Library | Building America Solution Center

This library contains research reports produced by the Building America program and other building science resources used to support this Solution Center. The materials cover both new construction and existing homes. Use the search box and/or the filters to explore hundreds of residential building resources. Access to some references not produced by Building America may require purchase from the publisher. Documents are listed alphabetically. While we continually update our database, links may have changed since posting. Please contact our webmaster if you find broken links.

Showing results 1 - 32 of 32

Affordable Solid Panel "Perfect Wall" System

Author(s)

Schirber Tom,

Jacobson Rolf,

Handeen Dan,

Mosiman Garrett,

Huelman Patrick

Organization(s)

University of Minnesota,

USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Publication Date

February, 2022

Technical report describing the SPS (Structural Panel System), an innovative implementation of the "perfect wall" concept, situating environmental control layers on the exterior side of structural components for improved constructability, cost-effectiveness, and performance, validated through the...

All About Larsen Trusses

Author(s)

Holladay

Organization(s)

Green Building Advisor

Publication Date

July, 2011

Website article interviewing the inventor of the Larsen truss, a history of its use, and a discussion of its advantages and disadvantages.

Building America Building Science Advisor

Author(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

ORNL,

DOE

Publication Date

January, 2019

Web based tool providing decision-making guidance for selecting wall assembly components.

Building America Special Research Project - High-R Foundations Case Study Analysis, RR-1003

Author(s)

Smegal,

Straube

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

August, 2013

Research study describing a number of promising foundation and basement insulation strategies that can meet the requirement for better thermal control in colder climates while enhancing moisture control, health, and comfort.

Common Advanced Framing Details

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

May, 2009

Brochure explaining the essential basis for advanced framing and some of the more common advanced framing details.

Concrete Solutions, BSI-118

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

October, 2020

Report covering insulating crawlspaces.

Construction Guide: Next Generation High Performance Walls in Climate Zones 3-5 - Part I: 2x6 Walls

Author(s)

Kochkin,

Wiehagen

Organization(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Publication Date

January, 2016

Part I of the Guide addresses walls constructed with 2x6 wood frame studs, wood structural panel (WSP) sheathing as exterior sheathing, gypsum board as interior sheathing, and a cladding system installed over WSP sheathing in low-rise residential buildings up to three stories in height. Walls with...

Deep-Dish Retrofits, BSI-079

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

August, 2014

Report covering exterior energy retrofits of masonry buildings.

Enclosures that Work: High R-Value Wall Assembly-07: ICF Wall Construction

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

November, 2014

Information sheet that summarizes Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction including advantages and disadvantages of this construction strategy.

Expert Meeting Report: Cladding Attachment Over Exterior Insulation (BSC Report)

Author(s)

Baker Peter

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

October, 2013

Report about an expert meeting focused on issues surrounding cladding attachment and performance of walls with exterior insulating sheathing.

Expert Meeting Report: Interior Insulation Retrofit of Mass Masonry Wall Assemblies

Author(s)

Ueno,

Van Straaten

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Publication Date

February, 2012

Expert Meeting about interior insulation retrofit of mass masonry wall assemblies held on July 30, 2011.

Extended Plate Wall System Expands Adoption of High-R Envelope Solutions

Author(s)

Burkett,

Lena; Gunderson,

Patti

Organization(s)

NREL,

USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Publication Date

August, 2020

Fact sheet describing the Extended Plate Wall (EPW) a system that incorporates a 2-inch layer of foam plastic insulative sheathing within the framing for top and bottom plates, streamlining air sealing, window and door installation, weather resistive barrier application, and cladding attachment for...

External Insulation of Masonry Walls and Wood Framed Walls

Author(s)

Baker Peter

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

January, 2013

Research study developing baseline engineering analysis to support the installation of thick layers of exterior insulation (2 in. to 8 in.) on existing masonry walls and wood framed walls.

Foam Shrinks, and Other Lessons, PA-1201

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

March, 2012

Journal article describing lessons learned from updating a 16-year-old deep-energy retrofit.

High R-Value Wall Assembly: Double Stud with Spray Foam Wall Construction

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

November, 2014

Information sheet briefly summarizing double stud with spray foam wall construction including the advantages and disadvantages of this construction strategy.

High-R Walls for New Construction Structural Performance: Integrated Rim Header Testing

Author(s)

DeRenzis,

Kochkin,

Wiehagen

Organization(s)

NAHB Research Center,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Publication Date

January, 2013

Report providing testing methodology to evaluate structural rim header designs over openings up to 6 ft. wide and applicable to one- and two-story homes.

High-R Walls for New Construction Structural Performance: Wind Pressure Testing

Author(s)

DeRenzis,

Kochkin

Organization(s)

NAHB Research Center,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Publication Date

January, 2013

Report with test results that serve as a baseline of data for further material tests of other high-R wall systems and for comparison to whole-house wind pressure testing.

ICF Wall Construction

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

November, 2014

Information sheet summarizing ICF wall construction including the advantages and disadvantages of this construction strategy.

Installation of Cavity Insulation, Info-501

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

May, 2009

Article explaining installing cavity insulation.

Insulated Siding Provides Continuous Insulation

Author(s)

Dobson

Organization(s)

Home Energy Magazine

Publication Date

May, 2011

Article describing how insulated siding can save homeowners energy by providing continuous exterior insulation.

Measure Guideline: Deep Energy Enclosure Retrofit for Interior Insulation of Masonry Walls

Author(s)

Musunuru,

Pettit

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

April, 2015

Report describing a deep energy enclosure retrofit solution for insulating mass masonry buildings from the interior.

Measure Guideline: Incorporating Thick Layers of Exterior Rigid Insulation on Walls

Author(s)

Lstiburek Joseph,

Baker Peter

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

April, 2015

Report describing wall assemblies that use layers of rigid exterior insulation thicker than 1-½ inch and require a secondary cladding attachment location exterior to the insulation.

Measure Guideline: Installing Rigid Foam Insulation on the Interior of Existing Brick Walls

Author(s)

Natarajan,

Klocke,

Puttagunta

Organization(s)

CARB,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Publication Date

June, 2012

Information sheet providing information on installing Rigid XPS foam board insulation to existing brick masonry walls.

Measure Guideline: Internal Insulation of Masonry Walls

Author(s)

Straube,

Ueno,

Schumacher

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Publication Date

July, 2012

Report summarizing the importance of properly insulating and air sealing masonry walls, providing step by step instructions and approaches.

Measure Guideline: Three High Performance Mineral Fiber Insulation Board Retrofit Solutions

Author(s)

Neuhauser

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2015

Report describing the use of mineral fiber insulating sheathing in a high performance enclosure retrofit package.

Measure Guideline: Wall Air Sealing and Insulation Methods in Existing Homes; An Overview of Opportunity and Process

Author(s)

Roberts,

Stephenson

Organization(s)

NAHB Research Center Industry Partnership,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Publication Date

September, 2012

Document providing renovators and retrofit contractors an overview of considerations when including wall air sealing and insulation in an energy retrofit project.

Moisture Management for High R-Value Walls

Author(s)

Lepage,

Schumacher,

Lukachko

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation

Publication Date

November, 2013

Report explaining moisture-related concerns for high R-value wall assemblies and discusses past Building America research work that informs this study.

Moisture Performance of High-R Wall Systems

Author(s)

Shah,

Kochkin

Organization(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Publication Date

May, 2018

The next generation of building enclosures is a key step toward achieving high-performance goals through decreasing energy load demand and enabling advanced space-conditioning systems. Yet the adoption of high-R enclosures and particularly high-R walls has been a slow-growing trend because...

Multi-Family Construction Air Sealing Guide

Author(s)

Steven Winter Associates

Organization(s)

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Publication Date

January, 2013

Report providing guidance to air sealing multifamily homes.

Performance of Windows in Walls With Continuous Insulation

Author(s)

Peavey John,

Shah Nay

Organization(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs,

USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Publication Date

March, 2023

Technical report describing research aimed to provide window manufacturers with foundational guidance for installing windows in walls with continuous insulation (CI), addressing critical aspects such as evaluating common installation methods, establishing acceptance criteria for window performance...

Predicting Envelope Leakage in Attached Dwellings

Author(s)

Faakye Omari,

Arena Lois,

Griffiths Dianne

Organization(s)

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

July, 2013

Research study exploring a test method measuring air leakage between units through common surfaces and air infiltration across exterior, noncommon surfaces of the enclosure.

Providing a Thermal Break in Gut Rehabs

Author(s)

Steven Winter Associates

Organization(s)

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Publication Date

August, 2006

Information sheet about how to reduce thermal bridging in walls.