FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
Class:: BUILDING
Subclass:: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS

Description

E04F encompasses interior and exterior finishing elements that complete building structures, including stairs, floors, wall coverings, and related installation systems. The subclass covers construction methods, material specifications, and structural designs for aesthetic and functional finishing components that are applied after primary building construction. This includes flooring systems (wooden, ceramic, resilient materials), stair construction and safety features, and interior partition finishing, but excludes primary structural elements covered by earlier building classification sections.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass E04F recorded 223,123 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 10,758 in 2013 to 24,103 in 2023 (+124%), peaking at 30,165 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 cubiclesfinishing work on BUILDING(S)building aspects of CABINSfinishing of CEILING(S)building aspects of CHAPELSbuilding aspects of CHURCH(ES)building aspects of CIRCUS(ES)building aspects of CONCERT HALLSbuilding aspects of CONTAINER(S)building aspects of CUBICLESbuilding aspects of FORTIFICATIONSbuilding aspects of picture GALLERIESbuilding aspects of GARAGE(S)building aspects of GRAIN silosbuilding aspects of GRANARIESbuilding features of GRAVESbuilding aspects of gymnasiumsbuilding aspects of HOSPITAL(S)building aspects of HOTELSbuilding aspects of INFIRMARIESbuilding aspects of JAILSbuilding aspects of LIBRARIESbuilding aspects of LIGHTHOUSESbuilding aspects of MARKET(S)building aspects of MOTELSbuilding aspects of MUSEUMSbuilding aspects of OFFICE(S)building aspects of PRISONSarrangements in buildings for REFUSE disposalbuilding aspects of RESTAURANTSbuilding aspects of SANATORIUMSbuilding aspects of SCHOOL(S)SCREEDS for buildingsconstruction of SERVICE stations for vehiclesbuilding aspects of SHOP(S)building aspects of STABLESbuilding aspects of THEATRESbuilding aspects of TOWER(S)VENTS in buildingsbuilding aspects of WAREHOUSESarrangements in buildings for disposal of WASTEbuilding aspects of WATER towers

7 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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E04F 10/00 Sunshades; Awnings
E04F 11/00 Stairways, ramps, or like structures; Balustrades; Handrails
E04F 13/00 Coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings
E04F 15/00 Flooring
E04F 17/00 Vertical ducts; Channels, e.g. for drainage
E04F 19/00 Other details or constructional parts for finishing work on buildings
E04F 21/00 Implements for finishing work on buildings

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