Patent ID: 8898970
Filing Date: 2014-12-02
Classification: E04B,E04D,F24S,H01L,H02S,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A photovoltaic roofing system disposed on a roof deck having a top end and a bottom end, the photovoltaic roofing system comprising: a first course comprising one or more photovoltaic roofing elements, contiguously disposed in a horizontal row on the roof deck, the one or more contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements of the first course together having a top edge facing the top end of the roof deck, a bottom edge facing the bottom end of the roof deck, and two side edges; a second course horizontally offset from the first course, the second course comprising one or more photovoltaic roofing elements, contiguously disposed in a horizontal row on the roof deck, the one or more contiguously disposed photovoltaic roofing elements of the second course together having a bottom edge facing the bottom end of the roof deck and at least partially overlapping the top edge of the one or more contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements of the first course, the one or more contiguously disposed photovoltaic roofing elements of the second course together having a first side edge disposed up the roof from the top edge of the one or more contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements of the first course, thereby forming an inside corner; and a second side edge opposing the first side edge; an inside corner flashing element having a top edge, a first horizontal portion having a first side edge and a bottom edge, a second horizontal portion horizontally adjacent the first horizontal portion, the second horizontal portion having a second side edge opposing the first side edge and a bottom edge adjacent the bottom edge of the first horizontal portion, the first horizontal portion comprising a horizontally-extending flange forming a water-resistant interface with the photovoltaic roofing element at the first side edge of the second course, the second horizontal portion overlapping the top edge of a photovoltaic roofing element of the first course; and a roofing element disposed adjacent the first side edge of the second course and on top of the second horizontal portion of the inside corner flashing element, wherein the second horizontal portion of the inside corner flashing element forms a cavity over the top edge of the photovoltaic roofing element of the first course, the cavity having a thickness in the range of about 1 cm to about 15 cm.