System and method of insulation

Abstract

An insulation system and method of insulation suitable for thermally insulating commercial buildings without the need to modify the building being insulated during installation of the insulation system. The insulation system includes a plurality of boards, at least two rails secured to supporting members of the building and adapted to secure opposite ends of each of the boards between the supporting members, and a plurality of trim pieces between adjacent boards and adapted to connect the adjacent boards.

1 . An insulation system for thermally insulating a building, the insulation system comprising:
 a plurality of boards;   at least two rails secured to supporting members of the building and adapted to secure opposite ends of each of the boards between the supporting members; and   a plurality of trim pieces between adjacent boards and adapted to connect the adjacent boards.   
     
     
         2 . The insulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the boards are formed of a thermally insulating material. 
     
     
         3 . The insulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the boards comprise a core material with a reflective thermal resistant layer exposed on a first side of the core material. 
     
     
         4 . The insulation system of  claim 3 , wherein the boards comprise an ultra violet light resistant layer exposed on a second side of the core material opposite the first side. 
     
     
         5 . The insulation system of  claim 3 , wherein the reflective thermal resistant layer is formed of a reflective metallized polymeric film or aluminum foil. 
     
     
         6 . The insulation system of  claim 4 , wherein the reflective thermal resistant layer is formed of a reflective metallized polymeric film or aluminum foil, and the ultra violet light resistant layer is formed of a white polymeric film. 
     
     
         7 . The insulation system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the rails comprises a rail support portion adapted to be secured to the supporting member of the building and a pair of board support portions that define a cavity configured to receive and secure ends of the ends of each of the boards. 
     
     
         8 . The insulation system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the trim pieces comprises a pair of supporting portions connected by an intermediate portion defining a pair of cavities on opposite sides of the trim piece and configured to receive and secure edges of the adjacent boards. 
     
     
         9 . The insulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting members are purlins of the building. 
     
     
         10 . A method of installing the insulation system of  claim 1  in the building, the method comprising:
 securing the rails to the supporting members of the building; 
 securing the boards with the rails between the supporting members of the building so that the boards are suspended by the rails; and 
 securing the adjacent boards with the trim pieces to connect the adjacent boards. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the building comprises an existing insulation material and installation of the insulation system encloses the existing insulation material between the insulation system and a roof of the building. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the boards comprise a reflective thermal resistant layer exposed on a side of the boards facing a direction towards a roof of the building. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the boards comprise a UV resistant layer exposed on a side of the boards facing a direction away from a roof of the building. 
     
     
         14 . A method of installing an insulation system in a building, the insulation system comprising:
 a plurality of boards;   at least two rails secured to supporting members of the building and adapted to secure opposite ends of each of the boards between the supporting members; and   a plurality of trim pieces between adjacent boards and adapted to connect the adjacent boards;   the method comprising:   securing the rails to the supporting members of the building;   securing the boards with the rails between the supporting members of the building so that the boards are suspended by the rails; and   securing the adjacent boards with the trim pieces to connect the adjacent boards.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the building comprises an existing insulation material and installation of the insulation system encloses the existing insulation material between the insulation system and a roof of the building. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the boards are formed of a thermally insulating material. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the boards comprise a reflective thermal resistant layer exposed on a side of the boards facing a direction towards a roof of the building. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the boards comprise a UV resistant layer exposed on a side of the boards facing a direction away from a roof of the building. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein securing the rails to the supporting members comprises securing a rail support portion of each of the rails to a corresponding support member and securing the boards with the rails comprises securing ends of each of the boards within cavities defined by a pair of board support portions on each of the rails corresponding to the ends of the boards. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein securing the adjacent boards with the trim pieces comprises securing edges of the adjacent boards within cavities defined by a pair of supporting portions connected by an intermediate portion of each of the trim pieces.