Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VENTILATION
OF FOUNDATIONS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of
protecting floors above the crawl space and buildings
on foundations of the crawl-space type from damp and
microbial growth, where the crawl space is delimited by
the floor above the crawl space of the building,
bearing foundation walls with vents for outdoor air and
the foundation ground.
The invention also relates to an arrangement for
use in application of the method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Building foundations of the crawl-space type, that
is to say foundations where there is a crawl space
between the floor of the building and the foundation
ground, which crawl space is delimited in the lateral
direction by bearing foundation walls, have
traditionally been ventilated with outdoor air via
vents located in the foundation walls. Foundations of
this type have functioned well in the past, one of the
reasons for which is the fact that chimneies extended
through the floor above the crawl space and down into
the crawl space, which thus contributed to warming and
drying the foundation and the air therein. A certain
degree of heat leakage down into the crawl space from
rooms above also took place as a consequence of poor
insulation of the floor above the crawl space. This,
combined with correctly effected ventilation, meant it
was possible to avoid problems of damp and mildew.
As crawl-space foundations ventilated by outdoor
air constitute a cost-effective foundation method, this
method was used during the second half of the twentieth
century in the mass production of dwelling houses and
also for other buildings, in particular prefabricated
schools and the like.
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In this connection, problems which are difficult
--o solve arose as a consequence of moisture deposition
in the foundation, which gave rise to microbial growth,
unpleasant smells and rot damage to the building.
The causes of these problems may be poor ground
conditions combined with poorly executed foundation
work. Other factors also have an effect, however, such
as modern improved insulation materials which mean
--nter alia that thermal insulation of the floor
structure is 5-6 times better compared with previously
used sawdust-filled floor structures. Furthermore,
--here are not normally any heat-providing chimneies
extending down into the crawl space.
P.EVIEW OF PRIOR ART
In order to cope with damp and mildew problems,
many different solutions have been proposed with a view
to improving and/or regulating the ventilation of
-oundation crawl spaces. Attempts have even been made
to keep them dry by making the foundations as heated
-foundations. In this connection, the foundations were
sealed and thermally insulated and also ventilated by
means of indoor air or specifically heated air from the
heated part of the building. Such foundations are
relatively expensive, and the technique can be
difficult to apply in existing buildings. As the whole
.Loundation is to be ventilated by indoor air, very
large air volumes also have to be handled. An example
is disclosed in SE-C-170061. The prior art also
includes the mounting of separate drying equipment in
r-he crawl-space foundation.
Proposals exist in which this technique is
combined with a method for bringing about warm floors,
see for example SE-B-8007770-4. In this case, warm
indoor air is conducted in a gap between the inner
-loor and the floor structure insulation before it
passes dowri into the insulated foundation and is then
drawn out. This method is difficult to use in existing
buildings and does not eliminate the requirement for
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complete sealing and insulation of the entire crawl
space. The necessity of handling very large volumes of
heated indoor air also remains.
Common to many of the methods proposed today for
improving the ventilation of crawl-space foundations is
the attempt to turn the whole of the free crawl space
into a climate-controlled zone in one way or another.
This entails inter alia the abovementioned problem of
having to handle very large air volumes. Furthermore,
the foundations are usually constructed only with a
view to static bearing capacity, which means that the
tightness is in most cases very poor. In the laying of
foundation walls made of foundation blocks, the butt
joints are often entirely unfilled. Complete sealing of
the whole crawl-space foundation is very difficult and
costly to effect.
It has previously been proposed to divide the
crawl space into different zones. SE-B-7511197-1
describes the use of a perforated air-distributing
layer. The upper and lower zones therefore communicate
with one another via the layer. In order to push air
down into the lower zone, a higher pressure is used in
the upper zone, which also means that air can be pushed
back up into the building. Leaks often occur at pipe
bushings and other connections, which make it virtually
impossible to prevent the positive pressure in the
foundation pushing possibly bad air from the foundation
up into the building. If radon gas is present, this too
will be pushed up into the building.
SE-C2-507461 also describes a foundation with a
horizontal partition. This partition is intended to
cause the ventilation air, which has been taken in via
outdoor air vents, to flow along the lower surface of
the floor structure, then to be drawn down into the
foundation and discharged to the outside of the
building. For the ventilation described, i-_ is
necessary for the entire foundation to be placed under
negative pressure, which requires complete sealing of
the whole foundation. This is not only costly but also
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very difficult. With outdoor air vents of this type,
major problems also arise as a consequence of the
positive or negative pressure the wind pressure brings
about on the different sides of the building. With the
construction disclosed, it is likelv that there is a
positive pressure in the foundation at least at times.
The fan must nevertheless be dimensioned to handle very
large quantities of air on account of inevitable leaks
of the foundation wall also.
As the known construction uses outdoor air, this
readily leads to condensate being deposited both in
distribution ducts and on the screening panel. Even if
warm indoor air from the building were used instead of
outdoor air, condensate would be deposited, especially
during the winter, when warm air, which can contain
more moisture per unit of volume than cold air, is
drawn down into the cold foundation, where moisture
would then be precipitated.
The basis of the present invention is constituted
by the knowledge that, for successful ventilation of
crawl-space foundations, it is necessary to limit the
volume of the foundation where the ventilation is to be
monitored and controlled. This results in smaller
quantities of air having to be handled and sealing of
only a limited space being necessary, which is
relatively easy to achieve compared with sealing an
entire crawl-space foundation.
According to the present invention, this is
achieved by virtue of the fact that the crawl space is
divided into upper and lower climate zones, which are
sealed in relation to one another by means of a tight
climate screen. In this connection, the upper climate
zone is flowed through by warm indoor air, which keeps
this climate zone dry and well ventilated, which
prevents moisture deposition and mildew attack on, for
example, the floor above the crawl space. No regulation
of the environment in the lower climate zone is then
required, this zone being ventilated in a conventional
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manner by means of outdoor air vents in the surrounding
foundation walls.
The particularly characteristic feature of a
method of the type indicated in the first paragraph is
then, according to the present invention, that the
crawl space is divided into at least one upper and at
least one lower climate zone, that the two climate
zones are separated from one another by means of an
essentially windtight and vapourtight climate screen
which forms a tight partition between the climate
zones, that the climate screen is arranged at such a
height in the crawl space that the outdoor air vents in
the foundation walls communicate with only the lower
climate zone, that the upper climate zone is provided
with at least one supply air opening and at least one
exhaust air opening, that the supply air opening is
connected to a room above in the building and the
exhaust air opening is connected to a discharge duct,
and that a fan is arranged in association with the
discharge duct so as to maintain a lower pressure in
the upper climate zone than the pressure in said room
above, so that the upper climate zone is ventilated by
indoor air from the building and the lower climate zone
is ventilated by outdoor air.
If this method is applied, a dry and well
ventilated space is obtained on the underside of the
floor above the crawl space, which eliminates the risk
of moisture deposition and mildew formation. As the
volume of this space is relatively limited, it can be
sealed easily, so that an effective negative pressure
can be maintained in this zone. This prevents bad air,
radon gas or the like being drawn up into the building
above. The requirement for sealing the whole crawl
space is also eliminated.
If necessary, the supply air opening can be
provided with a connecting duct for supplying dried air
from a drying apparatus.
It is preferred that the climate screen is
thermaliy insulated so as to avoid any appreciable
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cooling of the ventilation air passing through the upper
climate zone.
Other characteristics of this method and of an
arrangement for use in application of the method are
discussed below.
In one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method for protecting building foundations and
floors above the foundations from damp and microbial
growth, the building foundation comprising a plurality of
sealably joined building foundation walls, each comprising
at least one air vent accessible to outdoor air, a building
floor affixed to upper edges of the building foundation
walls, the building floor and building foundation walls
together defining a crawl space below the building floor,
the building floor comprising at least one air supply
opening and at least one air exhaust opening, each supply
opening being operatively connected to a selected room
above the building floor, and each air exhaust opening
being operatively connected to a fan through a respective
air discharge duct, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a substantially windproof and vapourproof
climate screen to a location above each air vent of
opposing building foundation walls to divide the crawl
space into an upper climate zone and a lower climate zone;
(b) using the fan to maintain a lower air pressure in the
upper climate zone than an air pressure in the selected
room and thereby (i) ventilating the upper climate zone by
supplying air from the building through the at least one
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air supply opening; and (ii) ventilating the lower climate
zone by exhausting air through each air vent.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a system for protecting building foundations and
floors above the foundations from damp and microbial
growth, comprising (a) a building foundation comprising a
plurality of sealably joined building foundation walls,
each comprising at least one air vent accessible to outdoor
air; (b) a building floor affixed to upper edges of the
building foundation walls, the building floor and building
foundation walls together defining a crawl space below the
building floor; (c) the building floor comprising at least
one air supply opening and at least one air exhaust
opening; (d) each air supply opening being operatively
connected to a selected room above the building floor; (e)
each air exhaust opening being operatively connected to a
fan through a respective air discharge duct; and (f) a
substantially windproof and vapourproof climate screen
located above each air vent of opposing building foundation
walls to divide the crawl space into an upper climate zone
and a lower climate zone; wherein (i) the climate screen is
constructed and arranged to form an airtight partition
between the upper and lower climate zones; (ii) the fan is
constructed and arranged to: maintain a lower air pressure
in the upper climate zone than the air pressure in the
selected room; ventilate the upper climate zone by
supplying air from the building through the at least one
air supply opening; and ventilate the lower climate zone by
exhausting air through each air vent.
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The invention will be described in greater detail
below with reference to the embodiments shown by way of
example in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically a part of a building
foundation of the crawl-space type equipped according to
the present invention;
Fig. 2 shows a plan view and an end view of an
insulating panel used in a climate screen according to
Fig. 1;
Figs 3-5 illustrate how the panel according to Fig. 2
can be mounted;
Fig. 6 shows a mounting rail used in Fig. 3, shown in
a plan view and an end view;
Fig. 6A is a sectional view along the line II-II in
Fig. 6;
Figs 7 and 8 show a suspension element and,
respectively, a wedge in a plan view and a side view, which
are used for suspending the mounting rail according to
Fig. 6;
Fig. 9 illustrates the positioning of an air-
distributing arrangement used according to the invention;
Figs 10 and 11 show two embodiments of an air-
distributing arrangement according to Fig. 9;
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Fig. 12 shows a further embodiment of an air-
distributing arrangement;
Figs 13 and 14 show an alternative mounting
arrangement for insulating panels in a climate screen;
Figs 15 and 16 show two further embodiments of
mounting arrangements for insulating panels;
Fig. 17 shows a special embodiment of an insulating
panel in a plan view and a side view;
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Fig. 18 is a mounting element for a panel
according to Fig. 17;
Fig. 19 illustrates a number of insulating panels
according to Fig. 17 mounted as a climate screen, and
Figs 20 and 21 illustrate a further embodiment of
an insulating panel according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In Fig. 1, reference number 1 designates a bearing
foundation wall of a building foundation of the crawl-
space type. The crawl space 2 is also delimited by the
foundation ground 3 and an insulated floor structure 4
above the crawl space with an inner floor S. Reference
number 6 designates one of the insulated outer walis of
the building, reference number 7 relating to the outer
panelling of the building.
The building obtains its supply air via one or
more supply air vents 8 in the outer walls or
alternatively from a conventional ventilation system.
The crawl space 2 is ventilated via a number of outdoor
air vents 9, suitably provided with netting, mounted in
the foundation walls 1.
According to the present invention, in order to
protect the floor structure 4 above the crawl space
from damp and microbial growth, the crawl space 2 is
divided into at least one upper climate zone 10 and at
least one lower climate zone 11. The climate zones are
separated by an essentially windtight and vapourtight
climate screen 12 which is mounted essentially parallel
to and at a relatively small distance from the
underside of the floor structure 4 above the crawl
space. The distance between the climate screen 12 and
the floor structure 4 can be as small as 1-2 cm but is
usually 5-6 cm. If it is desirable to build in other
installations, such as for example waste pipes and the
like, the distance can be 15-20 cm or greater. In any
case, the volume of the upper climate zone 10 is
considerably smaller than the volume of the lower
climate zone 11.
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As the climate screen 12 protects the floor
structure 4 from the conditions in the lower climate
zone 11, no special measures have to be taken with
regard to the lower climate zone. This can therefore be
ventilated in a conventional manner by means of the
outdoor air vents 9 mounted in the foundation walls 1.
This means that the climate screen 12 is always to be
mounted at a higher level than the vents 9.
The upper climate zone 10 is to be sealed as well
as possible against outdoor air. In this connection,
the foundation walls 1 can be sealed over the part
which delimits the climate zone 10 in the lateral
direction. On account of the small height of the zone
10, this can be carried out effectively in a simple
manner, for example by insertion of a sealing body 13
extending on all sides along the foundation walls 1.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the climate
screen 12 is constructed from a number of insulating
panels 14 joined together, which are suitably made of a
rigid cellular plastic material, such as FRIGOLITc". The
panels 14 are suspended on swingable suspension
elements 15 which bear mounting rails 16, as will be
described in greater detail below. Reference number 17
designates an air-distributing means which will also be
described in greater detail below.
In order to maintain a climate in terms of
temperature and moisture in the upper climate zone 10
which prevents moisture deposition and microbial growth
on inter alia the underside of the floor structure 4
above the crawl space, the climate zone 10 has supply
openings 18 which are connected to supply air devices
19 with filters 20 in a room above in the building. Two
such supply air openings 18 are suitably arranged on
each of two of the opposite sides of the building, one
or two exhaust openings 21, 22 being arranged
essentially centrally in the building and each being
connected to a discharge duct 23 and, respectively, 24.
These can also be combined to form a common duct. If
the building is long, an extra supply air opening 18 is
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arranged every 8-10 m of building length. The exhaust
openings can consist of extraction pipes known per se
with openings distributed along the pipe. In this
connection, reference number 25 designates a suction
fan connected to the ducts 23 and 24, with an outlet
duct 26 which is suitably guided up above the ridge of
the building. Supply air can be taken from any desired
room in the building.
The fan 25 is adapted so as to maintain a lower
pressure in the upper climate zone 10 than in the room
above. This means that warm indoor air will be supplied
to the climate zone 10 via the supply openings 18 and
will flow along the underside of the floor structure 4
above the crawl space to the exhaust opening 21. As a
result of the climate screen 12 being insulated, the
air passing through the climate zone 10 will not be
cooled to any appreciable extent during the cold time
of the year either, for which reason no moisture
deposition will take place. Radiant heat from the floor
structure also contributes to this. In order that the
airflow in the climate zone 10 is distributed over the
entire width of the zone, an air-distributing means 17
is arranged between the climate screen 12 and the floor
structure 4 above the crawl space, which distributes
the airflow essentially uniformly or in another desired
manner in the climate zone 10.
The arrangement described above can be used in
order to improve existing foundations, as no measures
are necessary in the building apart from the supply air
device and the extraction fan. Sealing of the
foundation walls is not critical as a small amount of
outdoor air leaking in can be tolerated as a result of
the small air volumes which have to be handled in this
connection. The invention can of course also be used in
the production of new buildings. The climate zone 10
can be divided into sections with separate supply and
exhaust openings for individual climate control if so
desired. The lower climate zone 11 can of course also
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be divided by further bearing walls or the like without
functioning being affected.
The climate screen 12 can be varied depending on
requirements and can consist of, besides tight cellular
plastic panels, mineral wool panels, for example, if
appropriate with a tight lower or upper surface layer.
The screen can, depending on the outdoor climate, also
be uninsulated and consist of a tensioned fabric. The
panels 14 can be suspended from the floor structure 4,
as shown, or be supported from below, for example, if
this should prove to be suitable.
The supply air openings 18 can also be connected
to, besides an optional air device 19, an air-
conditioning system and/or air-drying equipment if so
desired. This can be advantageous in, for example,
buildings which are unheated for a certain part of the
year.
Fig. 2 shows a cellular plastic panel 14 in a plan
view and from one end. The panel is provided with a
groove 27 extending on all sides.
Fig. 3 shows how the grooves 27 are used, when
adjacent panels are joined together, for receiving one
half of a suspension and sealing rail 28 extending
along the entire length or width of a panel. The other
half of the rail is inserted into the groove in an
adjacent panel 14. The rails 28 are provided with
centrally located, slot-shaped openings through which
swingable suspension elements 15 can be guided down and
locked in the desired position.
In order to improve the retention of the rails 28
in the groove 27 of the panels, the rails can be made
with longitudinal flanges which, in the event of an
attempt to pull a rail out of a groove, are erected to
perform a barb-like function.
The swingable suspension elements 15 are used, as
can be seen from Fig. 4, for suspending the panels 14
below the floor structure 4 above the crawl space. In
this connection, the suspension elements 15 are
fastened to the floor above the crawl space, and the
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mounting and sealing rails 28 are secured on the
suspension elements 15 in the desired position to form
a climate zone 10 between the floor structure 4 and the
panels 14 with the desired height. By virtue of the
fact that the mounting rails 28 can be fastened at the
desired height, the panels 14 can be mounted in the
same plane irrespective of any inclination of the
floor structure 4. The use of mounting rails 28 which
are inserted into grooves 27 in the side edges of the
panels 14 also means that small angular variations
between the panels can be taken up, see Fig. 5, without
the tightness between the panels being impaired. This
can be further facilitated if the rails 28 are provided
with a longitudinal groove 32, see Fig. 6, which can
function as a hinge. Furthermore, the seal between the
panels is not threatened in the event of limited
movements of these as a result of shrinkage of the
panel material or movements in the building. If so
desired, however, an extra sealing strip 30 can be
inserted in the joint between two adjacent panels.
When the panels 14 are adjusted and mounted
against the foundation wall 1, use can be made of a
bent mounting rail 31, see Fig. 4. An extra sealing
strip 30 can also be inserted here between the edge of
the panel and the foundation wall if so desired.
Fig. 6 shows a mounting and sealing rail 28 on
larger scale. As can be seen from the end view, the
strip is provided with a longitudinal groove 32 which
is provided with predetermined break points 33, see the
sectional view in Fig. 6A, in order to allow material
portions 34 to be broken away to form slot-shaped
openings in the rail 28. The transverse edges of the
openings obtained will in this connection be formed by
resilient tongues 35.
Fig. 7 shows a swingable suspension element 15
seen from the front and from the side. The suspension
element 15 is adapted so as to be fastened to a joist
floor by screws or the like, which are guided through a
hole 36 in the upper part of the suspension element,
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which is then angled into a position essentially at
right angles relative to the remainder of the
suspension element about a hinge axis 37. The width of
the suspension element 15 is essentially the same as or
slightly greater than the length of the slot-shaped
openings in the rail 28, which are formed when the
material portions 34 are broken away. At least one edge
of the suspension element is toothed, which results in
the resilient tongues 35 of the openings of the rail 28
holding the suspension element in position in the
respective opening and providing resistance to the
suspension element being displaced through the opening.
On the front side, the suspension element has mutually
separate projections 39.
Fig. 8 shows a thin wedge 40 with a width
essentially corresponding to the width of the
suspension element 15. The wedge 40 is adapted so as to
be inserted through an opening in the rail 28 together
with the suspension element and on the plane side of
the latter, when it has been decided at which height
the rail 28 is to be fixed relative to the suspension
element 15. The wedge 40 will then press the suspension
element against one longitudinal edge of the slot in
the rail, which edge then engages between two of the
projections 39 in order to retain the rail 28 securely
in the position taken up on the suspension element 15.
However, the position can easily be adjusted
subsequently by pulling the wedge 40 out, moving the
rail 28 and reinserting the wedge. The lower portion 42
of the wedge 40 is hinged about an axis 41, which
facilitates gripping the wedge after mounting.
Fig. 9 shows how an air-diffusing divider 17 is
fastened between the floor structure 4 and the climate
screen 12 close to the inlet opening 18 to the climate
zone 10. An embodiment of the air diffuser 17 is shown
on larger scale in Fig. 10. This is provided with a
number of openings or slots 29 which will distribute
the airflow in a desired manner over the width of the
climate zone. By virtue of the fact that the divider is
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bellows-shaped, it can be adapted to climate zones 10
of different or varying heights.
Fig. 11 shows an alternative embodiment, in which
the divider 17 is perforated by holes 43 and has a
lower flange 45 intended to be inserted into the groove
in the edge of an insulating panel 14, according to
Fig. 2, the upper part of the panel being received in
the U-shaped profile 46. The flange 45 will be held
pressed into the groove in the insulating panel 4 by
means of the connecting and sealing rail 28 (Fig. 3)
which is inserted into the space between the flange 45
and a folded-over portion 47 thereof.
Fig. 12 shows a further embodiment of an air-
distributing arrangement. In this case, it consists of
two angled profiles 48, 49 which are fastened to the
floor structure 4 above the crawi space and,
respectively, the climate screen 12, so that a narrow
gap 50 is formed between the profiles 48 and 49. By
means of the gap 50, the airflow through the climate
zone 10 can be made to spread out over the entire width
of the zone.
By varying the hole distribution or the hole size
over the dividers according to Figs 10 and 11 in the
lateral direction, or changing the gap width 50 between
the angled profiles 48 and 49 in the lateral direction
in Fig. 12, the desired air distribution in the climate
zone can be obtained.
The air-diffusing dividers according to Figs 10,
11 and 12 can also be used for delimiting different
climate zones, in which case they are not provided with
openings, or they are mounted in such a manner that an
intermediate gap is not formed.
Fig. 13 shows an alternative embodiment of a
suspension arrangement for insulating panels which are
to form a climate screen 12 according to Fig. 1. The
arrangement comprises a hanging swingable suspension
element 55 which is connected to a fastening plate 56
via a hinge 57. The fastening plate 5-6 is intended to
be mounted on the underside of the floor structure
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above the crawl space of the building. The suspension
element is provided with a number of openings 58 for
receiving mounting elements 59, by means of which an
upper and a lower rail-shaped mounting and sealing
profile 60 and, respectively, 61 can be mounted at the
desired mutual distance. This distance is adapted to
the insulating panel to be secured between the
profiles.
By means of this arrangement, the climate screen
can also be constructed from softer insulating panels
62 made of, for example, mineral wool, see Fig. 14.
Foamed plastic strips 63 can then be arranged in the
butt joints between the mineral wool panels.
Fig. 15 illustrates a further alternative
suspension arrangement for insulating panels, which is
also suitable for soft panels. It consists of an upper
and a lower profiled rail 64 and, respectively, 6S, one
of which is provided with an upwardly projecting flange
66 which can be received in a gap between two
downwardly projecting flanges 67, provided with
friction teeth, of the other rail. The rails can thus
be locked relative to one another at the desired mutual
distance which is adapted to the thickness of the
insulating panel to be used. Suspension is effected as
previously by means of a swingable suspension element
(not shown) which is fixed to the upper rail 64.
Fig. 16 shows a further alternative suspension
arrangement which comprises upper and lower rails 68,
69 which are connected by means of a longitudinal
cellular plastic core 70, the height of which is
essentially the same as the thickness of the insulating
panels to be used. Suspension from the floor structure
is effected by means of heighr-adjustable screws which
are guided through threaded holes 71 in the cellular
plastic core 70.
Fig. 17 shows a specially shaped insulating panel
72 with milled-out edge portions 73 along two adjacent
edges on one side and along ti-le other two edges on the
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other side of the panel. The panels have rounded
cutouts 74 at the corners.
Mounting of the panels is effected by means of
bobbin-like mounting elements 75, see Fig. 18, which
are suspended, by means of height-adjustable screws,
from the floor structure of the building in positions
for the rounded corner portions of the panels 72.
Fig. 19 shows a section of a climate screen
constructed in this manner, consisting of panels 72
supported by mounting elements 75, and forming a
completely tight screen as a consequence of the
overlaps between the milled-out edge portions 73 of
adjacent panels.
Figs 20 and 21 show a specially manufactured
insulating panel 76 which is made in such a manner
that, when it is mounted on the underside of a floor
structure, a delimited climate zone is formed between
the panels and the floor structure as a result of the
panels being formed with distance means 77. These
panels are also provided with milled-out edge portions
so as to overlap one another on mounting according to
Fig. 20. In this connection, the side flanges 78 can be
provided with sealing strips 79. The undersides of the
panels are made with recesses 88 which correspond to
the distance means 77 in order to allow volume-
effective stacking of panels one on another during
transport and storage.
On mounting according to Fig. 21, use is also made
of special air-distributing panels 80 which are made
with a longitudinal ridge 81 which, together with an
edge profile 82, delimits a horizontal duct 83 for
supply air and, in interaction with the floor structure
above, forms an air-distributing gap 84.
It is common to all the mounting systems described
above for panels which are to form a climate screen
that the panels can be mounted easily from below on a
floor structure above the crawl space. Furthermore,
after mounting, the panels cannot fall down into the
lower climate zone or be drawn up into the upper
WO 01/71102 CA 02403722 2002-09-23 PCT/SE01/00567
- 16 -
climate zone as a consequence of the negative pressure
prevailing therein.
The invention has been exemplified above in
connection with some embodiments shown in the drawings.
However, as the person skilled in the art will
understand, these can be varied in a number of respects
within the scope of the patent claims.
