SmartVent.com created a ventilation system that protects houses from floods.
Title
SmartVENT Foundation Flood Vents
Description
In the height of the New Jersey coastal building boom in 1996, some shore communities were taking the building codes seriously. Avalon, NJ was one that would take the lead to ensure that their community grew safely. For architects and builders, understanding the numerous building codes and floodplain regulations that existed was not an easy job. Finding a commercial product that was compliant to these codes was impossible. An architect gave a local draftsman the task of finding a code compliant flood vent that could be used in a set of house plans. After several days of exhaustive research, no vent could be found that met all of the codes and regulations. It was at this time that the idea for developing a code compliant flood vent was born.
In 1998 our first patent was filed. The first vent we produced is still one of our most popular models. This dual function flood and natural ventilation model has louvers that open and close with temperature, but more importantly, has a door that opens automatically when floodwater rises, just like all of our other vents. Many code officials, floodplain managers, and builders that we interviewed stated that their biggest concern was the common practice of the homeowner, after the certificate of occupancy was obtained, to close off air and flood openings in the foundation. Our dual purpose Smart VENT solved two problems for homeowners. No longer would vents need to be closed in the winter to avoid pipes from freezing, and residents no longer needed to fear that closed vents would affect their flood protection.
Soon after came an insulated model, Flood VENT, that was ideal for use in garages, home entries and storage areas that were conditioned, and commercially in warehouses and marinas. We added a UL approved fire damper solution that was ideal for the many condominium and townhouse projects that installed our flood vents. We introduced stacking models for large enclosures, an overhead door model which is perfect for retrofit projects, and a family of vents to simplify wood wall construction installation. Finally, by request from numerous architects and homeowners, we introduced a number of colored vents, using an epoxy powder coating of durable Rohm and Haas exterior paints.
Languages
English
Contact
Administrative:
- Graham, Mike
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- Pitman NJ
- US 08071
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- 877-441-8368
Registrant:
- Smart VENT, Inc.
-
- Pitman NJ
- US 08071
