A large, thin, generally planar panel constructed from blow-molded plastic may include a first surface, a second surface, and a hollow interior portion disposed between the first and second surfaces. The panel may include a nominal panel thickness (PT), which may be the distance between the first surface and the second surface, and a nominal wall thickness (WT), which may be the thickness of the outer wall of the blow-molded plastic structure. A plurality of depressions may be integrally formed in the second surface and a nominal distance (D) separating adjacent depressions may be measured from an edge of one depression to an edge of the adjacent depression. The relationship between the nominal panel thickness, the nominal wall thickness, and the nominal distance between adjacent depressions is shown by the equation WT.Math.PT.Math.D≦0.030.

A blow-molded plastic structure has a hollow interior portion formed during a blow-molding process, and includes first and second outer portions that are spaced apart from each other, with the hollow interior portion disposed there between. The structure includes a pattern of structural stiffening features that are integrally formed in the second outer portion. The pattern of structural stiffening features includes a plurality of tripodal depressions disposed in rows and columns and a plurality of convex regions disposed in rows and columns between the plurality of tripodal depressions. Each convex region has a maximum height between the first and second outer portions. Each of the tripodal depressions extends into the hollow interior portion, includes three indentations disposed adjacent the first outer portion, and includes an island spaced away from the first outer portion. The island has three sides, each of which is disposed adjacent one of the three indentations.

The insulating barrier of a panel including has a first stratum and a second stratum, each having a plurality of ridges that face each other, and run athwart of each other. Clearance between at least some adjacent pairs of the ridges provide a mechanical chase that reaches across at least most of the panel. A cladding overlaying at least one side of the insulating barrier is denser than the barrier. The mechanical chase is in the form of a groove through which a utility feed can be routed when the panel is to be mounted in a building.

A plurality of rainscreen elements or features that are applied to the front or outer face of a structural panel or the weather resistant barrier layer on the structural panel. When an exterior cladding or sheathing product is installed over the structural panel, the rainscreen elements or features provide built-in water flow gaps or channels to facilitate and increase water drainage off the face of the structural panel, thereby minimizing water storage in the space between the structural panel and the outer cladding/sheathing. The rainscreen features are incorporated into the structural panel in-line or during the manufacturing process, and do not require any further work during assembly or construction on-site.

A twin sheet core structure made up of two sheets of plastic that have been thermoformed to define arrays of cavities having floors opening to surfaces defined by orthogonally intersecting ribs wherein the sheets are fused together to form a single structure with hollow areas between sheets.

A ventilation panel for a soil gas barrier system includes: an insulating foam body having first and second opposing faces and a plurality of grooves to define, in cross-section, an interconnected plurality of ventilation channels having walls that extend into the ventilation panel from the second face toward the first face; and a film of substantially gas-impervious material attached to at least one of the first face and the second face.

A structural element (10) for forming a panel, with an upper plane (12) and lower plane (14) which are parallel and deformed along their plane at intervals by pods (16) which extrude toward the opposing plane with their internal faces mating to one another.

A plurality of rainscreen elements or features that are applied to the front or outer face of a structural panel or the weather resistant barrier layer on the structural panel. When an exterior cladding or sheathing product is installed over the structural panel, the rainscreen elements or features provide built-in water flow gaps or channels to facilitate and increase water drainage off the face of the structural panel, thereby minimizing water storage in the space between the structural panel and the outer cladding/sheathing. The rainscreen features are incorporated into the structural panel in-line or during the manufacturing process, and do not require any further work during assembly or construction on-site.

A blow-molded plastic structure has a hollow interior portion formed during a blow-molding process, and includes first and second outer portions that are spaced apart from each other, with the hollow interior portion disposed there between. The structure includes a pattern of structural stiffening features that are integrally formed in the second outer portion. The pattern of structural stiffening features includes a plurality of tripodal depressions disposed in rows and columns and a plurality of convex regions disposed in rows and columns between the plurality of tripodal depressions. Each convex region has a maximum height between the first and second outer portions. Each of the tripodal depressions extends into the hollow interior portion, includes three indentations disposed adjacent the first outer portion, and includes an island spaced away from the first outer portion. The island has three sides, each of which is disposed adjacent one of the three indentations.

A method of forming a building panel includes embossing dimples into a sheet, where the dimples extend outward from a plane, and expanding a foam core onto the plane and into portions of the dimples. The method may include forming dimples that are convex relative to the plane and the foam core or the sheet having a thin foil having a plastic protective coating. The method may include attaching a cellulosic layer to the foam core opposite the plane. Additionally, flow channels may be formed in the sheet between the dimples, such that expanding the foam core onto the plane substantially fills both the dimples and the flow channels. The method may include embossing concave dimples onto the plane and the foam core, such that expanding the foam core onto the plane substantially fills the concave dimples. The foam core and sheet may bond without adhesives.