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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 51 - 73 of 73

Prepare for Wildfire: Hardening Your Home

Author(s)
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Organization(s)
State of California,
Cal Fire
Publication Date
Webpage offering recommendations to homeowners and contractors for retrofitting a home to make it more resistant to wildfires.

Protect Your Home From Floods

Author(s)
Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
Institute for Business & Home Safety
Publication Date
Report covering reducing risk from flooding.

Research and Development of a Ventilation-Integrated Comfort System

Author(s)
Puttagunta Srikanth,
Aldrich Robb,
Cleary Barnett
Organization(s)
Steven Winter Associates,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Publication Date
Technical report describing the research and development of the Ventilation-Integrated Comfort System (VICS) which is a specifically designed, energy-efficient solution that seamlessly integrates with low-capacity, ducted heating, and cooling systems, offering controllable, balanced energy recovery...

Residential Seismic Strengthening

Author(s)
City of Portland OR
Organization(s)
City of Portland OR
Publication Date
Website providing resources for seismic retrofits for builders and homeowners as well as city permit requirements from the City of Portland OR.

Seismic Gas Shut-Off Valve Requirements

Author(s)
City of Malibu
Organization(s)
City of Malibu
Publication Date
Fact sheet for natural gas customers describing city’s seismic gas shut-off valve requirements.

Standard Test Method for Resistance to Growth of Mold on the Surface of Interior Coatings in an Environmental Chamber (ASTM D3273 - 21)

Author(s)
American Society for Testing and Materials,
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Standard showing the test method for resistance to growth of mold on the surface of interior coatings such as paint in an environmental chamber. The current version of the standard was published in the year 2021 and is available for preview and purchase at the referenced link. Previous versions of...

Structural Design Loads for the Home Inspector

Author(s)
Gromicko
Organization(s)
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors,
InterNACHI
Publication Date
Article defining structural design loads and ways to calculate them, including dead loads, live loads, soil lateral loads, wind loads, snow loads, earthquake loads, and other loads.

Training Course: Fire Behavior

Author(s)
National Wildfire Coordinating Group
Organization(s)
National Wildfire Coordinating Group
Publication Date
Online course describing the behavior of wildfires for firefighters.

U.S. Forest Service

Author(s)
U.S. Forest Service
Organization(s)
USFS
Publication Date

Unreinforced Masonry Chimneys

Author(s)
Southern California Earthquake Center
Organization(s)
SCEC,
University of Southern California
Publication Date
Webpage from Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) on identifying key problem spots on unreinforced masonry chimneys and how to retrofit them to withstand seismic forces.

Vinyl Siding with Integrated Rigid Foam for Existing Walls

Author(s)
Journal of Light Construction
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction
Publication Date
Article describing ways to construct or retrofit a home to increase is resistance to high winds, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

Ways to stay safe in a natural disaster.

Author(s)
NW Natural
Organization(s)
NW Natural
Publication Date
Webpage from NW Natural on how to prepare homes with natural gas service for earthquakes and floods, what to do during an emergency, and how to respond after the emergency has passed.

What to Do if a Wildfire is Approaching

Author(s)
IBHS DisasterSafety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Guidelines from IBHS on modifications to homes to prepare for a wildfire if evacuation orders are anticipated for the area.

Wildfire Hazard Potential

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Organization(s)
USDA
Publication Date
Webpage from USDA and U.S. Forest Service with a map of potential wildfire risk across the U.S.

Wildfire Operations: Wildfire Science

Author(s)
Canada Government of Northwest Territories Department of Environment and Climate Change
Organization(s)
GNWT ECC
Publication Date
Website describing how wildfires spread and how fuels, weather, and topography influence fires.

Wildfire Operations: Wildfire Science

Author(s)
Canada Government of Northwest Territories Department of Environment and Climate Change
Organization(s)
GNWT ECC
Publication Date
Webpage describing the behavior of wildfires.

Wildfire Ready

Author(s)
DisasterSafety.org
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
A webpage providing guidance on increasing the wildfire resistance of a home.

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

Author(s)
U.S. Fire Administration
Organization(s)
USFA
Publication Date
Webpage from USFA compiling resources from across the U.S. on Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) information.

Winter Storm Safety

Author(s)
American Red Cross
Organization(s)
Red Cross
Publication Date
Webpage from American Red Cross describing how to stay safe and prepare homes for severe winter weather such as blizzards.