GB2375553A

GB2375553A - Insulated gutter system

Info

Publication number: GB2375553A
Application number: GB0208867A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Frank Price
Original assignee: JAYEFF PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: JAYEFF PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2001-04-18
Filing date: 2002-04-18
Publication date: 2002-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 2022-04-18
Also published as: GB0208867D0; IE20020282A1; GB2375553B

Abstract

A gutter system comprises a channel-shaped gutter member 10 formed from first and second skins 12, 14 with a layer of insulation material 16 in between. The edges of the skins are turned up to form fibs 28, 30 which are received in a slot in an insulated filler piece 34 which engages with an associated roof member 24. Thermal bridging between the gutter and the roof member is reduced by the arrangement. The invention can be used for valley, outboard (Figure 6) or fascia (Figure 2) gutter systems.

Description

"Improvements in Gutter Systems" This invention relates to improvements in gutter systems, and is particularly concerned with insulated gutter systems.

Insulated gutters have been used for a number of years in industrial buildings to reduce heat loss through, and condensation under, the gutter.

However, environmental considerations are leading to yet higher requirements. Two mechanisms by which buildings can in general lose heat are undesired air circulation, and cold bridging. Both of these can be present in gutter systems, and an object of the present invention is to improve gutter systems in this respect.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a gutter system comprising a gutter formed by a gutter member or a plurality of gutter members joined end to end; in which the or each gutter member has a first, water-receiving skin formed into a channel; the

system further including an insulating filler piece positioned between the gutter member and an associated roof member; and an edge of said first skin being formed into a first rib extending away from the gutter channel and received in a slot formed in the filler piece.

Preferably, at least part of the first skin is provided with a layer of insulation material, and the insulation material is covered by a second skin.

The skins may be of metal sheet and the layer of insulation material injected plastic foam.

Alternatively, the skins may be of metal sheet and the layer of insulation material may comprise noncombustible insulation material which includes portions sufficiently strong to act as supports and spacers.

In some embodiments, the second skin is formed with a second rib extending parallel to said first rib, and an insulating strip is preferably positioned between the first and second ribs.

In an alternative embodiment, the edge of the second skin is turned back into the insulation layer to leave an unskinned edge portion of bare insulation in contact with the filler piece.

The filler piece is preferably formed from foilfaced compressible plastic foam, and preferably has

an upper surface profiled to engage closely with a profiled roofing sheet.

From another aspect, the present invention provides a gutter member for use in the foregoing system, the gutter member comprising a first, water-receiving skin formed into a channel; an edge of said first skin being formed into a rib extending away from the gutter channel for engagement, in use, in a slot formed in a filler piece.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section of one half of a valley gutter forming a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a partial cross-section of a fascia gutter forming a second embodiment; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a fire-resistant form of valley gutter; Figure 4 is a partial section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a detail showing a modification of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a cross-section of a further embodiment in the form of an outboard gutter; and

Figure 7 shows a further embodiment.

Referring to Figure 1, a gutter member generally designated 10 comprises a first skin 12 and a second skin 14. The skins 12,14 may suitably be pressed or bent-up from aluminium or steel sheet, as is well known in the art. The skins 12,14 define a space which is filled with an insulating material 16, most suitably an injected plastic foam such as PIR foam, but alternatively fabricated from insulating board.

The gutter member 10 is attached to a structural roof purlin 18 by means of a metal support section 20 and fasteners 22. The roof comprises profiled sheeting 24 and insulation material 26. At its edge adjacent the roof, the gutter member 10 has the skins 12,14 bent up to form spaced, parallel ribs 28 and 30, between which a strip 32 of compressible foam is positioned. The ribs 28,30 and foam strip 32 are received in a channel in a closure member 34.

The closure member 34 is formed from foil-faced compressible foam and has its upper surface profiled to fit the roofing sheet 24.

Thus the closure member 34 acts to provide an airtight closure between the gutter member 10 and the roof and also to prevent cold bridging in this area.

The foam strip 32 prevents cold bridging between the skins 12 and 14.

In Figure 2, like parts are denoted by like references. In this embodiment, the gutter (which

may be part of a valley gutter or may be an edge gutter) is attached to a boundary wall 40 having a structural support section 42, the closure member 34 butting against a capping sheet 44.

Figures 3 and 4 show a modification of the embodiment of Figure 1, to provide a non-combustible insulating gutter. The insulation between the skins 12 and 14 is in the form of a mineral fibre quilt 50. In addition, the bottom of the gutter member has spaced blocks 52 of high density mineral wool to act as spacers and to give structural support.

This embodiment is also modified from Figure 1 in that the ribs 28,30 and foam strip 32 are positioned at one side of the assembly, rather than the centre.

Figure 5 shows another possible modification. Here only the first skin 12 is bent up to form a single rib 28. The edge of the second skin 14 is bent back at 54 and the foam insulation 16 is injected around it. The portion 54 acts to stiffen the assembly, while the edge portion 16a of the insulation 16 prevents cold bridging between the skins 12,14.

Figure 6 illustrates the invention as applied to an outboard fascia gutter. A gutter support plate 60 is attached to a wall 62. The gutter member, generally designated at 64, has a single metal skin 66 and is spaced from the gutter support plate by a plastic insulation slab 68. The gutter support plate 60 is secured by fasteners 70 passing through

a rock fibre or plastic insulating slab 71 to a structural member or purlin 72.

The gutter skin 66 is braced by cross-braces such as 74, and covered externally by a coloured metal gutter cloak 76.

The inner edge of the gutter skin 66 is formed into an upstanding rib 78 which, together with the top of the gutter support plate 60, is received in a groove in closure member 80. As before, the closure member 80 is of foil-faced compressible foam and is contoured to fit snugly within profiled roofing sheet 82.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment similar to that of Figure 6 and using like references. In Figure 7, however, the gutter member is partially insulated, towards the interior of the building, by the provision of a second skin 90 and foam insulation 92.

It will be appreciated that the closure members used in the foregoing embodiments may be of any suitable material which has insulating properties and which provides a substantially airtight seal.

Compressible plastics foams are particularly suitable for this purpose but the use of other materials, for example cork or rubber, is possible.

The invention thus provides improved gutter systems having reduced heat loss through air circulation and cold bridging.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A gutter system comprising a gutter formed by a gutter member or a plurality of gutter members joined end to end; in which the or each gutter member has a first, water-receiving skin formed into a channel; the system further including an insulating filler piece positioned between the gutter member and an associated roof member; and an edge of said first skin being formed into a first rib extending away from the gutter channel and received in a slot formed in the filler piece.
2. A gutter system according to claim 1, in which at least part of the first skin is provided with a layer of insulation material, and the insulation material is covered by a second skin.
3. A gutter system according to claim 2, in which the skins are of metal sheet and the layer of insulation material is injected plastic foam.
4. A gutter system according to claim 2, in which the skins are of metal sheet and the layer of insulation material comprises non-combustible insulation material which includes portions sufficiently strong to act as supports and spacers.

<Desc/Clms Page number 9>
5. A gutter system according to any of claims 2 to 4, in which the second skin is formed with a second rib extending parallel to said first rib.
6. A gutter system according to claim 5, in which an insulating strip is positioned between the first and second ribs.
7. A gutter system according to any of claims 2 to 4, in which the edge of the second skin is turned back into the insulation layer to leave an unskinned edge portion of bare insulation in contact with the filler piece.
8. A gutter system according to any preceding claim, in which the filler piece is formed from foil-faced compressible plastic foam.
9. A gutter system according to any preceding claim, in which the filler piece has an upper surface profiled to engage closely with a profiled roofing sheet.
10. A gutter member for use in the system of any preceding claim,, the gutter member comprising a first, water-receiving skin formed into a channel; an edge of said first skin being formed into a rib extending away from the gutter channel for engagement, in use, in a slot formed in a filler piece.

<Desc/Clms Page number 10>
11. A gutter member according to claim 10, in which at least part of the first skin is provided with a layer of insulation material, and the insulation material is covered by a second skin.