The carpet tile system uses preferably Aluminum Hydroxide (Al(OH).sub.3) as a flame retardant in the secondary backing of the carpet tile or in the pre-coat adhesive on the primary backing, or alternatively uses Magnesium Hydroxide (Mg(OH).sub.2). The flame retardant has been optimized to interact with the other components of the system to produce a carpet tile that achieves flammability ratings that are comparable or superior to carpet tiles with more expensive pile fibers.

A fiber mat includes an assembly of fibers including a minority portion including a set of polymer fibers and a majority portion including a set of fibers different than the minority portion, wherein the minority portion is a plane parallel to a plane of the majority portion of the assembly of fibers; and a binder including an organic resin, wherein an air permeability of said fiber mat is not substantially different from an equivalent weight fiber mat containing a homogenous mat structure and wherein the fiber mat provides at least a 5% increase in tear when placed in a bituminous roofing product compared to an equivalent bituminous roofing product made with the equivalent weight fiber mat containing the homogenous mat structure.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an roofing shingle comprising a low penetration point asphalt reinforced glass mat. In some embodiments, the reinforced glass mat comprises a glass mat and a reinforcement material. In some embodiments, the glass mat comprises a web of glass fibers. In some embodiments, the reinforcement material is embedded into the web of glass fibers of the glass mat. In some embodiments, the reinforced glass mat comprises a sufficient amount of the reinforcement material, so as to result in a nail shank shear resistance of 13 lbs to 17 lbs, according to ASTM 1761 at 140° F. Methods of making the roofing shingle and methods of forming a roofing shingle from the roofing shingle are also disclosed herein.

A fiber mat includes an assembly of fibers including a minority portion including a set of polymer fibers and a majority portion including a set of fibers different than the minority portion, wherein the minority portion is a plane parallel to a plane of the majority portion of the assembly of fibers; and a binder including an organic resin, wherein an air permeability of said fiber mat is not substantially different from an equivalent weight fiber mat containing a homogenous mat structure and wherein the fiber mat provides at least a 5% increase in tear when placed in a bituminous roofing product compared to an equivalent bituminous roofing product made with the equivalent weight fiber mat containing the homogenous mat structure.

A carrier material includes at least a first thermoplastic fiber layer and a second thermoplastic fiber layer. At least a part of the first thermoplastic fiber layer and/or the second thermoplastic fiber layer at at least one boundary of the carrier material is removed, to provide a first part of a form-fit connection. The carrier material can be used in bituminous roofing membranes, roofing underlayment sheets, carriers for filter media, primary backings for tufted carpets and (cushion) vinyl floor coverings.

A method for providing bituminous backings for the construction industry, includes the following steps obtaining a semi-finished product having a reinforcement to which a bituminous layer is applied, on the outer surface of which inert materials are or are not distributed and/or inside which the inert materials are embedded. The method also includes annealing the semi-finished product, directly following the step of bituminization of the reinforcement or after the step of applying bitumen to the reinforcement so as to embed the inert materials in the bituminous layer, while at the same time drying the outer surface.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an roofing shingle comprising a low penetration point asphalt reinforced glass mat. In some embodiments, the reinforced glass mat comprises a glass mat and a reinforcement material. In some embodiments, the glass mat comprises a web of glass fibers. In some embodiments, the reinforcement material is embedded into the web of glass fibers of the glass mat. In some embodiments, the reinforced glass mat comprises a sufficient amount of the reinforcement material, so as to result in a nail shank shear resistance of 13 lbs to 17 lbs, according to ASTM 1761 at 140? F. Methods of making the roofing shingle and methods of forming a roofing shingle from the roofing shingle are also disclosed herein.

Disclosed is a shingle that uses a polyester sheet as a substrate layer. The polyester sheet has a sufficient weight and is needled and formed from two layers to resist shrinking upon cooling after the heated asphalt layers are applied to the polyester substrate sheet 102. In addition, additives may be included in the asphalt to lower the softening point temperature of the asphalt that further reduces shrinking of the polyester substrate 102 or allows other polymers that are more fire retardant to be used. Fire retardants can be placed in the polyester sheet fibers, placed in the bonding agent for the polyester fibers, or the polyester sheet can be coated with the fire retardant. Alternatively, or in addition to treating the polyester sheet 102 with fire retardant, fire retardant materials such as ammonium sulfate can be added to the liquid asphalt prior to application of the asphalt layers.

A fiber mat includes an assembly of fibers including a minority portion including a set of polymer fibers and a majority portion including a set of fibers different than the minority portion, wherein the minority portion is a plane parallel to a plane of the majority portion of the assembly of fibers; and a binder including an organic resin, wherein an air permeability of said fiber mat is not substantially different from an equivalent weight fiber mat containing a homogenous mat structure and wherein the fiber mat provides at least a 5% increase in tear when placed in a bituminous roofing product compared to an equivalent bituminous roofing product made with the equivalent weight fiber mat containing the homogenous mat structure.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an roofing shingle comprising a low penetration point asphalt reinforced glass mat. In some embodiments, the reinforced glass mat comprises a glass mat and a reinforcement material. In some embodiments, the glass mat comprises a web of glass fibers. In some embodiments, the reinforcement material is embedded into the web of glass fibers of the glass mat. In some embodiments, the reinforced glass mat comprises a sufficient amount of the reinforcement material, so as to result in a nail shank shear resistance of 13 lbs to 17 lbs, according to ASTM 1761 at 140? F. Methods of making the roofing shingle and methods of forming a roofing shingle from the roofing shingle are also disclosed herein.