A bitumen roofing composite is described having an upper surface and a lower surface. The bitumen roofing composite contains a first composite bitumen layer and a fire resistant (FR) fleece. The first composite bitumen layer has a first side and a second side and contains a first carrier saturated with bitumen. The FR fleece has a first side and a second side, where the first side of the FR fleece and the second side of the first bitumen composite layer are in intimate contact. The FR fleece contains a plurality of FR staple fibers and a plurality of first char scaffold fibers.

One aspect of the disclosure is roofing shingle including a shim layer having a top surface, a first side edge, and a second side edge positioned opposite the first side edge. The roofing shingle also includes a top shingle layer at least partially laminated to the top surface of the shim layer, where the top shingle layer includes a first side edge offset a sidelap distance from the first side edge of the shim layer such that a side portion of the top surface of the shim layer is exposed, and a second side edge extending beyond the second side edge of the shim layer so as to overlap the second side edge of the shim layer by the sidelap distance.

One aspect of the disclosure is roofing shingle including a shim layer having a top surface, a first side edge, and a second side edge positioned opposite the first side edge. The roofing shingle also includes a top shingle layer at least partially laminated to the top surface of the shim layer, where the top shingle layer includes a first side edge offset a sidelap distance from the first side edge of the shim layer such that a side portion of the top surface of the shim layer is exposed, and a second side edge extending beyond the second side edge of the shim layer so as to overlap the second side edge of the shim layer by the sidelap distance.

Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

A roof integrated photovoltaic (RIPV) system has a plurality of solar tiles that are mounted to a roof. The tiles may be mounted using a metal batten and hanger system or some other attachment system. Each tile has an electrical edge junction extending reawardly from its top edge. The edge junction is coextensive with or contains the plane of the solar tile and may be slightly thicker than the solar tile. Sockets on opposed ends of the edge junction receive plugs of electrical cables for interconnecting the array of solar tiles together electrically. The edge junctions provide for a low profile installation that mimics the appearance of a traditional roofing tile such as a slate tile. The slightly thicker edge junctions may raise solar tiles of one course above the surfaces of solar tiles of a next lower course to provide ventilation for the RIPV array and to provide accommodating space for system wiring.

A roof integrated photovoltaic (RIPV) system has a plurality of solar tiles that are mounted to a roof. The tiles may be mounted using a metal batten and hanger system or some other attachment system. Each tile has an electrical edge junction extending reawardly from its top edge. The edge junction is coextensive with or contains the plane of the solar tile and may be slightly thicker than the solar tile. Sockets on opposed ends of the edge junction receive plugs of electrical cables for interconnecting the array of solar tiles together electrically. The edge junctions provide for a low profile installation that mimics the appearance of a traditional roofing tile such as a slate tile. The slightly thicker edge junctions may raise solar tiles of one course above the surfaces of solar tiles of a next lower course to provide ventilation for the RIPV array and to provide accommodating space for system wiring.

Asphalt-based roofing materials, such as shingles, are disclosed that include a band of a parting material. The asphalt-based roofing material includes at least one asphalt-coated substrate that defines a headlap portion and a tab portion each having opposed top and bottom surfaces; a layer of backdust applied to at least a portion of the bottom surface of the headlap portion and to at least a portion of the bottom surface of the tab portion; a release section of parting material applied to the layer of backdust, where the parting material is included in the in the range of 0.0005 kg/m.sup.2 to 1 kg/m.sup.2; and an adhesive.