Building ventilation system and method

Abstract

A ventilation system and material therefor includes a passage beneath the shingle layer of the roof of a building. The passage leads from the exterior of the building to the interior of the attic of the building. The passage is plugged with an air permeable polymeric material to allow passage of air from the exterior of the building to the interior of the building, and vice versa. The polymeric material is preferably shaped with a tapered thickness.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A ventilation system for a building with a roof having a protective outer layer over an underlayer, comprising: 
 a first opening located under the protective outer layer and over the underlayer in the roof of the building,    a second opening in the underlayer of the roof;    an air passageway defined by the first opening and the second opening and a space running between the first and second openings and between the protective outer layer and the underlayer; and    an air permeable material within said air passageway    
     
     
         2 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of air permeable material substantially fills the air passageway.  
     
     
         3 . The ventilation system of  claim 2 , wherein the permeable material is a low density layer of matting composed of an air and liquid water permeable three-dimensional matrix of polymeric material.  
     
     
         4 . The ventilation system of  claim 3 , wherein said low density layer has a top face having a peak and valley configuration.  
     
     
         5 . The ventilation system of  claim 3 , wherein said polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of nylon and polyester.  
     
     
         6 . The ventilation system of  claim 3 , wherein more than 91% of the matrix is open space.  
     
     
         7 . The ventilation system of  claim 3 , wherein the matting has a transverse strength of at least 600 N/m.  
     
     
         8 . The ventilation system of  claim 3 , wherein the matting has a transverse strength of at least 1000 N/m.  
     
     
         9 . The ventilation system of  claim 2 , wherein said low density layer has a tapered thickness.  
     
     
         10 . The ventilation system of  claim 9 , wherein a first end of the tapered thickness is at least about 0.5 inches.  
     
     
         11 . The ventilation system of  claim 10 , wherein the first end of the tapered thickness is between about 0.5 inches and about 1.0 inches and a second end of the tapered thickness is between about 0 and about 0.25 inches.  
     
     
         12 . The ventilation system of  claim 11 , wherein said tapered thickness is about 0.625 inches at the first end and about 0.125 inch at the second end.  
     
     
         13 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the air permeable material is a solid material containing a tunnel or tunnels for the passage of air between the first opening and the second opening.  
     
     
         14 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the protective outer layer comprises shingles and the underlayer comprises wood sheathing.  
     
     
         15 . The ventilation system of  claim 2 , further comprising a fabric layer adhered to the outside of said polymeric material layer.  
     
     
         16 . The ventilation system of  claim 12 , wherein said fabric is a non-woven nylon.  
     
     
         17 . A method of ventilating a building, comprising: 
 providing a first passage located beneath a shingle layer of a roofing of a building, the passage leading from the exterior of the building to the interior of the roof of the building, said passage filled with a low density layer of matting composed of an air and liquid water permeable three-dimensional matrix of polymeric material;    providing a second passage from the exterior of the building to the interior of the building, the second passage altitude being above the first passage;    ventilating the attic area of the building with air entering and exiting through said first and second passages.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein more than 91% of the matrix is open space.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the matting has a transverse strength of at least 600 N/m.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the matting has a transverse strength of at least 1000 N/m.  
     
     
         21 . A ventilated building, comprising: 
 a building having a roof;    a passage located underneath a shingle layer of the roof and extending from the exterior of the building to the interior of the roof of the building, said passage filled with a low density layer of matting composed of an air and liquid water permeable three-dimensional matrix of polymeric material.    
     
     
         22 . The building of  claim 21 , wherein more than 91% of the matrix is open space.  
     
     
         23 . The building of  claim 21 , wherein the matting has a transverse strength of at least 600 N/m.  
     
     
         24 . The building of  claim 21 , wherein the matting has a transverse strength of at least 1000 N/m.