Moisture removing system and method for structural roofs

Abstract

An improved system for removing moisture from a roof envelope made from low permeability membrane sheets that includes: a plurality of elongate membrane sheets positioned and attached, in adjacent rows, over a central region of the roof, to form central channels, with each channel having at least one one-way roof vent positioned near one end of that channel, and a perimeter attachment means. The perimeter attachment means is selected from: (a) a plurality of elongate membrane sheets that are position and attached to form at least one perimeter channel at each perimeter side of the roof; (b) at least on perimeter channel positioned and fastened along the perimeter sides of the roof parallel to the central region channels and fasteners bisecting the central field channels along all other perimeter sides of the roof; (c) fasteners or other attachment means bisecting the central region channels parallel to perimeter sides parallel to said central region channels and fasteners or other attachment means bisecting the central region channels perpendicular to the remaining perimeter sides of the roof; and (d) a fully adhered perimeter.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 069,434, filed on Mar. 14, 2008.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to an improved system and method for removing moisture from beneath a structural roof made with low permeability membranes or panels. This invention further relates to a system and method for improving the moisture, and hence mold, resistance of roof assemblies made from elongate sheets of membrane, including but not limited to polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), modified bitumen, thermoplastic olefin (TPO), and / or other thermoplastic or thermoset materials.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In recent years, roofing systems using elastomeric membranes have become popular for many commercial structures, i.e., those having a predominantly flat rooftop. For many such applications, a suitable roof membrane is laid over the top surface of a roof substrat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The invention provides an improved, moisture-resistant system that can be quickly, yet efficiently custom designed for each roof application.

[0010]Roofing systems of the present invention accommodate various penetrations (or occlusions) into the roof, while providing significant moisture resistance for that rooftop configuration.

[0011]The roof system can be easily installed, maintained and / or repaired (i.e., periodically serviced). The roof system also can address the addition of subsequent penetrations / occlusions through a roof long after the initial installation of said roof. The system and method of the present invention may apply to numerous mechanically attached varieties of low permeability roofing materials for numerous structural roof layouts.

[0012]The present invention addresses an improved system for removing moisture from within a roof envelope made from mechanically fastened, low permeability panels. The system comprises: a plurality of elongate membrane sheets positioned, in adjacent rows, and secured to the roof deck or structure over a central region of the roof. These sheets are overlapped and joined, by means known to those skilled in the art such as welding or other adhesion methods, to form elongate adjacent channels in the roof envelope. Each central region channel has at least one one-way roof vent strategically positioned near one end of each channel, with adjoining channels having these vents at alternating ends of the channels. Location of these vents at the ends of the central region channels maximizes the moisture removal properties of the present invention by placing the vents close to the perimeter of roof. Vents are alternated at the ends of adjoining channels to maximize the beneficial air flow that is caused by wind at either side of the roof system.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, the typical operating temperatures for white membrane systems do not reach the level of heat for mitigating the growth of mold within the roof envelope.

While they preclude mold growth at the biocide-treated level, such treatments cannot ensure against mold growth at still other levels of the same roof assembly.

Further, biocide-formulated materials do not address the potential damage to other roof system components from moisture exposure.

As moisture vapor increases in the roof system, it is promptly exhausted to the outside, minimizing the possibility of moisture capture, condensation, and the likelihood of damaging roof components due to moisture condensation / build up.

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