Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays with improved aesthetics and efficiency that can replace conventional roof structures. BIPV mounting systems described herein allow for improved versatility and ease of installation as compared to conventional approaches. Such BIPV mounting systems can include photovoltaic (PV) roof tiles with separate mechanical coupling features and electrical contact portions for use with tile connectors having both mechanical and electrical coupling features. Such PV tiles can be mechanically and electrically coupled in series through the tile connectors without requiring wire bussing between adjacent PV roof tiles and the tile connectors can be slidable within a batten bracket to easily accommodate PV roof tiles of differing dimensions.

A roofing system features a plurality of roofing sheets each having an outer perimeter of which two opposing perimeter edges respectively define a fastening edge and a hooking edge. One or more fastening holes penetrate the sheet near the fastening edge. At the hooking edge, the sheet is bent under itself to form a hooking portion reaching back toward the fastening edge. A plurality of hold-downs are placed atop a first row of roofing sheets near the fastening edges thereof, and have apertures aligned with the fastening holes of the roofing sheets, through which the hold-downs are fastened to the a roof deck. The hooking edges of a next row of roofing sheets hook to the affixed hold-downs of the first row, thus coupling the two rows of sheets together and concealing the first row's fastened connection to the roof deck beneath the second row.

Tile fixing devices, tile mounting methods, and roofs, such as those associated with solar tiles, are provided. For example, tile fixing devices related to the technical field of photovoltaic power generation are provided. In one illustrative implementation, a tile fixing device may include: a tile hook which is provided thereon with a fixing piece configured to cooperate with the mounting hole of the tile, as well as a positioning structure configured to limit the tile batten. Various tile mounting methods and roofs are also disclosed.

Herein disclosed is an asphalt roofing shingle, adapted to be laid up in courses on a roof, comprising an upper headlap portion, a lower tab portion, vertically spaced apart upper and lower edges, laterally spaced apart right and left edges and top and bottom surfaces. The bottom surface is configured to be laid up on a roof facing the roof and the tab portion of the top surface is configured to be substantially weather-exposed when laid up on a roof. The upper headlap portion is configured to be substantially covered by the tab portion of roofing elements in a next-overlying course of roofing elements when laid up on a roof. The upper headlap portion further comprises a plurality of parallel, evenly laterally spaced, first markings, the first markings being useful, at least, for aligning adjacent shingles, cutting books of shingles, forming starter shingles from full shingles and forming a grid of shingles without external measuring devices.

One aspect of the disclosure is an exterior cladding panel including a first end, a second end, and a series of locking clips extending from a front face of the exterior cladding panel and positioned along the first end of the exterior cladding panel. The exterior cladding panel also includes a locking leg extending from a rear face of the exterior cladding panel and positioned along a middle portion between the first end and the second end. The exterior cladding panel also includes a series of simulated shingles positioned in a single course between the first end and the second end, including a series of gaps separating adjacent shingles. Each gap extends lengthwise from the second end to the middle portion of the exterior cladding panel, and includes a first width that differs from a second width of at least one adjacent gap in the series of gaps.

A roof tile comprising a decorative layer having at least a ceramic body, and a support layer disposed below the decorative layer, wherein the roof tile comprises an upper edge, a lower edge which is opposite to the upper edge and two opposite side edges, said side edges being transverse to the upper edge, wherein said roof tile comprises at least one anchoring element for anchoring the roof tile to a structure or framework.

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 photovoltaic element comprising: (a) a photovoltaic assembly; (b) a shingle portion connected to the photovoltaic assembly, the shingle portion including: (i) one or more flexible regions and (ii) one or more attachment regions; wherein the one or more attachment regions connect the photovoltaic element to a structure and the one or more flexible regions are flexed so that all or a portion of the attachment regions are located below the shingle portion; and wherein the one or more flexible regions, the one or more attachment regions, or both include one more drainage elements.

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays with improved aesthetics and efficiency that can replace conventional roof structures. BIPV mounting systems described herein allow for improved versatility and ease of installation as compared to conventional approaches. Such BIPV mounting systems can include photovoltaic (PV) roof tiles with separate mechanical coupling features and electrical contact portions for use with tile connectors having both mechanical and electrical coupling features. Such PV tiles can be mechanically and electrically coupled in series through the tile connectors without requiring wire bussing between adjacent PV roof tiles and the tile connectors can be slidable within a batten bracket to easily accommodate PV roof tiles of differing dimensions.

A roof tile having a mesh covered foam core with a cement-based protective coating, a roof covering formed from such tiles and methods for making same.