Abstract:
A flood and combustion air vent includes a louvered panel supporting a rodent screen for placement across an opening in a wall or door of an enclosed space in a building. The apertures in the louvered panel and rodent screen are sized to accommodate ingress and egress of flood water at a rate of water flow sufficient to prevent destructive hydrostatic forces from acting upon either the exterior or interior surfaces of the wall. Additionally, the rodent screen will prevent intrusion of rodents, vermin and reptiles into the enclosed space.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to residential buildings and, more particularly, to vents for use in garage walls, garage doors and building foundation walls for buildings and which satisfy federal and international regulations for flood vents and combustion air vents. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Prior Art 
         [0004]    Vents, in the form of louvered panels, have been used in doors, garage doors, garage walls and building walls for ventilation purposes. To prevent intrusion of insects and debris, fine mesh screens have been incorporated with the louvered panels. While these louvered panels and insect screens have met the requirements attendant ventilation of an adjacent enclosed space, it has become increasingly evident that they do not alleviate the pressure buildup due to hydrostatic forces that occur during flooding. A major cause relates to debris clogging the vents which prevents relatively unobstructed flow of water through the vent in either direction. During rising flood waters, the pressure buildup by the water on the exterior surface of a door or wall may be sufficient to collapse the door or wall as there is no equalizing pressure on the other side of the door or wall. As flood waters recede, the enclosure defined in part by a door(s) and walls may enclose a significant depth of water. If the flow of water out of the enclosure is not generally commensurate with the level of the receding flood water external thereto, internal pressures on the door/wall will exist. These flood water related pressures on the exterior and interior surfaces of doors and walls may be sufficient to cause collapse or destruction of the doors and/or walls and may cause the building, or a significant part of it to collapse. Thus, the building may be in effect destroyed rather than just damaged by short term presence of flood waters. 
         [0005]    To alleviate flood water related problems and to establish requirements for providing sufficient air for gas fired water heaters and the like that may be present within an enclosed section of a building, numerous national and international regulations have been promulgated. 
         [0006]    A national building code (BOCA) (§1210.2) requires ventilation of crawl spaces that provides cross ventilation on at least two approximately opposite sides having openings with a corrosion resistant mesh with not less than one quarter inch (6 mm.), nor more than one half inch (13 mm.) in any direction. The net area of each opening shall be not less than one square foot (0.093 m 2 ) for each 150 square feet (13.95 m 2 ) of foundation space. Additionally, BOCA has certain requirements for buildings and structures erected in areas prone to flooding. More particularly, fully enclosed spaces shall be designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic forces on exterior walls by allowing for entry and exit of flood water. To meet these requirements, there must be at least two openings having a total net area of not less than one square inch (645 mm 2 ) for every square foot (0.1 m 2 ) of enclosed area subject to flooding. The bottom of each opening shall not be higher than 12 inches (305 mm) above grade. The openings, whether equipped with screens, louvers, valves, or other coverings or devices, must permit the automatic entry and discharge of flood water. 
         [0007]    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires in §44 CFR 60.3 (C5) that all new construction and substantial improvements of fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor that are usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other than a basement which are subject to flooding shall be designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for entry and exit of flood waters. To meet these requirements, there must be a minimum of two openings having a total area not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding. The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade. The openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, valves, or other coverings or devices provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of flood waters. 
         [0008]    The International Building Code (IBC) (P. 259-1202.3.1) requires that openings for under floor ventilation comply with the opening requirements of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 24 and the International Mechanical Code (IMC) (Table 401.6). Air exhaust and intake openings that terminate outdoors shall be protected with corrosion resistant screens, louvers or grills having intake openings of not less than one quarter inch and not greater than one half inch. Additionally, for foundation wall ventilation openings, they must be made rodent proof by covering the openings with perforated sheet metal plates not less than 0.07 inches thick, expanded metal plates not less than 0.047 inches thick, cast-iron grills or grating, extruded aluminum load bearing vents or with hardware cloth of 0.035 inches wire or heavier. The openings therein shall not exceed one quarter inch. 
         [0009]    The International Residential Code (IRC) has established certain flood resistant construction (P54 §R327). In essence, the requirements for an enclosed area below design flood elevation used solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage and must include flood openings which meet certain criteria. There must be a minimum of two openings providing a total net area of at least one square inch per one square foot of enclosed area. The bottom of each opening shall be one foot above the adjacent ground level. Any louvers, screens or other opening covers shall allow the automatic flow of flood waters into and out of the enclosed areas. Any openings installed in doors or windows shall meet these requirements. 
         [0010]    The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) §ASCE 24-98 is directed to flood resistant design and construction. In essence, it requires that foundation openings allow automatic entry and exit of flood waters during design flood conditions. These openings shall meet the following requirements. There shall be a minimum of two openings on different sides of each enclosed area. The total net area of all openings shall be at least one square inch for each one square foot of enclosed area. The bottom of each opening shall be no more than one foot above the adjacent ground level. Any louvers, screens or other opening covers shall not block or impede the automatic flow of flood waters into and out of the enclosed areas. Furthermore, the difference between the exterior and interior flood water levels shall not exceed one foot during periods of maximum rate of rise and maximum rate of fall of flood waters and at any other times during the design, or lesser, flood events. 
         [0011]    Additionally, the Federal Insurance Administration has issued requirements for buildings located in special flood hazard areas under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). All new construction and substantial improvements with fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor that are usable for parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other than a basement and which are subject to flooding shall be designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for entry and exit of flood waters. These requirements include a minimum of two openings having a total area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding. The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade. The openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, valves or other coverings or devices provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of flood waters. For buildings with attached garages, the openings are required in either the exterior walls of the garage or in the garage doors themselves. It is anticipated that a large amount of debris will be associated with flooding and the fact that the openings include some form of vermin (rodent) screen to meet the applicable building codes, there is a high probability that at least one opening may be obstructed during a flood. For this reason, openings are required in at least two different sides of the enclosed area, and must be incorporated in the calculations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    A louvered panel includes a plurality of louvers defining a width of no more than one quarter inch and the length may vary as a function of various factors. A rodent screen is located adjacent the interior surface of the louvered panel to prevent intrusion of rodents, snakes and other vermin that may be present during flooding. The rodent screen includes a plurality of openings generally corresponding in location with adjacent louvers sized no less than one quarter inch in one dimension and one half inch in another dimension. Non-rectangular configurations may, in the alternative, be configured in the rodent screen that meet the size restrictions of various applicable codes. These vents may be installed in garage doors, garage walls, foundation walls, and/or doors leading to flood water affected areas. 
         [0013]    It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a vent which meets code requirements attendant impact of flood waters. 
         [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a flood vent that includes a rodent screen to prevent intrusion of rodents and reptiles while accommodating a flow of flood water in either direction. 
         [0015]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a combustion air vent capable of meeting the air flow requirements within an enclosed space housing a gas-fired water heater, or other device having a flame. 
         [0016]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a flood water and combustion air event that equalizes hydrostatic pressures on opposed sides during flooding and that provides sufficient ventilation to meet combustion air requirements. 
         [0017]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method for preventing hydrostatic pressure buildup on a wall of a building during flooding. 
         [0018]    A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a method for satisfying flood and combustion air requirements with a vent. 
         [0019]    A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a flood and combustion air vent that may be used in new construction or as a retrofit in existing buildings. 
         [0020]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the elements of a flood and combustion air vent particularly adapted for use in a panel of a garage door; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the vent shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the vent shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is an exploded side view of the vent shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the two part frame, louvered panel and rodent screen shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a partial rear view of the vent shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a partial view of a rodent screen embodied in the vent shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7   a  illustrates a variation of the rodent screen shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7   b  illustrates a rear view of the rodent screen shown in  FIG. 7   a;    
           [0031]      FIGS. 8 through 13  illustrate variants of a rodent screen; 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  illustrates a variant of the vent shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  illustrates a partial exploded view of the variant shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  is a partial cross-sectional view of a two part frame, louvered panel and rodent screen embodied in the variant shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 17  illustrates a flood and combustion air vent mountable in a block wall wherein a block has been removed to create an opening; 
           [0036]      FIG. 17   a  illustrates a flood and combustion air vent used as a retrofit for an existing opening in a block wall; 
           [0037]      FIG. 18  is an exploded rear view of the vent shown in  FIGS. 17 and 17   a;    
           [0038]      FIG. 19  is a partial rear view of the vent shown in  FIG. 18 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional of a vertically oriented opening formed in a block wall and showing a flood and combustion air vent extending thereacross; 
           [0040]      FIG. 21  illustrates a representative concrete block vertically oriented prior to covering the openings therein with a flood and combustion air vent; 
           [0041]      FIG. 22  illustrates the flood and combustion air vent mounted on the block illustrated in  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 23  is a partial cross-sectional view of the flood and combustion air vent attached to a vertically oriented concrete block; 
           [0043]      FIG. 24  is a rear view of the flood and combustion air vent usable in the embodiment illustrated in either of  FIG. 20  or  22 ; and 
           [0044]      FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional view of the flood and combustion air vent. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a flood and combustion air vent  10  particularly suited for installation in a panel of a retractable garage door. A detailed description of this vent will be in reference to  FIGS. 1-6 . The frame  12  (see  FIG. 5 ) for the vent may be a commercially available frame or may be specially configured to support louvered panel  14  and rodent screen  16 . Frame  12  includes a fascia  18  and a backing  20 . As particularly shown in  FIG. 5 , a panel  22  of a garage door includes an opening defined in part by edge  24  in the panel. The fascia includes an extension  26  which extends laterally from edge  24  and bears against panel  22 , as illustrated. Thereby, the fascia circumscribes edge  24 . A further lateral extension  28  of the fascia extends inwardly from edge  24  into the area of the opening defined by the edge to support louvered panel  14  and rodent screen  16  within the opening. Backing  20  is in the nature of a rectangular element secured to fascia  18  by a plurality of attachment means, such as screws  30  illustrated; bolts, or the like may also be used. The backing includes a side  32  bearing against the inside surface of panel  22  of the garage door. The combination of side  32  and extension  26  bearing against opposite sides of panel  22  secures frame  12  within the panel of the garage door. A further side  34  of backing  20  extends toward extension  28  of fascia  18  to clamp louvered panel  14  and rodent screen  16  therebetween upon tightening of screw(s)  30 . 
         [0046]    Louvered panel  14  includes a plurality of louvers  40  in conformance with national and international requirements for flood vents. Opening  42  (see  FIG. 5 ) has a width of at least one quarter inch. As there is no restriction on the length of the opening, it may be of any length commensurate with the configuration of the louvered panel. Thereby, water as well as air, will flow relatively unimpeded through the louvers and small debris will not cause clogging of the openings of the louvers. 
         [0047]    As has been learned many times during flooding, rodents, vermin and reptiles either deliberately enter or are washed into buildings through openings. These rodents, vermin and reptiles are potentially dangerous to occupants of a building and may be dangerous to safety and construction personnel that may enter the building during and after a flood event. Furthermore, many of these rodents, vermin and reptiles die or are otherwise injured, which creates a significant health hazard from the putrefying flesh. 
         [0048]    To prevent entry of rodents, vermin and reptiles during flooding and otherwise, a rodent screen  16  is embodied in vent  10 . This rodent screen must serve two purposes. First, it must permit sufficient rate of water flow therethrough to prevent hydrostatic forces on the inside or outside of a wall or garage door from becoming excessive and out of compliance with applicable building codes. Second, the rodent screen must have sufficiently small apertures to preclude entry of rodents, vermin and reptiles. It is to be understood that as the first requirement attendant flood waters is met, the requirement for flow of air to meet combustion air requirements is inherently met. 
         [0049]    To meet flood water requirements, rodent screen  16  includes a plurality of apertures  50  formed therein and generally juxtaposed with the louvers in louvered panel  14 . Each of these apertures may be rectangular as illustrated. To meet code requirements, these apertures have one dimension no less than a quarter inch and second dimension no greater than a half inch. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  6  and  7 , the horizontal dimension of the rectangular apertures is no less than a quarter inch and the vertical dimension is no greater than a half inch.  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  illustrate a rodent screen  60  wherein each of apertures  62  is no less than one quarter inch square, nor more than one half inch square. 
         [0050]    As noted in  FIG. 7 , the corners of rodent screen  16  may be cut off. However, depending upon the configuration of frame  12 , the corners may be left. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the perimeter of the rodent screen, as well as louvered panel  14 , are configured to correspond with the configuration of frame  12 . 
         [0051]    It is to be understood that the rodent screen and the louvered panel may be retained in place and adjacent one another by the compression exerted by fascia  18  and backing  20 . Alternatively, the louvered panel and rodent screen may be spot welded to one another or toggle locks  64 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7   b,  may be used to produce a unitary structure to be fitted within a supporting frame. 
         [0052]      FIGS. 8 through 12  illustrate variants of the apertures that may be formed in a rodent screen. In particular,  FIG. 8  shows groups  70  of circular apertures  72  formed rodent screen  74  and located to be generally juxtaposed with corresponding louvers in an adjacent louvered panel.  FIG. 9  illustrates a rodent screen  76  having groups  78  of hexagonal apertures  80 . These groups of apertures would be located in rodent screen  76  in juxtaposed relationship with the louvers of an adjacent louvered panel. Rodent screen  82  in  FIG. 10  illustrates groups  84  of oblong apertures  86  conforming in size with code requirements. These groups of apertures would become juxtaposed with corresponding louvers of an adjacent louvered panel.  FIG. 11  illustrates a rodent screen  88  having a plurality of elongated apertures  90  disposed within a solid border  92 . These apertures would extend along rodent screen  88  and not grouped in the manner apertures  50  are grouped in rodent screen  16 , as shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 12  illustrates a rodent screen  94  formed of a wire mesh  96 . The wire mesh is configured to provide apertures  98  having a dimension of no less than one quarter inch as the smallest dimension and the largest dimension is configured no greater than one half inch. For illustrative purposes, wire mesh  96  is shown as defining a plurality of essentially square apertures. 
         [0053]    A variant rodent screen  100  is shown in  FIG. 13 . Herein the screen is formed of a sheet of metal with groups  102  of apertures  104 . Using well known manufacturing processes, the groups of apertures are punched to provide apertures having the smallest dimension at least one quarter inch and the largest dimension no less than one half inch. For illustrative purposes, these apertures are shown as being essentially square. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIGS. 14 ,  15  and  16  there is illustrated a variant vent  110  of a flood and combustion air vent. This variant vent is quite similar to vent  10  in many respects and only the variations therebetween will be described in detail. 
         [0055]    Frame  12  is commercially available and mountable in a panel  22  of a garage door. Quite often it is used as a mounting for a sheet of light transmissive glass to help light the interior of a garage. This sheet of glass normally has a thickness of approximately 0.100 inches. The dimensions of fascia  18  and backing  20  are configured to snuggly grip the sheet of glass therebetween. As particularly shown in  FIG. 16 , the combination of louvered panel  112  and rodent screen  114  are of thicknesses, when combined, of approximately 0.100 inches. Thereby, upon attachment of backing  20  to fascia  18  the louvered panel and rodent screen will be firmly gripped. 
         [0056]    Louvered panel  112  has bent over edges  116 ,  118 ,  120  and  122 , as particularly illustrated in  FIG. 16 . The ends of these edges define a wall serving in the manner of a jig to position rodent screen  114  therewithin. The rodent screen is welded, toggle locked or adhesively attached to louvered panel  112 . It may be noted that sometimes the bent over edges are referred to as ‘hemmed edges.’ 
         [0057]    As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , louvered panel  112  extends laterally outwardly from interior edge  124  of frame  12 . It may extend to a location proximate boss  126  extending from fascia  18 . Thereby, relative movement between the louvered panel and fascia  18  is relatively limited, if any. Rodent screen  114 , which may be any of the type described previously, is dimensioned to nest within the walls defined by the bent over edges, such as wall  128  attendant bent over edge  122 , and wall  130  attendant bent over edge  120 . 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIGS. 17 ,  17   a,    18  and  19 , there is illustrated a flood vent and a combustion air vent for use in a block wall, either as part of new construction or as a retrofit. Referring particularly to  FIG. 17 , there is illustrated a conventional block wall  140  formed of several courses of blocks  142 . To provide for water inflow or outflow from an enclosure defined by the block wall and to provide for ventilation, a block has been removed, as depicted by a void or opening  144 . To ensure that blocks  146 ,  148  above the opening will not have a tendency to migrate downwardly into opening  144 , a rectangular brace  150  may be inserted at the front and back of the opening. This brace would provide support for the overlying blocks and prevent splitting or other damage to block wall  140  due to migration of blocks  146 ,  148  and any further overlying blocks. A flood vent  152 , as particularly illustrated in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , includes a louvered panel  154  having a plurality of louvers  156  which comply with code requirements for flood vents. A rodent screen  158  having a plurality of apertures  160 , as described above, is mounted adjacent interior surface  162  of louvered panel  154  and within lip  164  extending about the louvered panel. To retain rodent screen  158  in place, strips of double sided adhesive tape  166  are placed adjacent the interior surface of border  168  of the rodent screen and in corresponding locations on interior surface  162  surrounding louvers  156  of the louvered panel. Alternatively the rodent screen may be toggle locked or welded to louvered panel  154 . 
         [0059]    Flood vent  152  is retained in place adjacent opening  144  by screws  170  penetrably engaging holes  172  in louvered panel  154  and threadedly engaging corresponding holes  174  in brace  150 . Thereby, flood vent  152  accommodates a flow of flood water into and out of the enclosure defined by block wall  140 . For esthetic or other purposes, a further louvered panel  175  may be mounted on the other side of opening  144 . It may be attached to a second brace (not shown) disposed in opening  144 , adjacent the interior side of the block wall. Screws  176  may be used to secure louvered panel  175  in place. As rodent screen  158  will prevent intrusion of rodents and vermin, there is no need to mount a similar rodent screen within louvered panel  175 . 
         [0060]    It is to be noted that flood vent  152  and louvered panel  175  are also capable of serving the requirements of a combustion air vent should the need for such ventilation exist or arise. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 17   a  there is shown a variant mounting for flood vent  152 . It is presumed that block wall  180  is an existing wall having an opening  182  formed therein during construction of the block wall. Although not shown, it is presumed that a lintel extends across the top of the opening to support the overlying blocks. Flood vent  152  is constructed in the manner described above with respect to the flood vent  152  illustrated in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . Flood vent  152  is attached to block wall  180  by screws  184 , or the like, penetrably engaging holes  172  and in to threaded engagement with respective ones of blocks  186 . Such attachment may be accomplished by using screws, or the like particularly adapted for threadedly engaging a concrete block. Alternatively, a hole may be drilled in each block to receive an insert. Screws  184 , bolts, or the like, would engage such insert(s). The rear of opening  182  may be covered by a conventional louvered panel  175 , as described above and assuming that the corresponding side of the block wall is an interior surface. Louvered panel  175  would be attached to the block wall, in the manner of flood vent  152  by screws  184  or the like. 
         [0062]    As described above, flood vent  152  shown in  FIG. 17   a  satisfies all of the criteria for a flood vent and a combustion air vent, as set forth in national and international codes. Thus, ingress and egress of water through opening  182  would comply with flood water and air flow requirements. 
         [0063]    At some locations, concrete blocks may be oriented vertically (rather than horizontally as illustrated in  17  and  17   a ) for walls or pillars. Referring jointly to  FIGS. 20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  and  25  there is shown a further variant of a flood and combustion air vent mounted in a concrete block structure  192  wherein the concrete blocks are oriented vertically with the openings therein facing the interior and exterior sides of the wall. Such orientation of the concrete blocks is particularly illustrated in  FIG. 21  wherein block  194  is shown. Vent  190  includes a louvered panel  196  having a circumscribing lip  198 . A rodent screen  200  is attached to the inside surface of louvered panel  196  by toggle locks, welds or the like, as represented by dots identified by numeral  202 . It is to be understood that double sticky-back tape may also be used as such tape is presently commercially available that has sufficient structural integrity to serve the purpose of retaining the rodent screen in place despite a flow of water therethrough or other disturbing forces. Rodent screen  200  includes a plurality of apertures  204  conforming in size to various national and international codes. That is, each of these apertures has one dimension of not less than one quarter inch and a second dimension of not more than a half inch. While rectangular shaped apertures are illustrated, it is to be understood that differently shaped apertures may be employed, as discussed above with respect to  FIG. 8  and other figures. 
         [0064]    As particularly illustrated in  FIGS. 20 and 24 , vent  190  may be secured to concrete wall or a column or other such structure  192  by attachment means, such as concrete nails. Alternatively, holes may be drilled in the underlying structure to receive inserts for engagement by screws/bolts or other attachment means extending through apertures  208  in the louvered panel and the rodent screen. 
         [0065]    It is expected that vent  190  is mounted on the exterior of structure  192  and generally coincident with opening  210  extending therethrough. The other side of the opening may include a co be employed. 
         [0066]    As particularly shown in  FIG. 23 , it is not necessary for a louvered panel  220  to include a lip for circumscribing rodent screen  222 . The rodent screen may be attached by toggle locks, welding or double sticky adhesive tape to the interior surface of the louvered panel. In turn, the louvered panel is attached to structure  192 , such as block  194 , by attachment means well known to those skilled in the art. Thereby, not only is the rodent screen mechanically attached to the louvered panel, but it will be compressed between concrete block  194  and the louvered panel to prevent movement. Alternatively, the attachment means for attaching the louvered panel to structure  192  may extend through holes in rodent screen  222 . Thereby, there is a mechanical attachment of the rodent screen to the concrete block and the rodent screen is immovably located between the louvered panel and structure  192 .