Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, particularly as multi-region roofing modules that have photovoltaic elements embedded or incorporated into the body of the module, in distinct tiles-sized regions. Such multi-region photovoltaic modules can replicate the look of individual roofing tiles or shingles. Further, multi-region photovoltaic modules can include support structures between the distinct regions having a degree of flexibility, allowing for a more efficient installation process.

A climbing inhibition system for inhibiting a person from vandalizing a bridge includes a bridge that has a lateral surface. The lateral surface has a ledge extending outwardly therefrom. A wedge is coupled to the lateral surface of the bridge. Thus, the wedge may inhibit a person from gaining a foothold on the ledge thereby inhibiting the person from defacing or vandalizing the lateral surface.

A climbing inhibition system for inhibiting a person from vandalizing a bridge includes a bridge that has a lateral surface. The lateral surface has a ledge extending outwardly therefrom. A wedge is coupled to the lateral surface of the bridge. Thus, the wedge may inhibit a person from gaining a foothold on the ledge thereby inhibiting the person from defacing or vandalizing the lateral surface.

The invention relates to a weatherproofing arrangement having a textile sheet material which forms a screen against the effects of weather, in particular against solar radiation and/or rain, and has warp threads and weft threads connected to one another in the manner of latticework. In order to achieve particular protective functions, it is proposed for the warp threads and weft threads to bound elongate-rectangular latticework openings, wherein the length of these openings is at least 10 times the width thereof, and wherein the width of the openings is from between 0.1 and 0.001 mm.

A building wrap membrane comprising a sheet of spunbonded polypropylene fabric member with integral adhesive attachment strips mounted on the front and back of the sheet and a drainage matrix secured to the sheet front surface comprised of individual thermoplastic threads randomly laid down to form a net and secured together by heat bonding with the threads formed into spaced rows with a plurality of expansion joints formed across matrix rows.

An insulated building structure, in particular an insulated roof structure or a wall structure of a building, comprises at least one thermal insulation layer. At least one moisture-variable protective layer for the thermal insulation layer is provided on an outer side of the thermal insulation layer and on an inner side of the thermal insulation layer facing a building interior of the building. The protective layers each have a water vapor diffusion equivalent air layer thickness S.sub.d. The water vapor diffusion equivalent air layer thicknesses S.sub.d of the two protective layers deviate from each other by less than 20%, preferably less than 10%, in the range of a relative humidity from 0% to 25% and/or in the range of a relative humidity from 80% to 100%.

The invention relates to a vapor retarder membrane, intended to be used for improving the airtightness of a building or of a room, comprising at least one active layer having a water vapor permeability which increases with the surrounding relative humidity, said active layer comprising at least 90% by weight of a blend of ethylene/vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer and of a copolyamide 6-6.6 (PA666), the latter having a melting point below 210° C.

A prefabricated flashing product for an opening in an exterior surface of a structure includes a generally planar flange shaped to conform to the exterior surface, the flange extending outwardly from an entire perimeter of an aperture therein that corresponds to the opening, and a return that seals to the flange about the aperture and extends substantially perpendicularly therefrom toward an inward direction of the opening. The flange and the return are monolithically formed of a waterproof material. A method of integrating a fenestration product into an opening of an exterior surface of a structure includes inserting the flashing product described above into the opening, and inserting the fenestration product at least partially into the aperture of the flashing product.

A water vapour-permeable building sheet material, that may be adhered in overlapping relationship against a building structure, includes a water vapour permeable membrane having first and second opposing surfaces, wherein the surface energy of the second opposing surface is less than 35 mN/m; an adhesive layer that is vapour permeable, applied to the first face of the membrane; and an adhesive region applied to the second opposing surface. Two segments of the sheet material may be placed in overlapping relationship so that adhesive in the adhesive layer applied to the first face of the membrane of one of two segments adheres to the adhesive region applied to the second opposing face of the other of the two segments to form a substantially air impermeable boundary between the two segments, when overlapping, preventing lateral migration of air between the two segments. A building envelope may be so formed.

Among other things, there is shown embodiments of an enclosure such as a portable building with features focusing on overall improvement in energy usage. Wall, roof and floor configurations are disclosed that provide significant energy savings. Methods are also disclosed for preparing such features and/or refitting existing portable buildings for such energy savings.