Flood vent having a panel
According to one embodiment, a flood vent panel includes a first area, a second area, and a first set of one or more perforations positioned on a first side of the flood vent panel in a location in-between the first area and the second area. The perforations are configured to break when at least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the second area. The flood vent panel is configured to be coupled, at least indirectly, to a structure so as to at least partially block a fluid passageway through an opening in the structure. The break is configured to completely separate the second area from the first area so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway.
1. A flood vent, comprising:
a frame configured to form a fluid passageway through an opening in a structure; and
a panel configured to be coupled to the frame in the fluid passageway so as to at least partially block the fluid passageway through the opening in the structure, the panel having:
an outer perimeter defined by a top edge of the panel, a bottom edge of the panel, a left side edge of the panel, and a right side edge of the panel;
a solid outer area;
a solid inner area entirely surrounded by the solid outer area;
a first set of one or more perforations positioned on a first side of the panel in a location in-between the solid outer area and the solid inner area of the panel, the first set of one or more perforations having:
a top portion;
a bottom portion;
a left side portion; and
a right side portion, the first set of one or more perforations entirely surrounding the solid inner area of the panel on the first side of the panel; and
a second set of one or more perforations positioned on a second side of the panel in a location in-between the solid outer area and the solid inner area of the panel, the second set of one or more perforations having:
a top portion;
a bottom portion;
a left side portion; and
a right side portion, the second set of one or more perforations entirely surrounding the solid inner area of the panel on the second side of the panel, the second side of the panel being opposite of the first side of the panel;
the first set of one or more perforations and the second set of one or more perforations both being configured to break when at least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the solid inner area of the panel on the first side of the panel by one or more of a fluid or an object carried by the fluid, the first set of one or more perforations and the second set of one or more perforations both being further configured to break when the at least the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the solid inner area of the panel on the second side of the panel by the one or more of the fluid or the object carried by the fluid, wherein the break is configured to completely separate the solid inner area of the panel from the solid outer area of the panel so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel.
2. The flood vent of claim 1 , wherein the panel is a solid panel configured to be coupled to the frame in the fluid passageway so as to completely block the fluid passageway through the opening in the structure.
3. The flood vent of claim 1 , wherein:
the top portion of the first set of one or more perforations is positioned less than 4 inches from the top edge of the panel;
the bottom portion of the first set of one or more perforations is positioned less than 4 inches from the bottom edge of the panel;
the left side portion of the first set of one or more perforations is positioned less than 4 inches from the left side edge of the panel; and
the right side portion of the first set of one or more perforations is positioned less than 4 inches from the right side edge of the panel.
4. The flood vent of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of pressure is 0.5-5.0 pounds per square inch.
5. A flood vent, comprising:
a frame configured to form a fluid passageway through an opening in a structure; and
a panel configured to be coupled to the frame in the fluid passageway so as to at least partially block the fluid passageway through the opening in the structure, the panel having a first solid area, a second solid area, and a first set of one or more perforations positioned on a first side of the panel in a location in-between the first solid area and the second solid area of the panel, the first set of one or more perforations being configured to break when at least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the second solid area of the panel, wherein the break is configured to completely separate the second solid area of the panel from the first solid area of the panel so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel, wherein the panel further includes a second set of one or more perforations positioned on a second side of the panel in the location in-between the first solid area and the second solid area of the panel, the second set of one or more perforations being configured to break when the at least the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the portion of the second solid area of the panel.
6. The flood vent of claim 5 , wherein the panel is a solid panel configured to be coupled to the frame in the fluid passageway so as to completely block the fluid passageway through the opening in the structure.
7. The flood vent of claim 5 , wherein the first set of one or more perforations are further configured to break when the at least the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the second solid area of the panel on the first side of the panel, and wherein the first set of one or more perforations are further configured to break when the at least the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the second solid area of the panel on a second side of the panel opposite of the first side of the panel.
8. The flood vent of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined amount of pressure is 0.5-5.0 pounds per square inch.
9. A flood vent panel, comprising:
a first solid area;
a second solid area; and
a first set of one or more perforations positioned on a first side of the flood vent panel in a location in-between the first solid area and the second solid area of the flood vent panel, the first set of one or more perforations being configured to break when at least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the second solid area of the flood vent panel, wherein the flood vent panel further includes a second set of one or more perforations positioned on a second side of the flood vent panel in the location in-between the first solid area and the second solid area of the panel, the second set of one or more perforations being configured to break when the at least the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the portion of the second solid area of the panel;
wherein the flood vent panel is configured to be coupled, at least indirectly, to a structure so as to at least partially block a fluid passageway through an opening in the structure;
wherein the break is configured to completely separate the second solid area of the flood vent panel from the first solid area of the flood vent panel so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the flood vent panel.
10. The flood vent panel of claim 9 , wherein the flood vent panel is a solid panel configured to be coupled, at least indirectly, to the structure so as to completely block the fluid passageway through the opening in the structure.
11. The flood vent panel of claim 9 , wherein the first set of one or more perforations are further configured to break when the at least the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the second solid area of the panel on the first side of the panel, and wherein the first set of one or more perforations are further configured to break when the at least the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the second solid area of the panel on a second side of the panel opposite of the first side of the panel.
12. The flood vent panel of claim 9 , wherein the flood vent panel is configured to be coupled directly to the structure.