Girts, systems incorporating girts, and methods of using girts are disclosed. The girts are structurally reinforced by gussets that are formed with material from the girt walls. In some embodiments, the gussets are formed via an efficient metal stamping process. The girts have a high mechanical strength, are easily manufactured, allow for water drainage and air circulation, improve thermal performance, decrease sound transmission, and reduce material, transportation and labor costs relative to traditional girts. In addition, isolators that may be used with the girts reduce thermal conductivity and divert moisture from mounting locations.

A unique modified shiplap joint with a transverse spline extending into the respective edge of each piece of siding forming the joint. The spline ensures that the two adjacent pieces of siding are properly and adequately connected to each other, and, through the nail in the underlap portion of the joint, to the wall. The spline may be located in four possible positions: (1) attached to the back side of the underlap section of the joint (i.e., closest to the wall); (2) through the center of the underlap section of the joint; (3) directly attached to the front face of the underlap section of the joint; and (4) through the overlap section of the joint (i.e., closest to the outside face). The spline may be installed on one of the pieces of siding during manufacturing or at the factory, or alternatively, at the job site.

Filler frames for mounting on exterior or interior surfaces of metal building siding panels, and also configurable for mounting around cut-out openings in siding panels. Filler frames include one or more connected frame panels having a substantially flat top portion, and a bottom portion having a bottom surface that is shaped to nest on and mate with a correspondingly shaped portion of a repeating ridge pattern of the respective building side panel on which each of the frame panels is configured to be mounted upon, thus leaving no gaps between the filler frame and the building siding panels. Frame panels of filler frames may alternatively have one or more foam portions attached to a bottom surface providing for an effective seal. One or more gaps are formed in such foam portions to facilitate the use of fasteners for mounting of the filler frame to a building siding panel.

The invention provides a fire-stopping product, an insulated building façade comprising a fire-stopping product, and a method of making a fire-stopping product. The fire-stopping product comprises a resilient, porous material at least partially impregnated with an intumescent agent and held in compression by a releasable restraint. When exposed to hot gases from a fire, the restraint yields to release the resilient, porous material in an initial expansion, thereby exposing the intumescent agent to the hot gases and allowing rapid intumescence to occur. When implemented in a ventilated building façade, the fire-stopping product is able to close an air gap in a short amount of time.

A façade comprises a façade panel, a hanger and a fastener extending through the hanger into a blind hole provided at the façade panel. The fastener comprises a shaft defining a fastening direction and has a front face facing in the fastening direction for penetrating the façade panel and a back end facing in a direction opposite to the fastening direction, and a head arranged at the back end and having a bearing surface facing in the fastening direction for bearing on the hanger. The front face has an outer edge at an outer circumference of the shaft and a recess falling short in the fastening direction with respect to the outer edge.

A deck system can include a first deck board; a second deck board; an accent strip; and/or a deck clip. In some embodiments, the first deck board and the second deck board are slotted to receive the deck clip. In some embodiments, the deck clip has a hole configured to receive a screw to attach the deck clip to a wall. In some embodiments, the accent strip is made of aluminum and/or vinyl. A deck anchor system can include a deck anchor, a bungee cord, a rope, and/or a corresponding hook. In some embodiments, the deck anchor includes a tightening handle; a blade; an eye hook; a shaft, a pinch bar; and/or a cam lever. In some embodiments, the shaft is threaded. In some embodiments, the pinch bar is curved. In some embodiments, an end of pinch bar is covered in rubber.

A panel element may be provided for a covering. In particular, a panel element for a floor, wall or ceiling covering, which covering may be formed by a plurality of panel elements of the same kind which are connected to one another. Each panel element has a basic body having a defined total thickness and upper and a lower surfaces. The basic body has in each case differently contoured longitudinal sides and in each case differently contoured end faces. One longitudinal side has groove-like contouring and the other longitudinal side has tongue-like contouring corresponding thereto.

The present invention provides: an interior material having a surface layer which has visible light-responsive photocatalytic activity and which contains two types of titanium oxide microparticles, the two types of titanium oxide microparticles comprising first titanium oxide microparticles, in which a tin component and a transition metal component for enhancing visible light responsiveness (excluding iron group components) are in solid solution, and second titanium oxide microparticles, in which an iron group component is in solid solution; and a method for manufacturing the interior material. The present invention makes it possible to provide an interior material in which visible light-responsive photocatalytic titanium oxide microparticles, which make it possible to easily produce a surface layer (photocatalyst thin film) having high transparency and expressing photocatalytic activity even in response to visible light (400-800 nm) only, are applied onto a surface, whereby it is possible to obtain, under indoor illumination, excellent photocatalytic properties such as an antimicrobial property and a property of breaking down chemical substances in indoor air without adversely affecting the design quality of the article in question.

The present invention provides: an interior material having a surface layer which has visible light-responsive photocatalytic activity and which contains two types of titanium oxide microparticles, the two types of titanium oxide microparticles comprising first titanium oxide microparticles, in which a tin component and a transition metal component for enhancing visible light responsiveness (excluding iron group components) are in solid solution, and second titanium oxide microparticles, in which an iron group component is in solid solution; and a method for manufacturing the interior material. The present invention makes it possible to provide an interior material in which visible light-responsive photocatalytic titanium oxide microparticles, which make it possible to easily produce a surface layer (photocatalyst thin film) having high transparency and expressing photocatalytic activity even in response to visible light (400-800 nm) only, are applied onto a surface, whereby it is possible to obtain, under indoor illumination, excellent photocatalytic properties such as an antimicrobial property and a property of breaking down chemical substances in indoor air without adversely affecting the design quality of the article in question.

Structures used for dividing, supporting, disguising and/or cladding, for example, modular wall panel systems can include frame members that can include or be in the form of a rail having a panel engaging portion with a generally planar mounting surface configured to accept at least one fastener, the panel engaging portion including first and second lateral sides on opposite sides of the generally planar mounting surface. First and second channels can include side walls extending generally parallel to the generally planar mounting surface, the first and second channels facing away from each other.