Thermal deck

Abstract

A decking assembly is mounted to a building roof or wall to thermally insulate the buildingt. The decking assembly has a first panel with an outside surface and a foil covered inside surface and a second panel having an outside surface and a foil covered inside surface. The foil covered inside surface of the second panel faces the foil covered inside surface of the first panel. At least one spacer is positioned between the panel so as to create an air space defined by the foil covered inside surfaces. The air space has an open inlet and outlet to create a continuous conduit for the flow of air from an entrance side to an exhaust side. The air space can be divided into two separate compartments by a barrier panel that has foil on opposite sides.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A thermal decking comprising: 
 a first panel;    a second panel;    a plurality of spacers positioned between the first and second panels so as to create an air space between the first and second panels;    a pair of spaced-apart heat radiant layers of foil, each of the layers of foil having an exposed side located within the air space; and    an inlet to the air space at one end of the first and second panels and an outlet at an opposite end of the first and second panels to cause a flow of air from the inlet to the outlet.    
     
     
         2 . The thermal decking of  claim 1 , wherein the spacers are parallel to each other, each having one end at the inlet and an opposite end at the outlet.  
     
     
         3 . The thermal decking of  claim 1 , wherein the layers of foil are mounted to the first and second panels, with their exposed sides facing each other and the air space being located between the layers of foil.  
     
     
         4 . The thermal decking of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels are of plywood, the layers of foil being mounted to inside surfaces of the first and second panels, with their exposed sides facing each other and the air space being located between the layers of foil.  
     
     
         5 . The thermal decking of  claim 1 , further comprising a barrier panel located between and parallel to the first and second panels, dividing the air space into a primary air space and a secondary air space; and wherein 
 the layers of foil are mounted to opposite sides of the barrier panel.    
     
     
         6 . The thermal decking of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet and the outlet extend across a width of the panels.  
     
     
         7 . In a building roof having an inclined supporting structure, with a lower edge and a peak, a roof decking installed on the supporting structure, comprising: 
 a first panel of plywood installed on the supporting structure and extending from the lower edge of the roof to the peak;    a second panel of plywood spaced above the first panel and extending from the lower edge of the roof to the peak;    a plurality of spacers positioned between the first and second panels so as to create an air space between the first and second panels, the spacers being parallel to each other and extending from the lower edge of the roof to the peak;    a pair of spaced apart heat radiant layers of foil, one of the layers of foil having an exposed surface facing generally upward and the other of the layers of foil having an exposed face facing generally downward, the exposed faces being located within the air space; and    an inlet to the air space at the lower edge of the roof and an outlet at the peak of the roof to cause a flow of air through the air space from the inlet to the outlet.    
     
     
         8 . The roof according to  claim 7 , further comprising a rotating air moving mechanism at the peak for enhancing the flow of air through the air space from the inlet to the outlet.  
     
     
         9 . The roof according to  claim 7 , wherein the layers of foil are mounted to the first and second panels, with their exposed sides facing each other and the air space being located between the layers of foil.  
     
     
         10 . The roof according to  claim 7 , further comprising a barrier panel located between and parallel with the first and second panels, dividing the air space into a primary air space and a secondary air space; and wherein 
 the layers of foil are mounted to opposite sides of the barrier panel.    
     
     
         11 . A method for insulating a building, comprising: 
 (a) providing an insulating assembly having a first panel, a second panel, a plurality of spacers positioned between the first and second panels so as to create an air space between the first and second panels, a pair of spaced-apart heat radiant layers of foil, each of the layers of foil having an exposed side located within the air space, an inlet to the air space at one end of the first and second panels and an outlet at an opposite end of the first and second panels; and    (b) mounting the insulating assembly to the building and causing a flow of air through the air space from the inlet to the outlet.    
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein step (b) comprises mounting the insulating assembly to a supporting structure of a roof.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein step (b) comprises mounting the insulating assembly to an inclined supporting structure of a roof, with the inlet being located at a lower edge of the roof and the outlet being located at a peak of the roof.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein step (b) further comprises installing a rotary air moving mechanism to the building in communication with the outlet, and operating the rotary air moving mechanism to cause the air flow through the air space.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein step (b) comprises mounting the insulating assembly to a supporting structure of a vertical wall of the building and positioning the inlet adjacent a foundation of the building.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein step (b) comprises mounting the insulating assembly to an inclined supporting structure of a roof, with the inlet being located at a lower edge of the roof and the outlet being located at a peak of the roof; and 
 installing a rotary air moving mechanism at the peak of the building in communication with the outlet, and operating the rotary air moving mechanism to cause the air flow through the air space.