Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing and appear seamless to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, flush or forming a substantively uniform plane with roof panels or other panels mimicking a solar panel appearance. Pans supporting BIPV solar panels can be coupled by standing seams, in both lateral and longitudinal directions, to other photovoltaic-supporting pans or pans supporting non-photovoltaic structures, having both functional and aesthetic advantages. In some configurations, adjacent photovoltaic modules may be oriented so that a boundary between an up-roof photovoltaic module and a down-roof photovoltaic module is not noticeable by observers positioned at typical viewing angles of the roof.

A ventilation assembly (200) includes a frame unit (100) and a cover body (60). The frame unit (100) includes two frame assemblies (10) and two closing plates (30) connected between the frame assemblies (10). Each frame assembly (10) includes two frame seats (11) and outer and inner side plates (12, 13) cooperatively defining a tortuous passage (14). Each frame assembly (10) further includes first and second air vents (15, 16). The cover body (60) is connected to and cooperates with the frame assemblies (10) and the closing plates (30) to define an air chamber (70) configured to communicate with an opening (102) in an upper portion (1) of a building. The first air vent (15) is provided to communicate the air chamber (70) with the tortuous passage (14), and the second air vent (16) is provided to communicate the tortuous passage (14) with the atmosphere.

A ventilation assembly (200) includes a frame unit (100) and a cover body (60). The frame unit (100) includes two frame assemblies (10) and two closing plates (30) connected between the frame assemblies (10). Each frame assembly (10) includes two frame seats (11) and outer and inner side plates (12, 13) cooperatively defining a tortuous passage (14). Each frame assembly (10) further includes first and second air vents (15, 16). The cover body (60) is connected to and cooperates with the frame assemblies (10) and the closing plates (30) to define an air chamber (70) configured to communicate with an opening (102) in an upper portion (1) of a building. The first air vent (15) is provided to communicate the air chamber (70) with the tortuous passage (14), and the second air vent (16) is provided to communicate the tortuous passage (14) with the atmosphere.

A valved cover is described for controlling air flow through perforated-strip-type soffit vents surrounding houses. The narrow, continuous vents are completely enclosed except for valved portholes in the cover, the flap valves being stiffly hinged to stay open (and quiet) in most weather to allow two-way ventilating air flow between outdoors and attic/roof space. The valved covers “harness” very strong winds: those on the the windward have their valves blown closed, blocking potentially destructive wind/rain entry into the attic/roof space, while those facing lee sides remain open so that the attic/roofspace is connected only to the wind-depressurized lee-side air and is therefore itself depressurized, helping hold the roof envelope together. The valved covers can be factory-mounted on the soffit panels and flat-folded for compact shipping and handling.

Agricultural structures for housing livestock and/or agricultural commodity, the structure having a floor that is inclined between first and second walls and a roof that is substantially parallel to the floor. In some aspects, the floor is configured such that a bottom of the first wall is vertically higher than a bottom of the second wall with the bottoms of the first and second walls being level with the underlying ground. In some aspects, a first portion of the floor adjacent to the first wall is at a first elevation, a second portion of the floor adjacent to the second wall is at a second elevation that is vertically lower than the first elevation, and a bottom of the first wall is at a third elevation that is equal to or lower than the first elevation.

Agricultural structures for housing livestock and/or agricultural commodity, the structure having a floor that is inclined between first and second walls and a roof that is substantially parallel to the floor. In some aspects, the floor is configured such that a bottom of the first wall is vertically higher than a bottom of the second wall with the bottoms of the first and second walls being level with the underlying ground. In some aspects, a first portion of the floor adjacent to the first wall is at a first elevation, a second portion of the floor adjacent to the second wall is at a second elevation that is vertically lower than the first elevation, and a bottom of the first wall is at a third elevation that is equal to or lower than the first elevation.

A roofing system includes a first group of hook fasteners, a second group of hook fasteners, and a roof covering. The first group of hook fasteners is configured to be attached to a first sloped plane of a roof, and the second group of hook fasteners is configured to be attached to a second sloped plane of the roof. The roof covering has a bottom surface, and the bottom surface of the roof covering includes a plurality of loop fasteners that are configured to engage with at least one of the first group of hook fasteners or the second group of hook fasteners. When the plurality of loop fasteners are engaged with the first group of hook fasteners, the roof covering is resisted from moving in a first direction and not resisted from moving in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. When the plurality of loop fasteners are engaged with the second group of hook fasteners, the roof covering is resisted from moving in the second direction and not resisted from moving in the first direction.

A contoured roof ventilation system includes a support structure, with a vent opening through the support structure located along a ridge of the roof. A contoured roofing material is located on the support structure and defines a plurality of crests and valleys. First and second vent strips are located on opposite sides of the vent opening along the ridge, and have a first surface complementary to the crests and valleys of the contoured roofing material in an installed position, and a plurality of longitudinally extending slots that extend parallel to the ridge to define at least three spaced apart vent material ribbons, and a second surface. At least one water barrier is positioned above the second surfaces of the first and second vent strips and extends toward the ridge. Cap pieces having a lower surface that contacts the second surfaces of the first and second strips or the water barrier are located on the first and second strips.

A heat dissipating structure for an iron-sheet house includes two frames fixed to left and right sides of a roof. The frames define a ventilation space in communication with an inside of a house including the roof. Each frame includes a hollow interior, at least one lower opening communicating the hollow interior with an outside of the house, and at least one vent communicating the hollow interior with the ventilation space. The frames are interconnected by connecting members. Two adjacent connecting members respectively have two mutually facing grooves. A shielding plate is mounted between two adjacent connecting members and is fixed to upper ends of the frames to cover the ventilation space, with the shielding plate including front and rear ends respectively engaged in the two mutually facing grooves respectively of the two adjacent connecting members and bonded to the two adjacent connecting members by silicon glue.

A roofing, cladding, or siding apparatus comprises a roofing, cladding, or siding module and at least one clip. The module comprises an underlapping region and an exposed region. The underlapping region is adapted to be substantially covered by the exposed region of an adjacent overlapping module when installed on a building surface. A projection extends from the exposed region to provide a bearing surface facing the under surface of the exposed region. The clip or clips is attachable to the underlapping region to provide a tongue adapted to be received between the bearing surface and the under surface of the exposed region of an adjacent overlapping module when installed on a building surface.