Radiant heat barrier and method of using same

Abstract

A radiant heating system that includes a radiant heating element and a radiant heat barrier that cooperates with the heating element to heat a heated space of a building. The barrier is designed to be installed in a framing bay between adjacent framing members of the building. The barrier includes a rigid member that defines a concave surface that faces the heating element. The concave surface is thermally reflective so as to reflect radiant heat from the heating element back toward the heating element and the heated space.

1 . A radiant heating system for installation in a structure including a heated space and having at least one framing bay defined by a pair of adjacent framing members and having a first longitudinal axis, the radiant heating system comprising: 
 (a) a radiant heating element configured to be located proximate to or within the at least one framing bay defined by the pair of adjacent framing members, said heating element designed to provide heat to the heated space when installed; and    (b) a radiant heat barrier configured to be installed in the at least one framing bay, said radiant heat barrier comprising a substantially rigid member including, when installed in the at least one framing bay, a concave surface spaced from said heating element and facing said heating element and the heated space, said concave surface defining a concave region having a second longitudinal axis parallel to the first longitudinal axis of the at least one framing bay when installed therein.    
   
   
       2 . A radiant heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the framing bay has a clear spacing between the pair of adjacent framing members, said concave region having a first width transverse to said second longitudinal axis that is at least twenty-five percent of the clear spacing when said radiant heat barrier is installed.  
   
   
       3 . A radiant heating system according to  claim 2 , wherein said first width is at least seventy-five percent of the clear spacing.  
   
   
       4 . A radiant heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein, when said radiant heat barrier is installed, said radiant heat barrier comprises at least one curved panel defining said concave region.  
   
   
       5 . A radiant heating system according to  claim 4 , wherein, when said radiant heat barrier is installed, said at least one panel is at least initially sprung between the pair of adjacent framing members within the framing bay so that said at least one radiant heat barrier panel has a bowed shape defining said concave region.  
   
   
       6 . A radiant heating system according to  claim 4 , wherein the framing bay includes a spanning structure spanning between and supported by the framing members and, when said radiant heat barrier is installed, said at least one panel is secured to the spanning structure.  
   
   
       7 . A radiant heating system according to  claim 6 , wherein said at least one panel includes lateral margin securements for securing said at least one panel to said spanning structure.  
   
   
       8 . A radiant heating system according to  claim 7 , wherein said lateral margin securements include laterally extending flanges.  
   
   
       9 . A radiant heating system according to  claim 7 , wherein said lateral margin securements include lateral tabs.  
   
   
       10 . A radiant heating system according to  claim 4 , wherein said concave surface is thermally reflective.  
   
   
       11 . A radiant heating system according to  claim 10 , wherein said at least one panel comprises a thermally reflective layer secured to a backing member.  
   
   
       12 . A radiant heating system according to  claim 1 , wherein said radiant heat barrier comprises at least one modular unit that includes a trough defining said concave region.  
   
   
       13 . A radiant heating system according to  claim 10 , wherein said at least one modular unit comprises an expanded foam block.  
   
   
       14 . A radiant heating system according to  claim 11 , wherein said trough contains a thermally reflective material secured to said expanded foam block.  
   
   
       15 . A method of installing a radiant heat barrier in a radiant heating system of a structure having a heated space and that includes a framing bay having a longitudinal axis, the framing bay located between a pair of adjacent framing members having a clear spacing therebetween, the heating system including a radiant heating element configured to be located proximate to or within the at least one framing bay, the heating element designed to provide heat to the heated space, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a radiant heat barrier comprising a substantially rigid body having a concave surface that defines a concave region extending along said radiant heat barrier at least when said radiant heat barrier is installed; and    (b) installing said radiant heat barrier in the framing bay so that said concave surface faces the heated space and the radiant heating element.    
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the framing bay has a clear spacing between the pair of adjacent framing members and step (a) further includes providing a radiant heat barrier in which said concave region has a first width that is at least twenty-five percent of the clear spacing.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein step (a) further includes providing a radiant heat barrier in which said first width is at least seventy-five percent of the clear spacing.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein step (a) includes providing an initially flat radiant heat barrier panel and step (b) includes springing said initially flat radiant heat barrier panel between the framing members so as to form said concave region.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein step (a) includes providing a pre-curved radiant heat barrier panel.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein step (b) includes springing said pre-curved radiant heat barrier panel between the framing members.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the framing bay includes a spanning structure supported by, and spanning, said framing members, step (b) including securing said-pre-curved radiant heat barrier panel to the spanning structure.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein step (a) includes a plurality of lateral margin securements and step (b) includes securing said pre-curved radiant heat barrier panel to the spanning member using said lateral margin securements.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein step (a) includes providing a radiant heat modular unit comprising a longitudinal trough, step (b) including installing said radiant heat modular unit in said framing bay so that said longitudinal trough faces the heating element and the heated space.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein step (a) includes providing a radiant heat modular unit comprising an expanded foam block defining said trough, said trough being lined with a heat reflective material.  
   
   
       25 . A radiant heat barrier for installation in a structure including a heated space and a radiant heating system for heating the heated space, the structure including at least one framing bay having a first longitudinal axis and being defined by a pair of adjacent framing members having a clear spacing therebetween, the radiant heating system comprising at least one radiant heat element for providing heat to the heated space, the radiant heat barrier comprising: 
 a member having a length and being substantially flexurally stiff in a direction transverse to said length, said member having a configuration selected so that, at least when said member is installed in the at least one framing bay such that said length extends parallel to the first longitudinal axis of the framing bay, said member has a longitudinal concave surface extending along said length and facing the heating element and the heated space.    
   
   
       26 . A radiant heat barrier according to  claim 25 , wherein, at least when said member is installed in the at least one framing bay, said concave surface defines a concave region having a width selected to be greater than about twenty-five percent of the clear spacing between the pair of adjacent framing members.  
   
   
       27 . A radiant heat barrier according to  claim 26 , wherein said width is selected to be greater than about seventy-five percent of the clear spacing.  
   
   
       28 . A radiant heat barrier according to  claim 25 , wherein said member is a panel.  
   
   
       29 . A radiant heat barrier according to  claim 28 , wherein said panel comprises a backing member and a thermally reflective material applied to said backing member, said thermally reflective material defining said concave surface.  
   
   
       30 . A radiant heat barrier according to  claim 28 , wherein said panel is designed to at least initially be sprung between the adjacent framing members.  
   
   
       31 . A radiant heat barrier according to  claim 25 , wherein said panel is flat prior to being installed in the at least one framing bay.  
   
   
       32 . A radiant heat barrier according to  claim 31 , wherein said panel is designed to at least initially be sprung between the adjacent framing members.  
   
   
       33 . A radiant heat barrier according to  claim 25 , wherein said panel is pre-curved prior to being installed in the at least one framing bay.  
   
   
       34 . A radiant heat barrier according to  claim 33 , wherein said panel is designed to at least initially be sprung between the adjacent framing members.  
   
   
       35 . A radiant heat barrier according to  claim 33 , wherein said panel includes lateral margin securements for securing said panel in said framing bay.  
   
   
       36 . A radiant heat barrier according to  claim 25 , wherein said member is a modular unit that includes a longitudinal trough containing said concave surface.  
   
   
       37 . A radiant heat barrier according to  claim 25 , wherein said modular unit comprises an expanded foam block and a thermally reflective material secured to said expanded foam block and present within said longitudinal trough.