GB2289702A

GB2289702A - Ridge unit for ventilation

Info

Publication number: GB2289702A
Application number: GB9410717A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martyn George Rich; Richard Frederick George Cook; Andrew Brown
Original assignee: Eternit UK Ltd
Current assignee: Eternit UK Ltd
Priority date: 1994-05-27
Filing date: 1994-05-27
Publication date: 1995-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2014-05-27
Also published as: GB9410717D0; GB2289702B

Abstract

A ridge unit comprises a ridge piece (1) and two strips (2, 2') of three-dimensional mesh material which, in use, raise the ridge piece above the roof tiles at either side of the ridge, the mesh material allowing a substantial flow of air therethrough. The mesh material (2, 2') has an outer layer on one or both of its sides, for example of fiber glass sheeting. The sheeting has a self-adhesive layer so that it can easily be fitted to the inner side of the ridge piece. <IMAGE>

Description

Ridge Unit The present invention relates to a ridge unit for pitched roofs.

It is necessary to provide ventilation to the roof space of houses and other buildings. In addition to the ventilation which is conventionally provided at the eaves, it is often necessary to have ventilation at the ridge of the roof space, in particular if the roof void is to be used as a living space.

It is known to provide ventilation at the ridge of a pitched roof by means of specially shaped UPVC batten sections which are fixed to the battens at either side of the ridge and which raise the ridge tile above the line of the roof tiles. Air flow from the roof space is thus provided into the interior of the ridge tile and then through apertures in the batten sections. It is also known to provide specially designed ridge vents at particular points along the ridge of a roof. The ridge vents are fitted alongside standard ridge tiles by means of mortar bedding or dry fixing.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simpler means for providing ventilation at the ridge, in particular to provide a ridge unit which can be fitted quickly relative to the conventional systems.

Accordingly, the invention provides a ridge unit comprising a ridge piece and at least one strip of threedimensional mesh material which, in use, raises the ridge piece above the roof tiles on at least one side of the ridge, the mesh material allowing a substantial flow of air therethrough.

A strip of mesh material is preferably provided on both inner sides of the ridge piece so that it is raised above the roof tiles on both sides of the ridge. The strip of mesh material is preferably fixed to the inside of the ridge piece, for example by a suitable adhesive. The mesh material may have an outer ayer on one or both of its sides, for example of fiber glass sheeting. The sheeting may have a self-adhesive layer, so that it can easily be fitted to the inner side of the ridge piece.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below, by example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Fig. 1 is a cross section through the ridge of a roof, including a ridge unit according to the invention.

As shown in the drawing, at the ridge of a pitched roof there is provided a ridge unit consisting of a ridge piece 1 and two strips of three-dimensional mesh material 2, 2'. The ridge piece is shown as a modern, angled piece, though it could equally well be of a different design.

The mesh layers, here on either side of the roof, ensure that the ridge piece is raised above the line of the tiles 3, to provide for a good ventilation flow at the ridge.

The mesh layer 2,2' can be fixed to the inside of the ridge piece 1, before the ridge piece is fitted to the roof. The mesh layer can, in particular, be fitted to the ridge piece by means of a suitable adhesive. The mesh layer may have on its upper surface, or on its upper and lower surfaces, a covering, for example of fiber glass sheet. The surface which is to be fitted to the inside of the ridge piece may be provided with a self-adhesive layer, to make attachment simple.

With the mesh layers 2,2' fitted on the inside, the ridge unit 1 simply needs to be placed at the ridge of the roof and screwed into position by means of screws 4 passing through the ridge piece, the mesh, the tile 3 and into one of the roof battens 5.

The ridge units are preferably provided along the entire ridge of the roof so that no special jointing with other, different ridge tiles is needed. Preferably, the ridge piece 1 is of a design which has a spigot joint at one end, to accommodate the other end of an adjoining ridge piece (a seal may be provided at the overlapping spigot joint). With the described ridge unit being provided along all or least a large portion of a ridge, a high level of ventilation is provided with minimal risk of the air passages being blocked.

The three-dimensional material should be semi-rigid, so that excessive movement of the ridge piece is prevented.

The mesh is, however, deformable so that minor variations in the profiles of the tiles can easily be accommodated.

The mesh will provide for a relatively large air flow through itself.

A suitable mesh material is sold by Akzo under the trade mark ENKAMAT; in the United Kingdom, the product is available from MMG Marketing, of Burnham Market, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 8EE. The material consists of a mesh of monofilament polyamide 6 nylon. The rectangular strips of the material which may be used in the ridge unit described here are 15 mm thick and 100 mm wide, having a length matching the length of the ridge piece (less the length of the spigot joint at its end). With a different ridge piece design, the cross-sectional shape of the mesh layer may of course be other than parallel-sided.

Claims

1. A ridge unit comprising a ridge piece and at least one strip of three-dimensional mesh material which, in use, raises the ridge piece above the roof tiles on at least one side of the ridge, the mesh material allowing a substantial flow of air therethrough.

2. A ridge unit according to claim 1, wherein a strip of mesh material is provided on both inner sides of the ridge piece so that it is raised above the roof tiles on both sides of the ridge.

3. A ridge unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the strip of mesh material is fixed to the inside of the ridge piece, for example by a suitable adhesive.

4. A ridge unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mesh material has an outer layer on one or both of its sides, for example of fiber glass sheeting.

5. A ridge unit according to claim 4, wherein the sheeting has a self-adhesive layer so that it can easily be fitted to the inner side of the ridge piece.

6. A ridge unit substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.