IE86605B1 - Improved soffits - Google Patents

Abstract

Soffit apparatus (10) is used for fixing between a layer of insulating material (A) and an existing soffit on a building. The apparatus comprises a generally inverted U-shaped channel adapted to engage the layer of insulting material (A). The U-shaped channel has a front leg (12), a rear leg (14) and abridging memebr (16) between the front and rear legs. A ventilation orifice (18) is mounted on top of the inverted U-shaped channel which is secured to the exisiting soffit in use. <Figure 1>

Description

A FITTING FOR A SOFFIT IN A ROOF The present invention relates to an improved soffit, in particular an improved soffit device for fitting to an existing soffit on a building.

In accordance with the Building Regulations 2002 published by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government of Ireland, and specifically the Technical Guidance Document F dealing with Ventilation, adequate provision must be made to prevent excessive condensation in a roof or in a roof void above an insulated ceiling in a dwelling. The general guidance is that condensation in a roof and in the spaces above insulated ceilings should be limited so that under normal conditions (a) the thermal performance of the insulating materials and (b) the structural performance of the roof construction will not be substantially and permanently reduced. This is usually achieved through the provision of adequate ventilation for cavities or attic spaces on the cold side of the roof insulation. The most practical and normal method of providing the ventilation is by the provision of vents in the soffits underneath the roof. Soffits are horizontal elements between the vertical fascia elements and the walls ofthe building.

In order to increase the thermal insulation in houses and to reduce heating costs, external insulation is being applied to the external walls of existing buildings and is particularly effective in substantially increasing the heat insulation. External insulation is achieved by securing large blocks of insulating material to the outside walls and applying rendering and finishing to the blocks of insulating material. However, these blocks of insulating material can be between 100 mm to 200 mm in thickness and therefore when installed under the existing - ι i soffits can block the vents in the soffits.

This is a major problem in the external insulation industry. From the building regulations Part F it clearly states that clear ventilation of a calculated area must be maintained after the external insulation is installed.

To date external insulation installers normally cut in new vents into the remaining visible soffits to allow for the vents they have covered with the new external insulation.

Sometimes this is not possible as the projecting soffit is not projecting far enough from the house enough to accommodate new vents and therefore the vents need to either go in the fascia which in turn causes problems with wind driven rain penetrating the open vent and rotting the timberwork beneath.

If the homeowner would not like to install fascia vents, they may insist on vent tiles or vent slates. This then leads to health and safety issues for the installers working on the roof and also the retro fitting of these type of vents causes problems as there are so many different types and sizes of slates and tiles.

Also, if there are existing cables covered by the soffit, they may break or become damaged. Sometimes these are mains electricity cables which is a serious health and safety issue.

The present invention provides a fitting for a soffit in a roof comprising, in use, a front leg, a rear leg and a bridging member which together define an inverted U-shaped channel, the bridging member having a ventilating device with at least a part located above the top of the bridging member, in use, and a means for securing the fitting to a roof, wherein the securing ΛΤ ,-y means comprises securing holes which are provided at regular intervals along the rear leg to enable the fitting to be secured to a wall and meshing is attached to the front leg, whereby in use, a layer of external insulating material is retained within the inverted U-shaped channel and the mesh provides a base for rendering to be applied over the external insulating material.

Advantageously, the ventilating device is mounted adjacent the front leg of the inverted Ushaped channel.

Ideally, a slope is provided on the top of the inverted U-shaped profile from the back leg towards the front leg to allow water to flow from the apparatus.

Conveniently, the ventilating device is fixed adjacent the bridging member to allow air to circulate in the space above the bridging member and an adhesive pad is provided on the channel which enables the soffit apparatus to be secured to the underside of the soffit.

Preferably, a double sided sticky tape is provided on the rear leg which allows for ease of installation and prevents thermal bridging at this location.

Ideally, the soffit apparatus is manufactured in plastics material and can be formed, extruded or produced by injection moulding.

The invention will hereinafter be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment in situ on a building attached to a block of insulation A and illustrating the manner of ventilating the roof void of the building; Figure 2 is a perspective representation of the embodiment of the apparatus mounted on a block of insulation; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment without the block of insulation: Figure 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment from the front side; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment from the rear with a block of insulation.

Different types of roof constructions all have means of ventilating the roof voids provided in the different roof constructions, these can be Pitched Roof, Lean-to-Roof, Flat Roof and Ceiling following Pitch of Roof. Air is required to vent into the roof spaces through soffit openings in each of the roof constructions.

Referring to the drawings, the soffit apparatus 10 comprises a generally inverted U-shaped profile having a front leg 12, a rear leg 14 and a bridging member 16 between the legs 12 and 14. The bridging member 16 has a slight slope running from the rear leg 14 towards the front leg 12.

A ventilation orifice 18 is provided in a channel 22 fixed to the bridging member 16 so as to allow air to circulate in the space 15 above the bridging member 16. The channel 22 also includes a wall 23 having a plurality of air holes 25 spaced along the wall 23. An adhesive pad 20 is provided on the channel 22 which enables the device to be secured to the underside of the soffit. A meshing 1.9 is fitted to the ventilation orifice to prevent insects from entering the air space 15.

Fixing hoies 24 are provided on the rear leg 14 at regular intervals to allow the apparatus 10 to be fixed to the existing wall. As shown in Figure 5, a double sided sticky pad 30 is provided on the rear leg 14 which allows for ease of installation but also more importantly prevents thermal bridging at this location. Mesh 32 is attached to the front leg 12 and is used to secure other sheets of meshing (not shown) which provides the base for rendering to be applied over the blocks of insulating material fixed to the external wall.

The arrangement shown in Figure 1 demonstrates how the apparatus can be used in practice and how the ventilation means creates the air space 15 between the apparatus itself and an existing soffit including a vent. A problem that can occur in practice is when a main electricity cable enters a house through the soffit. However, this can be accommodated in the air space 15 above the bridging member 16.

The apparatus can be provided with a certified clear ventilation area stamped on each length making it easy to calculate type and size needed to comply with the building regulations. The sloped surface throws off any excess water that may have penetrated the insect meshing 19 provided of the channel 22. The adhesive pad 20 on top of the channel 22 allows for ease of installation to the existing soffit. It can be provided in any colour required to match the colour of the existing soffits.

The apparatus is ideally manufactured in plastics material and can be formed, extruded or produced by injection moulding.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. A fitting for a soffit in a roof comprising, in use, a front leg, a rear leg and a bridging member which together define an inverted U-shaped channel, the bridging member having a ventilating device with at least a part located above the top of the bridging member, in use, and a means for securing the fitting to a roof, wherein the securing means comprises securing holes which are provided at regular intervals along the rear leg to enable the fitting to be secured to a wall and meshing is attached to the front leg, whereby in use, a layer of external insulating material is retained within the inverted U-shaped channel and the mesh provides a base for rendering to be applied over the external insulating material.

2. A fitting for a soffit as claimed in Claim 1, in which the ventilating device is mounted adjacent the front leg of the inverted U-shaped channel.

3. A fitting for a soffit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a slope is provided on the top of the inverted U-shaped channel from the rear leg towards the front leg to allow water to flow from the apparatus.

4. A fitting for a soffit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the ventilating device is fixed adjacent the bridging member to allow air to circulate in the space above the bridging member and an adhesive pad is provided on the channel which enables the soffit apparatus to be secured to the underside of the soffit.

5. A fitting for a soffit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a double sided sticky tape is provided on the rear leg which allows for ease of installation and prevents thermal bridging at this location.

6. A fitting for a soffit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the soffit apparatus is manufactured in plastics material and can be formed, extruded or produced by injection moulding.

7. , A fitting for a soffit substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.