Abstract: A building panel has a unitary foamed core, and a unitary cover layer of resinous polymeric material covering the core and covering a bottom edge or drip edge and an upper edge of the panel. A system for installation of adjacent panels includes the adjacent panels having vertical clip-receiving grooves slidably receiving narrow edges of a clip. The clip holds adjacent panels in coplanar abutting relationship to minimize movement while installed on a wall of a building.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module includes an encapsulated photovoltaic element and an infrared transmissive decorative overlay simulating conventional roofing.

Abstract: A molded synthetic polymer based shingle is provided as is a roof made up of underlying and overlying of courses of such shingles. The shingles are generally rigid and are provided with upwardly protruding moisture guards on the upper surfaces of their headlap portions, for guarding against wind-blown moisture entering fastener locations at which fasteners are used to attach shingles to a roof. The moisture guards may be of various configurations and by either completely or incompletely surround the fastener locations. Shields having recesses for receiving moisture guards therein, or other downward projections, may be provided at under surface locations of the shingles in cooperative engagement for further protection against moisture penetration and for facilitating alignment of shingles relative to other shingles.

Abstract: Dark colored roofing granules include an inert base particle coated with a composition including a metal silicate, a non-clay latent heat reactant, and a dark colored but solar reflective prigment.

Abstract: A shingle, a method of making it, and a roof embodying the shingle is provided, in which an exterior surface of the shingle is provided with an attached reinforcement layer through which fasteners may be applied when the shingle is applied to a roof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photovoltaic roofing systems in which photovoltaic elements are disposed upon roofing elements such as shingles, tiles, shakes or slates. For example, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing system comprising: a first plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements; a bus bar batten system extending across the headlap regions of the first plurality of roofing elements, the bus bar batten system comprising one or more rigid supports and an electrical interconnection system; a first plurality of photovoltaic elements, each disposed on a butt region of one of the first plurality of roofing elements, each operatively engaged with the electrical interconnection system of the bus bar batten system; and a second plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements disposed on the roof deck and covering the bus bar batten system and the headlap regions of the first plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements.

Abstract: A roof covering of shingles or tiles is provided, with each shingle or tile being relatively rigid, having relatively flexible stress relief nail zones, that may comprise variations in thickness relative to the remainder of the shingle or tile, or variations in materials, such as will allow for relative movement of the shingles or tiles due to temperature variations resulting in expansion or contraction, or due to other forces, such that the movement will be between the shingles or the tiles and the nails or other fasteners that are used to secure the shingles or tiles to a roof or other surface, and is preferably within the elastic limits of the fastening zones of the shingles or tiles.

Abstract: A hip, ridge or rake shingle is provided, in which a pair of substantially rigid panel portions are connected by a hinge portion, and wherein the shingle is pre-assembled, but can conform to a variety of different angles to accommodate different angular relationships between surfaces of a hip, ridge or rake of a roof.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which a photovoltaic element is joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising: an encapsulated photovoltaic element having a top surface and a bottom surface, a top layer material at its top surface and a bottom layer material at its bottom surface; a roofing substrate having a top surface; and a tie layer system disposed between the encapsulated photovoltaic element and the roofing substrate and joining the bottom surface of the encapsulated photovoltaic element to the top surface of the roofing substrate.

Abstract: A packaging box is provided, for specialty shingles, wherein there are provided multiple compartments of an interior box, for accommodating shingles, with a sleeve disposed thereabout, and with a handle of the box projecting through an upper wall of the sleeve, with there being no bottom wall for the sleeve, to accommodate ready removal of the sleeve from the multiple-compartment box. A projecting handle of an underlying box can be accommodated in an opening of a next overlying box, when the packages are assembled in stacked relation one upon the other, such as in palletized form.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices, and more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which photovoltaic elements are affixed to roofing substrates. In one embodiment of the invention, a photovoltaic roofing panel comprising a roofing panel substrate having a top surface; and at least six discrete photovoltaic elements affixed to the roofing panel substrate with their photovoltaically-active areas exposed at the top surface of the roofing panel. Another embodiment of the invention is a photovoltaic roofing assembly comprising: a plurality of discrete photovoltaic roofing elements, each comprising one or more photovoltaic elements affixed to a roofing substrate; and a joining member, wherein the plurality of photovoltaic roofing elements are disposed on and affixed to the joining member and are electrically interconnected.

Abstract: Provided are construction material granules. In one embodiment, the granules include a core enclosed by a layer comprising a conductive material and a layer comprising a dielectric material. Also provided are related methods of constructing such materials.

Abstract: A package of specialty shingles is provided, preferably for containing hip, ridge or rake shingles, with support in the bottom of the package for the shingles that is complementary to the lower ends of nested, stacked shingles in the package. Shaped constraining devices are provided, for retaining the shape of shingles in the package. An assembly of packages of the specialty shingles is provided, in a tray arrangement, and a pallet assembly of various levels of such packages disposed on a pallet are also provided.

Abstract: A laminated shingle and a method of making it is provided in which the rear surface of the shingle is provided with an attached reinforcement layer through which fasteners may be applied when the shingle is applied to a roof.

Abstract: Photovoltaic wiring arrays and photovoltaic wiring systems suitable for use in rooftop photovoltaic power generation systems are provided. Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a photovoltaic roofing wiring array for use with a plurality of photovoltaic roofing elements, the photovoltaic roofing wiring system including: a positive parallel wiring run comprising a main line and one or more connection branches pendant from the main line, each connection branch being terminated in a positive connector; and a negative parallel wiring run comprising a main line and one or more connection branches pendant from the main line, each connection branch being terminated in a negative connector. In some embodiments of the invention, the photovoltaic roofing wiring arrays are substantially prefabricated.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module includes an encapsulated photovoltaic element and an infrared transmissive decorative overlay simulating conventional roofing.

Abstract: A composite roofing board is provided, including a layer of bituminous core material having pieces or particles of shingles, rolled roofing, etc. that have been broken-up or comminuted therein, with the core material having layers of mat material on opposite surfaces thereof, also in layers, and with an adhesive applied to an outer surface of one of the layers of mat material, with a peelable and removable release liner layer covering the adhesive. The various layers are provided as a sandwich, to make the composite board. A plurality of composite boards may be applied to a roof deck or other roof structure, and they can be butt-joined and taped together with a joint tape. The method of making the composite board can be continuous.

Abstract: Roofing granules include a core having an average ultraviolet transmission of greater than sixty percent and an average near infrared reflectance of greater than sixty percent and a UV coating layer on the exterior surface. The coating provides UV opacity, while the core provides near infrared reflectance.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element for disposal on a roof deck. The photovoltaic roofing element includes a roofing substrate including a top end and a bottom end. The roofing substrate includes an upward-facing zone having an upward-facing surface and a bottom end; a lateral flexible zone extending adjacent the bottom end of the upward-facing zone, the lateral flexible zone having a bottom end; and a strip of material disposed at the bottom end of the lateral flexible zone having a first surface on the same side of the substrate as the upward-facing surface and a height of at least about 1 cm as measured along a line from the top end to the bottom end of the roofing substrate; and a photovoltaic element disposed on the upward-facing surface of the upward facing zone of the roofing substrate.

Abstract: A laminated shingle and a method of making it is provided in which the rear surface of the shingle is provided with an attached reinforcement layer through which fasteners may be applied when the shingle is applied to a roof.