Vented Radiant Barriers

Abstract

Structural ventilated radiant barrier roofing panels are disclosed. The radiant barrier roofing panels have panel with a first side formed with a plurality of channels and covered with a perforated radiant barrier to form a flow path. When installed on a structure, the radiant barrier roofing panels form a flow path from inside the attic, through the perforations, through the channels, and through abutment spaces between adjacent panels to allow for ventilation of the attic. Methods of ventilating an attic of a structure using radiant barrier roofing panels and of manufacturing radiant barrier roofing panels are also disclosed.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A radiant barrier roofing panel comprising:
 a panel having a first and a second side, wherein the panel is formed with a plurality of channels on the first side of the panel;   a radiant barrier comprising a foil layer, wherein the foil layer has a first side and a second side;   wherein the second side of the foil layer of the radiant barrier is coupled to the first side of the panel and the radiant barrier extends across the plurality of channels to form ventilation pathways; and   wherein the radiant barrier is perforated at least over the plurality of channels.   
     
     
         2 . The radiant barrier roofing panel of  claim 1 , wherein
 the radiant barrier comprises the foil layer and a carrier layer;   the carrier layer has a first side and a second side;   the second side of the foil layer is coupled to the first side of the carrier layer; and   the second side of the foil layer of the radiant barrier is coupled to the first side of the panel.   
     
     
         3 . The radiant barrier roofing panel of  claim 1 , wherein in an installed position the first side of the foil layer faces an attic of a house, and the second side of the panel faces a shingle layer of a roof of the house. 
     
     
         4 . The radiant barrier roofing panel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels is formed along a longitudinal length of the panel and the plurality of channels are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The radiant barrier roofing panel of  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a structural wood-based panel. 
     
     
         6 . The radiant barrier roofing panel of  claim 5 , wherein the structural wood-based panel is plywood or oriented strand board. 
     
     
         7 . The radiant barrier roofing panel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of channels has a depth in the range of 30-50% of a thickness of the panel. 
     
     
         8 . The radiant barrier roofing panel of  claim 7 , wherein the thickness of the panel is in the range of 1.0-0.375 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The radiant barrier roofing panel of  claim 1 ,
 wherein in an installed position the first side of the foil layer faces an attic of a house and the second side of the panel faces a shingle layer of a roof of the house;   wherein each of channels of the plurality of channels is formed along a longitudinal length of the panel and each of the channels of the plurality of channels are substantially parallel to each other;   wherein the panel is plywood or oriented strand board;   wherein at least one of the plurality of channels has a depth in the range of 30-50% of a thickness of the panel; and   wherein the thickness of the panel is in the range of 1.0-0.375 inches.   
     
     
         10 . A method for ventilating an attic comprising the steps of:
 attaching a plurality of radiant barrier roofing panels to a plurality of rafters of an attic, wherein each of the plurality of radiant barrier roofing panels comprise:   a panel having a first and a second side, wherein the panel is formed with a plurality of channels on the first side of the panel,   a radiant barrier comprising a foil layer and a carrier layer, wherein the foil layer has a first side and a second side and the carrier layer has a first side and a second side, wherein the second side of the foil layer is coupled to the first side of the carrier layer,   wherein the second side of the carrier layer of the radiant barrier is coupled to the first side of the panel and the radiant barrier extends across the plurality of channels to form ventilation pathways, and   wherein the radiant barrier is perforated at least over the plurality of channels; and   installing roofing material over the second side of each of the plurality of radiant barrier panels;   wherein the plurality of radiant barrier roofing panels is installed with the radiant barrier facing the attic;   wherein at least two radiant barrier panels are installed adjacent to each other on the same rafter with an abutment gap between the two adjacent radiant barrier panels;   wherein for at least one radiant barrier panel at least one perforation of the radiant barrier and at least one of the plurality of channels are in fluid communication with each other and the at least one of the plurality of channels is in fluid communication with the abutment gap, to form a flow path for vapors to travel from the attic to the second side of the panels.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of channels are formed along a longitudinal length of the panel and the plurality of channels are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein, when the radiant barrier roofing panel is in the installed position, the plurality of channels are perpendicular to a plurality of rafters. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the panel comprises a structural wood-based panel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the structural wood-based panel is plywood or oriented strand board. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of channels has a depth in the range of 30-50% of a thickness of the panel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the thickness of the panel is in the range of 1.0-0.375 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the plurality of channels are formed along a longitudinal length of the panel and the plurality of channels are substantially parallel to each other;   wherein, when the radiant barrier roofing panel is in the installed position, the plurality of channels is substantially perpendicular to a plurality of rafters;   wherein the panel is plywood or oriented strand board;   wherein at least one of the plurality of channels has a depth in the range of 30-50% of a thickness of the panel; and   wherein the thickness of the panel is in the range of 1.0-0.375 inches.   
     
     
         18 . A vented radiant barrier roofing panel comprising:
 a panel formed with a plurality of channels on one side running along a dimension of the panel and having a thickness of at least 0.25 inches;   a radiant barrier coupled over the plurality of channels of the panel to form a plurality of ventilation pathways; and   wherein at least a portion the radiant barrier is perforated over the plurality of channels to provide fluid transfer through the plurality of channels.   
     
     
         19 . The vented radiant barrier roofing panel of  claim 18 , wherein the radiant barrier comprises a foil layer and a carrier layer coupled to each other.