GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
Class:: BUILDING
Subclass:: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS

Description

E04B encompasses the structural and protective components forming the primary envelope and interior divisions of buildings. This subclass covers walls (including partition walls), roofing systems, floor construction, ceiling assemblies, and thermal or acoustic insulation materials and methods applied to building structures. The classification includes both the structural design and material composition of these building elements, as well as protective systems against weathering, moisture, fire, and noise. Related specialized building systems (such as doors, windows, or HVAC installations) are classified elsewhere in the E04 building category.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass E04B recorded 407,239 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 16,759 in 2013 to 51,677 in 2023 (+208%), peaking at 57,449 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class E04 are CHINA CONSTRUCTION EIGHTH ENGINEERING DIVISION (6,575 applications), ZHEJIANG YASHA DECORATION COMPANY (4,488 applications) and SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) (4,427 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

building aspects of ABATTOIRSbuilding aspects of ARENASbuilding aspects of AUDITORIUM(S)building aspects of public BATHSbuilding aspects of BEACONSbuilding aspects of BINSbuilding aspects of BOXES or cubiclesstructures of BUILDING(S)building aspects of CABINSbuilding aspects of CHAPELSbuilding aspects of CHURCH(ES)building aspects of CIRCUS(ES)building aspects of CONCERT HALLSbuilding aspects of CONTAINER(S)building aspects of CUBICLESEAVESbuilding aspects of FORTIFICATIONSbuilding aspects of picture GALLERIESbuilding aspects of GARAGE(S)building aspects of GRAIN silosbuilding aspects of GRANARIESbuilding features of GRAVESbuilding aspects of gymnasiumsHEAT -insulating materialsbuilding aspects of HOSPITAL(S)building aspects of HOTELSbuilding aspects of INFIRMARIESbuilding aspects of JAILSbuilding aspects of LIBRARIESbuilding aspects of LIGHTHOUSESbuilding aspects of MARKET(S)METALWORK [=building structures]building aspects of MOTELSbuilding aspects of MUSEUMSbuilding aspects of OFFICE(S)building aspects of PRISONSinsulating material based on PUMICEbuilding aspects of RESTAURANTSbuilding aspects of SANATORIUMSbuilding aspects of SCHOOL(S)construction of SERVICE stations for vehiclesbuilding aspects of SHOP(S)building aspects of STABLESbuilding STRUCTURESbuilding aspects of THEATRESmaterials for THERMALbuilding aspects of TOWER(S)building aspects of WAREHOUSESbuilding aspects of WATER towers

5 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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E04B 1/00 Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
E04B 2/00 Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
E04B 5/00 Floors; Floor construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted therefor
E04B 7/00 Roofs; Roof construction with regard to insulation
E04B 9/00 Ceilings; Construction of ceilings, e.g. false ceilings; Ceiling construction with regard to insulation

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class E04, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

CHINA CONSTRUCTION EIGHTH ENGINEERING DIVISION 6,575
ZHEJIANG YASHA DECORATION COMPANY 4,488
SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) 4,427
CHINA CONSTRUCTION SECOND ENGINEERING BUREAU 4,352
CHINA MCC17 GROUP COMPANY 3,122
GOLD MANTIS FINE DECORATION TECHNOLOGY (SUZHOU) COMPANY 2,605
SHENYANG JIANZHU UNIVERSITY 2,420
CHINA CONSTRUCTION SEVENTH ENGINEERING DIVISION COMPANY 2,284
CHINA CONSTRUCTION FIFTH ENGINEERING DIVISION CORPORATION 2,008
CHINA CONSTRUCTION FIRST BUILDING (GROUP) CORPORATION 1,967