Panels, systems and methods for insulated building walls

Abstract

A system for constructing an insulated building wall, includes a plurality of building panels, wherein a first level of building panels are installed below a frost line and the panels are installed adjacent and attached to other panels. The panels each have an insulated core attached between an interior sheathing and an exterior sheathing. The insulated core may be expanded polystyrene including graphite and may contain one or more steel studs. Each of the panels may be rectangular having two female edges and two male edges, wherein a male edge and a female edges of adjacent panels are for cooperatively attaching using fasteners. The walls may also have a top plate and a bottom plate, and may have strapping and cladding attached to the exterior sheathing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulated building panel for forming a portion of a building envelope of a building, the panel comprising:
 an insulated core;   an interior sheathing attached to a first side of the insulated core, the interior sheathing for being installed facing an interior of the building; and   an exterior sheathing attached to a second side of the insulated core, the exterior sheathing for being installed facing an exterior of the building,   wherein the first side is opposite the second side, and   wherein the insulated core is for providing a thermal break between the interior sheathing and the exterior sheathing.   
     
     
         2 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the insulated core is comprised of expanded polystyrene (EPS). 
     
     
         3 . The panel of  claim 2 , wherein the EPS comprises graphite. 
     
     
         4 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the insulated core comprises one or more internal studs. 
     
     
         5 . The panel of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more internal studs are comprised of steel. 
     
     
         6 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the interior sheathing and the exterior sheathing are each comprised of one or more of cement board, gypsum, and plywood. 
     
     
         7 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is rectangular comprising two female edges and two male edges,
 wherein each female edge is opposite a male edge,   wherein each male edge is for cooperatively attaching to a female edge of another panel, and   wherein each female edge is for cooperatively attaching to a male edge of another panel.   
     
     
         8 . A system for constructing an insulated building wall, the system comprising:
 a plurality of building panels, each panel comprising an insulated core attached between an interior sheathing and an exterior sheathing,
 wherein a first level of building panels are for installation below a frost line, and 
 wherein each panel is for installation adjacent to and attaching to one or more other building panels to form the insulated building wall. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the insulated cores are comprised of EPS. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the EPS comprises graphite. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the insulated core comprises one or more internal studs. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the interior sheathings and the exterior sheathings are each comprised of one or more of cement board, gypsum, and plywood. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each panel is rectangular and comprises two female edges and two male edges,
 wherein each female edge is opposite a male edge,   wherein each male edge is for cooperatively attaching to a female edge of another panel, and   wherein each female edge is for cooperatively attaching to a male edge of another panel.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein adjacent panels are attached at cooperatively attached female or male edges using fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising strapping attached to the exterior sheathing of the panels, and cladding is attached to the strapping. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a top plate installed along a top edge of the insulated building wall; and   a bottom plate installed along a bottom edge of the insulated building wall.   
     
     
         17 . A method for constructing an insulated building wall, the method comprising:
 installing a first level of insulated building panels below a frost line; and   attaching one or more additional levels of insulated building panels above the first level.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising installing a bottom plate, and wherein installing the first level comprises installing the first level on the bottom plate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising installing a top plate along a top edge of the insulated building wall. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising attaching strapping to an exterior side of the wall, and attaching cladding to the strapping.