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Library

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 101 - 150 of 570

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Document presenting some of the key technical properties of many of the most common building materials.
Author(s)
Building Performance Institute
Organization(s)
BPI
Publication Date
Description
A comprehensive list of professional certifications offered by the Building Performance Institute. The webpage includes links to overviews of the different certificates, certification scheme handbooks, and directions for taking certification exams and recertification.
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Document with the Quality Control Checklist developed as both a guide to assist in the transition to high performance home building, and as a simplified tool to be used as part of any builder's on-site quality control procedures.
Author(s)
Matthew J. Nahlik,
Mikhail V. Chester,
Stephanie S. Pincetl,
David Eisenman,
Deepak Sivaraman,
Paul English
Organization(s)
ASCE
Publication Date
Description
Article published by American Society of Civil Engineers on different building types and their effictiveness resisting extreme heat from a building envelope perspective.
Author(s)
Wieber
Organization(s)
NW Seismic
Publication Date
Description
A website containing a video series by NW Seismic illustrating how a seismic retrofit should be done and ways they are done incorrectly.
Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article describing correct ways to eliminate water damage by incorporating a sacrificial layer to foundation walls and footings.
Author(s)
Koel
Organization(s)
American Technical Publishers
Description
Website with instructional material for career and technical education.
Author(s)
Southface Energy Institute,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Organization(s)
Southface Energy Institute,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet with information about insulating and ventilating attics.
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report about ventilation system design, including central fan integrated supply (CFIS) system, made up of a 6-inch outdoor air intake duct connected to the return side of the air handler with a fan cycling control to make sure the fan runs a programmed minimum amount of time.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Publication Date
Description
This is a guide for establishing smoke-free policies in public housing and multifamily properties.
Author(s)
Carpenter Stephen C,
Schumacher Christopher
Organization(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Description
Case study characterizing the framing factors for the exterior walls, ceilings, and floors of 180 wood-framed low-rise residential buildings across the United States.
Author(s)
Fisette
Organization(s)
University of Massachusetts
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet discussing how OSB will define the future of the structural sheathing market. OSB will define the future of the structural sheathing market. - See more at: http://bct.eco.umass.edu/publications/by-title/choosing-between-oriented-strandboard-and-plywood/#sthash.RilEtDpl.dpuf
Author(s)
Gifford
Organization(s)
American Boiler Manufacturers Association
Publication Date
Description
Part 2 of an article discussing how to maximize two-pipe steam systems for resident space heating.
Author(s)
Baker Peter,
Eng P,
Lepage R
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report on the stability of furring strips as a means for cladding attachment over walls with thick exterior rigid insulation.
Author(s)
North American Insulation Manufacturers Association
Organization(s)
North American Insulation Manufacturers Association
Publication Date
Description
Manual showing duct cleaning contractors how to identify the different types of insulated air ducts, how to open each type for access by cleaning equipment and personnel, how to close and seal openings after cleaning.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
IECC code note explaining new fan efficacy requirements, along with how to determine which fans are affected by the new fan requirements.
Author(s)
Brand Larry,
Cautley D,
Bohac D,
Francisco P,
Shen L,
Gloss S
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR,
NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership,
NorthernSTAR,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Report on a simplified test procedure for combustion safety that is easier to implement and should produce fewer false positives than the previous procedure.
Author(s)
Poerschke A,
Beach Robert
Organization(s)
IBACOS
Publication Date
Description
Report describing how space-conditioning systems are operating in the field and if these systems are meeting required standards.
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Brochure providing information about flashing.
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report investigating the nature, strength, and durability of connections between high performance dwellings and developments.
Author(s)
Herk Anastasia,
Beggs Timothy
Organization(s)
IBACOS
Publication Date
Description
Report outlining the steps developers can take to create high-performance standards on a community-wide scale.
Author(s)
Mallay
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Description
Report on heating and cooling air-distribution ducts that are insulated, installed close to the ceiling in a vented attic and covered with attic insulation to minimize energy loss.
Author(s)
Maguire,
Fang,
Wilson
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Research report providing a comparison of the most common residential water heating technologies to determine energy-efficient and cost-effective water heating technologies are when subjected to a variety of typical operating conditions.
Author(s)
Portland Cement Association
Organization(s)
Portland Cement Association
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet discussing the properties and benefits of insulating concrete forms.
Author(s)
Wilson
Organization(s)
National Research Council Canada
Publication Date
Description
Document about condensation between the panes, on the inside surface of the outer glass of double pane windows.
Author(s)
Kochkin,
Wiehagen
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
Description
The Guide addresses walls constructed with 2x4 wood frame studs, wood structural panel sheathing (WSP) as wall bracing and added backing for foam sheathing, a layer of rigid foam sheathing insulation up to 1.5 inches thick over the WSP, and a cladding system installed over the foam sheathing in low...
Author(s)
Kochkin,
Wiehagen
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
Description
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...
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Organization(s)
HUD
Publication Date
Description
Brochure helping homeowners identify hazards, work with contractors to remove the hazards, help ensure the work is done properly, and educate when they can return safely to the home.
Author(s)
Straube
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Description
Article describing research encouraging use of exterior insulation to warm interior sheathing surfaces in walls and roof assemblies to reduce the likelihood of condensation during cold weather
Author(s)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Organization(s)
ASME
Publication Date
Description
Standard covering requirements for the assembly, installation, maintenance, and operation of controls and safety devices on automatically operated boilers directly fired with gas, oil, gas-oil, or electricity, having fuel input ratings under 12,500,000 Btu/hr. This version of the code was published...
Author(s)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Organization(s)
ASME
Publication Date
Description
Standard covering requirements for the assembly, installation, maintenance, and operation of controls and safety devices on automatically operated boilers directly fired with gas, oil, gas-oil, or electricity, having fuel input ratings under 12,500,000 Btu/hr. This version of the code was published...
Author(s)
Cummings James B,
Withers Charles R,
Kono Jamie E
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Report on experiments comparing the cooling and heating seasonal and peak demand performance of different variable-capacity air conditioning and heat pump units.
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Vijayakumar Gayathri
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Report describing the monitored long-term performance of two solar domestic water heating systems in northern climates.
Author(s)
Southface Energy Institute,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Organization(s)
Southface,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet about crawlspace insulation, including installation details.
Author(s)
Carpet and Rug Institute
Organization(s)
CRI
Publication Date
Description
Webpage containing downloadable fact sheets covering carpet-related topics including Indoor Air Quality, Asthma and Allergy, Cleaning Products, and Environmental Sustainability.
Author(s)
Canadian Standards Association International,
CSA Group
Organization(s)
CSA International,
CSA Group
Publication Date
Description
Standard covering provisions for electrically operated single- and multiple-station carbon monoxide (CO) alarming devices used in various types of residential occupancies to protect against acute effects of exposure to CO. This version of the standard, originally published in 2001 and revised in...
Author(s)
CSA Group
Organization(s)
CSA Group
Publication Date
Description
Standard covering provisions for electrically operated single- and multiple-station carbon monoxide (CO) alarming devices used in various types of residential occupancies to protect against acute effects of exposure to CO. This version of the standard, originally published in 2017 and revised in...
Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article describing strategies for reducing the risk of ice dam formation on roofs in winter.
Author(s)
Baker M C
Organization(s)
National Research Council Canada,
NRC
Publication Date
Description
Article discussing the causes of wood decay and moisture issues.