GB2180055A

GB2180055A - Ventilator for use in a roof structure

Info

Publication number: GB2180055A
Application number: GB08621604A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Bottomore; Colin Frederick Gibson
Original assignee: Glidevale Building and Products Ltd
Current assignee: Glidevale Building and Products Ltd
Priority date: 1985-09-06
Filing date: 1986-09-08
Publication date: 1987-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 2006-09-08
Also published as: GB2180055B; GB8621604D0

Abstract

The ventilator (32) comprises a ventilation member (34) having apertures (36) to permit the passage of air therethrough. The ventilation member (34) is adapted to be deformed to provide a portion (38) which can be brought into engagement with and secured to a part (20) of a roof structure. The ventilator is used in place of a conventional soffit board. Apertures 44 near the deformed portion receive projections 42 on an adjacent ventilator to secure the ventilators together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ventilator for use in a roof structure and method of ventilating a roof structure This invention relates to a ventilator for use in a roof structure, and to a method of ventilating a roof structure.

According to one aspect ofthe invention there is provided a ventilatorfor use in a roof structure comprising a ventilation member having at least one apertureto permit air to pass therethrough, said ven- tilation member being adapted to be deformed to provide a deformed portion in such a mannerthatthe deformed portion can be brought into engagement with and secured to a part of a roofstructure.

Advantageously the ventilation membercom- prises a sheet, and the deformed portion is an integral extension of the sheet.

The deformed portion may be deformed when the ventilator is being installed in the roofstructure.

However, it is preferred that the deformed portion is deformed during or immediately afterthe manufacture ofthe ventilator. The ventilator may then be transported in the deformed condition.

Advantageously the ventilation member comprises a substantially planar member.

The deformed portion can be deformed so that it extends from the ventilation member at any desired angle thereto. It is preferred thattheventilatorre- places a conventional soffite board in a roof structure, and that it is secured to a roof rafter; in this instance, the deformed portion can be deformed to an angle of substantially 90 with respect to the remainder ofthe ventilation member. In this case the ven tilatorcomprises a ventilated soffite board.

It is preferably that the ventilator is made of a material which does not return to its original shape after deformation, so that it retains its shape after deform- ation. For example, the ventilator may comprise a metallic or plastics material. Desirably the ventilator comprises a cement-based material sold underthe trade name NIMS by ICI plc.

The or each aperture may comprises an elongate slot and preferably a plurality of said apertures are provided.

The apertures can be dimensioned to prevent the ingress of vermin and large insects.

The apertures can be juxtaposed in at least one row.

The apertures may serve the dual function of permitting air to pass through and facilitating the passage of screws therethrough to secure the deformed portion to the roof structure.

The ventilator may be provided with at least one formation adapted to cooperate with an aperture on an adjacent ventilator in order to secure the ventila tortothe adjacent ventilator.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of ventilating a roofstructure comprising arranging a ventilation member having at least one aperture through which aircan flow in the roof structure, deforming a portion oftheventila- tion membertowards part of the roof structure so that it engages said part ofthe roof structure, and securing said portion to the roof structure.

The method is particularly suitable for use with ventilators ofthetype described above.

The ventilation membercan be used in placeofa conventional soffite board, and the deformed portion of the ventilation member may be secured to a side of a roof rafter; in this instance the deformed poriton is bent through an angle of about 90".

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided aventilatorforuse in a roofstructure comprising a ventilation member having at least one aperture to permit airto pass therethrough, and securing means extending from the ventilation member to permit the ventilator to be secured to a part of the roof structure.

Advantageously the ventilation member and the securing means are integral.

Preferably the ventilation member and the securing meansareofsubstantiallyplanarconfiguration.

The ventilation member may extend at an angleto, preferably substantially transverse to the securing means.

The securing means may be provided with one or moreaperturesthroughwhich nails orscrews may be passed to facilitate securing the ventilatorto a roof structure. The securing means may comprise the deformed portion described above.

Preferably at least one formation is provided on the ventilation memberwhich is adapted to cooperate with an aperture of an adjacent ventilator in orderto securetheventilatorto the adjacent ventilator.

Desirably the position of the or each formation relative to the or each cooperating aperture is adjustable.

Theoreach aperture preferablycomprisesan el- ongate slot. It is preferred that a plurality of said aperturves are provided in the ventilation member.

The ventilator and method of the present invention provide more efficient ventilation than has previously been possible. The ventilator can be installed much more cheaply and easilythan has hitherto been possible.Furthermore, the ventilator can be stored as a substantially flat sheet which reduces storage and transportation expenses.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a ventilator according to the invention disposed in a roof structure; Figure2 is a cross sectional view oftheventilator and roof structure shown in Figure 1; Figure 3a is a perspective view of a ventilator accord- ing to the invention before deformation thereof.

Figure 3b is a perspective view of a ventilator according to the invention after deformation thereof; Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of part of two ventilators according to the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the part of the ventilators shown in Figure 4; and Figures 6and 7are a front elevation of a roof structure showing successive stages in securing ventilators according to the invention to the roof structure.

In Figure 1 a roof structure is disposed above an innerwall 10 and outer wall 12 which define a wall cavity 14therebetween. Insulation material 16 ex tends over a floor 18 ofthe roof structure and partially into the cavity 14.

The roof structure includes roof rafters 20 and a fascia board 22 extending substantiallytransverse thereto. An external gutter 24 is secured to the outer face ofthe fascia board 22, and sarking felt 26 overlies the rafters 20; rooftiles 28 overlie the soaking felt 26. A roof space ventilator as described in our UK Patent No 2,089,968B is disposed between the sarking felt 26 and the insulation material 16.

Aventilator according to the invention in designated 32 and is located at the eaves ofthe roofstructure.

The ventilator 32 replaces a conventional soffite board.

The ventilator 32 comprises a ventilaiton member 34 having a plurality of apertures 36 therein to permit the passage of air from the external environmentto within the roof structure.

A portion 38 of the ventilation member 34 is deformed with respectto the rest of the ventilation member34through an angle of about90". This enables the deformed portion 38 to be secured to a side 20a of one of the rafters 20 by means of nails 40. The nails 40 pass th rough the apertures 36. Thus, the deformed portion 38 provides a securing means by which the ventilator 32 can be secured to the roof structure.

Figure 3a shows a plan view of one of said ventilators 32 before it has been deformed. Figure 3b is a perspective view ofthe ventilator 32 after deformation and on an enlarged scale.

It can be seen from Figure 3b that one end of the ventilation member 34 is provided with a plurality of formations 42. Furthermore the region of the deformed portion 38 adjacentto the rest of theventila- tion member34is provided with a plurality of apertures 44. The formations 42 and apertures 44 are provided to enable adjacentventilators 32to be secured to one another.This is shown in greater detail in Figures4and 5.Theformations42 extendthrough,and cooperate with, the apertures 44 in orderto secure two adjacentventilators 32 together.

Theamountbywhichtheformations42extend through the apertures is adjustable in order to allow for building tolerances in the spacing of the rafters 20.

A method of ventilating the roof structure is shown in Figures6 and7 in which the ends of a plurality of roof rafters 20 are shown, together with an end ofthe barge board 46. The barge board 46 extends along a gable of the building. A batten 48 is secured to the barge board 46.

The ventilation member 34 is cutto the correct size and is deformed to bring the deformed portion 38 substantial lytransverse to the rest ofthe ventilation member. The ventilation member 34 is then nailed to the batten 48 with nails 40, and the deformed portion 38 is nailed to the side 20a of the rafter 20 with nails 40.

Another ventilation member 32 is then cutto size andthe portion 38 is deformed. Theformations 42 are pushed through the apertures 44 ofthe ventilator 32 which has already been secured to the roof structure. The deformed portion 38 is secured to the side 20a ofthe rafter 20 by means of nails 40.

This procedure is repeated until the entire roof structure has been provided with ventilation.

Instead of cutting the ventilators 32 to the required size, the ventilators may be provided in a number of standard sizes to suit particular rafter centres.

The deformed portion 38 may be deformed before the ventilator32 is installed in the roof structure. This has the advantage that it avoids the necessity to perform the deformation during the installation.

The size and spacings of the apertures can be varied to suit the necessary requirements. These can be chosen to meet the requirements of the Building Regulations in any particular country.

Typically the apertures 36 comprise elongate slots 50mm wide and spaced 1 Om m apa rt.

Preferably either 3,4 or 6 rows of apertures 36 are provided, in which case the width ofthe apertures is either4mm,3mm or2mm respectively.

When in position in the roofstructure the def- ormed portion 38 has an edge 38a which defines an angleA relativeto the horizontal. This angle should be chosen as the optimum for varying rafter pitches which mayrangefrom,forexampie,15 to45 .

As shown in Figure 3b the cross section of the ven- tilator32 is corrugated in order to increase its strength.

Claims

1. A ventilator for use in a roof structure comprising a ventilation member having at least one aperture to permitthe passage of airtherethrough, said ventilation member being adapted to be deformed to provide a deformed portion in such a mannerthatthe deformed portion can be brought into engagement with and secured to a part of a roof structure.

2. A ventilator according to Claim 1, in which the ventilation membercomprisesa sheet, and the deformed portion is an integral extension ofthe sheet.

3. Aventilatoraccordingto Claim 2, in which the sheet is substantially planar.

4. Aventilatoraccording to Claim 1,2 or 3, in which the deformed portion is substantially planar.

5. Aventilatoraccordingto any preceding claim, in which the ventilation member is madeofamat- erial which retains its deformed shape after deformation.

6. Aventilator according to any preceding claim in which each aperture comprises an elongate slot.

7. A ventilator according to any preceding claim in which the apertures are juxtaposed in at least one row.

8. A ventilator according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least one formation adapted to cooperate with an aperture on an adjacent ventilator in order to secure the ventilatorto the adjacentventilator.

9. A ventilator according to any preceding claim in whichtheapertures servethe dual function of permitting airto pass therethrough and facilitating the passage of screws therethrough to secure the deformed portiontothe roofstructure.

10. A ventilatorfor a roof structure substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A method ofventilating a roof structurecomprising arranging a ventilation member having at least one aperture through which air can flow in the roof structure, deforming a portion of the ventilation member towards part of the roof structure so that it engages said part ofthe roof structure, and securing said portion to the roofstructure.

12. A method of ventilating a roofstructure sub- stantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.