GB2464400A

GB2464400A - Building moisture removal apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: GB2464400A
Application number: GB0917986A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Humphrey Freeman
Original assignee: ProTen Services Ltd
Current assignee: ProTen Services Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-15
Filing date: 2009-10-14
Publication date: 2010-04-21
Also published as: GB0917986D0; GB0818901D0

Abstract

An apparatus and method of removing moisture from a building which comprises forcing gas into a room 100 of the building to thereby increase the air pressure inside the room so as to cause egress of moisture from the building. The apparatus may comprise a positive pressure unit 8, such as a fan or blower, which is operative to draw air from the outside of the building and blow the air into the internal space 20 of the room. Preferably, the air pressure within the room is increased to equal or greater than the prevailing external atmospheric pressure. The apparatus may further comprise waterproofing membrane structures 10 which are installed adjacent to the walls 1a, 1b and to a floor 2. Preferably, a narrow gap or cavity 11 is defined between the membrane structures and the respective wall or floor. In use, the positive air pressure within the room is employed to cause moisture held in the walls to be evacuated to the outside of the building. In such a way, the apparatus is designed to reduce the time in which a flooded building can be reoccupied.

Description

MOISTURE REMOVAL APPARATUS AND METHOD

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for moisture removal.

Background

After a property has flooded, standing flood water will typically be evacuated. However the fabric of the building can remain wet for weeks or even months. The deeper the floodwater and the longer it has been in contact with the structure, the more moisture the structure of the building is likely to have absorbed.

Various methods are known to dry out flooded or water damaged buildings. Such damage may occur for example when extinguishing a building fire. These methods include opening all windows and doors to create a flow of air through the building, adding heat to the flow of air and closing the building and employing dehumidification equipment.

We have realised that it would be desirable to provide an improved apparatus and method for moisture removal and/or for creating an habitable environment for occupation.

Summary

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of removing moisture from a building comprising forcing gas into a room of the building to thereby increase air pressure inside the room.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a building, an outlet of a blower being provided into a room of the building, and in use, the blower being operative to blow gas into the room to increase air pressure in the building so as to cause egress of moisture from the building.

Brief Description of the Drawings

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings: Figure 1 is cross-sectional view of a property with moisture removal apparatus installed therein, and Figure 2 is a front view of a waterproofing material.

Detailed Description

With reference to Figure 1 there is shown a room 100 of a building which has installed therein apparatus for removal of moisture due to flooding.

The apparatus comprises waterproofing membrane structures 10 which are installed adjacent to the walls la and lb and to a floor 2. A narrow gap of cavity 11 is defined between the membrane structures and the respective wall or floor.

The cavity membranes 10 are fixed to the walls la and lb, allowing internal redecoration to occur. As can be seen in Figure 1, internal wall and floor structures 15, 16 and 17 are installed adjacent to the membrane structures. Any free water passing through the walls la and lb to their internal faces is drained behind the membranes, and may be guided through suitable drainage channels (not shown) that may be provided around the perimeter of the room into a sump and pump system or external drainage point. The membrane structures 10 are of sheet form and comprise an array of detents or studs lOa, as shown in Figure 2.

The structures 10 are made of, for example, High Density Polypropylene, Low Density Polypropylene, High Density Polyethylene or Low Density Polyethylene, and provide a substantially waterproof barrier. The membranes are such as to be substantially impervious to vapour and liquid.

The apparatus further comprises a positive pressure unit 8 comprising a fan or blower. The unit 8 is operative to draw air from the outside of the building and blow the air into the internal space 20 of the room. This causes the air pressure in the room 100 to be altered so that moisture held in the walls la and lb is evacuated to outside of the building, as shown generally by the headed arrows extending from the walls. It will be appreciated that the unit 8 can be installed within the area to be treated or elsewhere within the property, incorporating ducting as necessary. Accordingly, moisture-laden air is displaced within the subject area, and is replaced with fresh, clean and dry air from outside.

The unit 8 inhibits the process of advection of the moisture from the fabric of the building to within the building and will ensure that the moisture-laden air evaporates out of the building externally through the weakest points in the perimeter of the property. The capacity and calibration of the positive pressure unit 8 will be largely dependant on the size of the area to be treated and the severity of flooding. In some instances it may be preferable to utilise more than one unit.

The unit 8 causes the pressure within the room to be at least equal to the external pressure, and preferably should be greater than the external pressure. This is achieved by the unit 8 adding at least an amount of air to replace that which has been sucked or drawn out of the building by advection or wind pressure.

In an alternative embodiment, the membrane structures 10 may be sealed at 30, namely sealed with a ceiling 5, by suitable means such as rope, butyl rope, tape or similar.

It will be appreciated that although the above embodiments include the membrane structures 10, an alternative embodiment the membrane structures are omitted.

Advantageously, the above apparatus significantly reduces the time in which a flooded building can be reoccupied. The positive pressure unit inhibits the process of advection, which under normal circumstances draws the water vapour from the wet wall to the inside of the building.

This can be used in conjunction with a cavity drainage membrane to facilitate rapid reoccupation of the property. The internal air will be of an acceptable humidity, and the internal wall and floor surfaces will not be wet

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of removing moisture from a building comprising forcing gas into a room of the building to thereby increase air pressure inside the room.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 which comprises increasing the air pressure to equal or greater than prevailing external atmospheric pressure.
3. A building, an outlet of a blower being provided into a room of the building, and in use, the blower operative to blow gas into the room to increase air pressure therein so as to cause egress of moisture from the building.
4. A building as claimed in claim 3 which comprises at least one substantially water impervious structure adjacent to a wall or floor of the building.
5. A building as claimed in claim 4 in which the at least one structure defines a gap with the adjacent wall or floor.
6. A method substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
7. A building substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
8. Apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.