the building industry. It may be applied to new housing of traditional construction, particularly those designed with low energy considerations. It is also useful for housing with flat roofs where the air flow to the space between the joists may be limited. A further use is as replacement work to the roofs of houses with problems of roof space condensation brought about by restricted ventilation of the roof space. CLAIMS

6. A ventilating fascia board according to Claims 1 to 5 in which the apertures are so sized and spaced that they provide 0.01 m2 ventilation area per metre of fascia board.

7. A ventilating fascia board according to any of Claims 1 to 6 constructed from timber.

8. A ventilating fascia board according to any of Claims 1 to 6 constructed from a plastics material.

9. A ventilating fascia board substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.