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A siding attachment strip and method are provided for retaining a plurality of siding panels to a building structure. The siding attachment strip includes an elongate body, one or more mounting holes, and a plurality of siding top edge clips spaced along the elongate body according to a predetermine

A siding attachment strip and method are provided for retaining a plurality of siding panels to a building structure. The siding attachment strip includes an elongate body, one or more mounting holes, and a plurality of siding top edge clips spaced along the elongate body according to a predetermined siding panel size. A siding top edge clip of the plurality of siding top edge clips is capable of engaging a nailing slot in a siding panel. The siding top edge clip includes a plurality of prongs extending therefrom. A prong of the plurality of prongs includes a substantially right-angled bend in a middle region of the prong. The siding attachment strip further includes a plurality of prong slots formed in the elongate body and spaced from and corresponding to the plurality of siding top edge clips. A prong slot is positioned to correspond to the plurality of prongs of the siding top edge clip when the siding top edge clip is in a normal position with respect to the elongate body and one or more of the plurality of prongs is received in the prong slot.

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A siding attachment strip and method are provided for retaining a plurality of siding panels to a building structure. The siding attachment strip includes an elongate body, one or more mounting holes, and a plurality of siding top edge clips spaced along the elongate body according to a predetermine

A siding attachment strip and method are provided for retaining a plurality of siding panels to a building structure. The siding attachment strip includes an elongate body, one or more mounting holes, and a plurality of siding top edge clips spaced along the elongate body according to a predetermined siding panel size. A siding top edge clip of the plurality of siding top edge clips is capable of engaging a nailing slot in a siding panel. The siding top edge clip includes a plurality of prongs extending therefrom. A prong of the plurality of prongs includes a substantially right-angled bend in a middle region of the prong. The siding attachment strip further includes a plurality of prong slots formed in the elongate body and spaced from and corresponding to the plurality of siding top edge clips. A prong slot is positioned to correspond to the plurality of prongs of the siding top edge clip when the siding top edge clip is in a normal position with respect to the elongate body and one or more of the plurality of prongs is received in the prong slot. slidably engaged with each of said housing and said actuating member; anda latch mechanism retaining said astragal within said housing in a retracted position when an ambient temperature is below a predetermined temperature, and said latch mechanism enabling sliding movement of said actuating member and resultant movement of said astragal to an extended position outside of said housing when said ambient temperature is at said predetermined temperature.2. An extendable astragal system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing comprises:a base having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge; anda cover having a third longitudinal edge and a fourth longitudinal edge, said third longitudinal edge being aligned with and coupled to said first longitudinal edge to form a closed side of said housing, said fourth longitudinal edge being aligned with said second longitudinal edge, and said second and fourth longitudinal edges defining a slot through which said astragal extends from said housing.3. An extendable astragal system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising spacers extending between said base and said cover.4. An extendable astragal system as claimed in claim 1 wherein:said system further comprises guide pins secured to and extending through a width of said housing;said actuating member includes first guide pin slots; andsaid astragal includes second guide pin slots oriented substantially perpendicular to said first guide pin slots, said guide pins extending through each of said first and second guide pin slots.5. An extendable astragal system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first guide pin slots are oriented substantially vertically, a first direction of movement of said actuating member is a vertical downward movement, and a second direction of movement of said astragal is a horizontal movement.6. An extendable astragal system as claimed in claim 1 wherein:said astragal includes peg members extending from a surface of said astragal; andsaid actuating member includes peg slots in which said peg members slidably reside, said peg slots being oriented at an acute angle relative to horizontal, and movement of said actuating member forces movement of said peg members in said peg slots.7. An extendable astragal system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said latch mechanism comprises:a retainer bracket coupled to said housing;a retainer pin affixed to said retainer bracket;an actuator bracket extending through said housing and secured to said actuating member, said retainer pin moveably residing in an aperture in said actuator bracket; anda heat-activated release element in communication with said actuator bracket for holding said actuating member in an armed position and releasing said actuating member from said armed position when said ambient temperature is at said predetermined temperature.8. An extendable astragal system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said housing includes a slotted opening in which said actuator bracket is positioned for securing to said actuating member.9. An extendable astragal system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said latch mechanism further comprises a spring disposed on said retainer pin and interposed between said retainer and said actuator brackets.10. An extendable astragal system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said heat-activated release element comprises a fusible link having a first section abutting said actuator bracket, a second section coupled to said housing, and a thermally sensitive bonding material securing said first section to said second section, said first section being separable from said second section in response to liquefaction of said bonding material when said ambient temperature is at said predetermined temperature.11. An extendable astragal syst em as claimed in claim 7 wherein said heat-activated release element is configured for attachment to a side of said door opposite from said latch mechanism.12. An extendable astragal system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said heat-activated release element comprises:a fusible link including:a first section configured for fixation to said opposite side of said door;a second section; anda thermally sensitive bonding material securing said first section to said second section, said first section being separable from said second section in response to liquefaction of said bonding material when said ambient temperature is at said predetermined temperature; anda link member having a first end secured to said second section of said fusible link and a second end in releasable communication with said actuator bracket.13. An extendable astragal system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said heat-activated release element further comprises an extension member having a first extension end coupled to said second end of said link member, and a second extension end abutting said actuator bracket, said extension member pivoting in response to release of said first section from said second section.14. An extendable astragal system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said heat-activated release element is a first heat-activated release element configured for positioning on a first side of said door, and said latch mechanism further comprises a second heat-activated release element configured for positioning on a second side of said door, said second heat-activated release element being in releasable communication with said actuator bracket.15. An extendable astragal system for a door comprising: a housing;guide pins secured to and extending through a width of said housing;an actuating member located in said housing and slidably engaged with said housing, said actuating member having first guide pin slots, and said actuating member having peg slots oriented at an acute angle relative to horizontal;an astragal located in said housing and slidably engaged with each of said housing and said astragal, said astragal including second guide pins slots oriented substantially perpendicular to said first guide pin slots, said guide pins extending through each of said first and second guide pin slots, and said astragal further including peg members extending from a surface of said astragal and slidably residing in said peg slots; anda latch mechanism retaining said astragal within said housing when an ambient temperature is below a predetermined temperature, said latch mechanism enabling sliding movement of said actuating member in a first direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal dimension of said first guide pin slots, and resultant movement of said astragal in a second direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal dimension of said second guide pin slots to an extended position outside of said housing when said ambient temperature is at said predetermined temperature.16. An extendable astragal system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said housing comprises:a base having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge; anda cover having a third longitudinal edge and a fourth longitudinal edge, said third longitudinal edge being aligned with and coupled to said first longitudinal edge to form a closed side of said housing, said fourth longitudinal edge being aligned with said second longitudinal edge, and said second and fourth longitudinal edges defining a slot through which said astragal extends from said housing.17. An astragal system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said latch mechanism comprises:a retainer bracket coupled to said housing;a retainer pin affixed to said retainer bracket;an actuator bracket extending through said housing and s ecured to said actuating member, said retainer pin moveably residing in an aperture in said actuator bracket; anda heat-activated release element in communication with said actuator bracket for holding said actuating member in an armed position and releasing said actuating member from said armed position when said ambient temperature is at said pre-determined temperature.18. An extendable astragal system for a door comprising: a housing including a base and a cover, said base having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, said cover having a third longitudinal edge and a fourth longitudinal edge, said third longitudinal edge being aligned with and coupled to said first longitudinal edge to form a closed side of said housing, said fourth longitudinal edge being aligned with said second longitudinal edge, and said second and fourth longitudinal edges defining a slot;an actuating member located in said housing and slidably engaged with said housing;an astragal located in said housing and slidably engaged with each of said housing and said actuating member; anda latch mechanism for enabling movement of said astragal from a retracted position within said housing through said slot to an extended position outside of said housing, said latch mechanism including:a retainer bracket coupled to said housing;a retainer pin affixed to said retainer bracket;an actuator bracket extending through said housing and secured to said actuating member, said retainer pin moveably residing in an aperture in said actuator bracket; anda heat-activated release element in communication with said actuator bracket for holding said actuating member in said retracted position when an ambient temperature is below a predetermined temperature, and said heat-activated release element enabling sliding movement of said actuating member and resultant movement of said astragal to said extended position when said ambient temperature is at said predetermined temperature.19. An extendable astragal system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said heat-activated release element is a first heat-activated release element configured for positioning on a first side of said door, and said latch mechanism further comprises a second heat-activated release element configured for positioning on a second side of said door, said second heat-activated release element being in releasable communication with said actuator bracket.20. An extendable astragal system as claimed in claim 19 wherein:said first heat-activated release element comprises a first fusible link having a first section abutting said actuator bracket, a second section coupled to said housing, and a thermally sensitive bonding material securing said first section to said second section; andsaid second heat-activated release element comprises a second fusible link including:a third section configured for fixation to said second side of said door;a fourth section; anda thermally sensitive bonding material securing said third section to said fourth section; anda link member having a first end secured to said fourth section of said second fusible link and a second end secured to said second section of said first fusible link, said first section being separable from said second section in response to liquefaction of said bonding material when said ambient temperature at said first side of said door is at said predetermined temperature, said third section being separable from said fourth section in response to liquefaction of said bonding material when said ambient temperature at said second side of said door is at said predetermined temperature, said first fusible link pivoting in response to release of said third section from said fourth section.