Thermal Barrier For Building Foundation Slab

Abstract

A thermal barrier for reducing heat transfer through the slab foundation of a building, said thermal barrier comprising: a substrate; a first attachment means disposed at the top of said substrate for attaching said thermal barrier to a building; an insulating sheathing attached to said substrate; a reflective layer disposed between said sheathing and said substrate; and a second attachment means for attaching said apparatus to a building, said second attachment means disposed adjacent to one side of said sheathing and against said substrate.

1 . A thermal barrier for reducing heat loss through the slab foundation of a building, said thermal barrier comprising: a substrate; a means for attaching said substrate to a building; an insulating sheathing attached to said substrate; and a protective outer layer disposed against the exterior of the insulating sheathing. 
     
     
         2 . The thermal barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal barrier further comprises a reflective layer disposed between said sheathing and said substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymer; thermoset polymer and composite. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal barrier of  claim 1 , installed such that an adjacent building slab has an R-value of at least about 10. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal barrier of  claim 1 , installed such that there is at least about 20% less heat loss through the slab. 
     
     
         6 . A thermal barrier for reducing the heat transferred through the foundation of a building having a slab foundation set on a footer, said thermal barrier comprising: a footer insulating member, an interior insulating member, and an exterior insulating member; said footer insulating member disposed horizontally adjacent to the top of a footer, said footer insulating member comprising a generally cuboid shape having: an elongated top side and an elongated bottom side, wherein said bottom side and said top side are parallel; a pair of generally parallel front and rear sides; and at least one vertically oriented void between said parallel top and bottom portion, said void suitable for a structural material to pass through; an interior insulating member, said interior insulating member disposed vertically against a vertical wall of the footer, said interior insulating member extending downward from said footer insulating member, said interior vertical insulating member generally in physical contact with said footer insulating member; and an exterior insulating member, said exterior insulating member disposed at about the front side of the footer insulting member, such that: said exterior insulating member is adjacent to the exterior of a building; and such that the exterior insulating member extends vertically upward from said footer insulating member; and such that said exterior insulating member is generally parallel to said interior insulating member; and such that said exterior insulating member is generally in physical contact with said footer insulating member. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal barrier of  claim 6 , wherein the footer insulating member, interior insulating member, and exterior insulating member comprise materials selected from the group consisting of polyisocyanurate, Extruded Polystyrene Foam, and Expanded Polystyrene Foam. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal barrier of  claim 6 , wherein each void comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a cylinder, a cuboid, and a polyhedron. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal barrier of  claim 6 , wherein the thermal barrier is prefabricated. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal barrier of  claim 6 , installed such that an adjacent building slab has an R-value of at least about 10. 
     
     
         11 . The thermal barrier of  claim 6 , installed such that there is at least about 20% less heat loss through the slab. 
     
     
         12 . A thermal barrier for reducing the heat transferred through the foundation of a building having a slab foundation set on a footer, said thermal barrier comprising: a footer insulating member and an exterior insulating member; said footer insulating member disposed horizontally adjacent to the top of a footer, said footer insulating member comprising a generally cuboid shape having: an elongated top side and an elongated bottom side, wherein said bottom side and said top side are parallel; a pair of generally parallel front and rear sides; and at least one vertically oriented void between said parallel top and bottom portion, said void suitable for a structural material to pass through; and an exterior insulating member, said exterior insulating member disposed at about the front side of the footer insulting member, such that: said exterior insulating member is adjacent to the exterior of a building; and such that the exterior insulating member extends vertically upward from said footer insulating member; and such that said exterior insulating member is generally in physical contact with said footer insulating member. 
     
     
         13 . A device for insulating the slab foundation of a building between the bottom of the perimeter of the slab and the top of the footer, continuing thermal barrier with said insulating member comprising a generally cuboid shape having: an elongated top side and an elongated bottom side, wherein said bottom side and said top side are parallel; a pair of generally parallel front and rear sides; and at least one vertically oriented void between said parallel top and bottom portion, said void suitable for a structural material to pass through. 
     
     
         14 . The thermal barrier of claim  75 , wherein the footer insulating member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyisocyanurate, Extruded Polystyrene Foam, and Expanded Polystyrene Foam. 
     
     
         15 . The thermal barrier of claim  75 , wherein each void comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a cylinder, a cuboid, and a polyhedron. 
     
     
         16 . The thermal barrier of claim  75 , having an R-value of at least about 5 per inch of thermal barrier thickness. 
     
     
         17 . The thermal barrier of claim  75 , installed such that an adjacent building slab has an R-value of at least about 10.