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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 - 100 of 135

FEMA P-2082-2 NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures, 2020 Edition, Volume II: Part 3 Resource Papers

Author(s)
Building Seismic Safety Council
Organization(s)
BSSC,
National Institute of Building Sciences,
NIBS,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA,
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program,
NEHRP
Publication Date
Document containing a series of resource papers that describe earthquake design components, including shear walls, resiliency, ground motion, and story drift and deflection, among others.

FEMA P-530: Earthquake Safety at Home

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Guide provides homeowners ways to prepare for an earthquake and protect a home against earthquake damage.

FEMA P-804, Wind Retrofit Guide for Residential Buildings

Author(s)
Kapur,
Mahadevia,
Park,
Passman,
Perotin,
Reeder,
Seitz,
Sheldon,
Tezak
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Report providing guidance on how to improve the wind resistance of existing residential buildings in Mississippi and across the Gulf Coast.

Fire Protection of Facades

Author(s)
Marija Jelčić Rukavina,
Milan Carević,
Ivana Banjad Pečur
Organization(s)
University of Zagreb
Publication Date
A guide for designers, architects, engineers, and fire experts on how to design rainscreen and ventilated cavities such that they don’t contribute to the spread of a fire.

Firebreak: Wildfire Resilience Strategies for Real Estate

Author(s)
Urban Land Institute
Organization(s)
Urban Land Institute
Publication Date
Updated wildfire risk assessment, community impacts, and building science measures following the disastrous 2020 wildfire season in the western U.S.

Firetherm

Author(s)
Firetherm
Organization(s)
Firetherm
Publication Date
An example of commercially available thermally expansive fire stopping products for controlling the spread of fires in a rainscreen cavity.

Flame-Spread Ratings

Author(s)
Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshall
Organization(s)
Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshall
Publication Date
Site showing flame spread ratings and definitions for common building materials.

Flash and Seal Roof Penetrations

Author(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing flashing of roof penetrations to make a home more resistant to high winds, hurricanes, and rainwater intrusion.

Flood Resistant Provisions of the 2015 International Codes

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Website containing information about the 2015 edition of the International Codes related to flood-resistant design and construction.

Foam Shrinks, and Other Lessons, PA-1201

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Journal article describing lessons learned from updating a 16-year-old deep-energy retrofit.

Guide to Insulating Sheathing

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Guide providing information on using exterior foam insulating sheathing in building wall assemblies to enhance thermal performance.

HardiPlank Lap Siding Butt Joint Flashing

Author(s)
Todd Fratzel
Organization(s)
Home Construction and Improvement
Publication Date
A article about the best practice method of installing fiber cement siding, to install flashing at the butt joints of the siding boards, rather than face caulking the butt joints afterwards.

High Performance Walls in Hot-Dry Climates

Author(s)
Hoeschele Marc,
Springer David,
Dakin Bill,
German Alea
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
Davis Energy Group,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Article from NREL on wall construction guidelines for homes in hot climate zones.

High-R Roofs Case Study Analysis, BA-1006

Author(s)
Straube,
Grin
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report that considers a number of promising wall systems that can meet the requirement for better thermal control.

House Siding Options, Plus Costs, Pros & Cons 2020

Author(s)
Siding Cost Guide
Organization(s)
Siding Cost Guide
Publication Date
A starting point for ballparking and comparing the cost of different siding materials and a brief overview of the pros and cons of different siding materials.

How to Destroy a Wall in Two Easy Steps

Author(s)
Mark Parlee
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction
Publication Date
A story about how omission of two small but critical wall details, a kick-out flashing and a weep screed, lead to extensive water damage to a wall.

Hurricane Retrofit Guide

Author(s)
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Organization(s)
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Publication Date
Report describing the hurricane retrofit guide with focus on walls and wooded framed walls.

ICF Wall Construction

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Information sheet summarizing ICF wall construction including the advantages and disadvantages of this construction strategy.

Impact Resistance of Brick Veneer Structures to Hurricane Debris

Author(s)
Bennett Richard M,
Borchelt Gregg J,
Bryja Jim,
Kjorlien Bill
Organization(s)
Canada Masonry Design Centre,
CMDC
Publication Date
An impact test report from projectile missile tests against brick veneer, verifying that brick veneers perform well to resisting hurricane force wind driven debris.

Inward Drive – Outward Drying, BSI-061

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report covering reservoir claddings, back ventilation and vapor throttles.

Key Installation Checkpoints for Manufactured Stone Veneer

Author(s)
National Concrete Masonry Association
Organization(s)
National Concrete Masonry Association
Publication Date
Article providing guidance for installing manufactured stone veneer, including information on rainscreens.

Masonry Detailing Series

Author(s)
International Masonry Institute
Organization(s)
International Masonry Institute
Publication Date
Webpage featuring hundreds of illustrations of masonry construction details for brick, congrete, stone, tile, stucco, etc.

Mastic Home Exteriors Installation Guide

Author(s)
Ply Gem Siding Group
Organization(s)
Ply Gem Siding Group
Publication Date
Siding installation guide for Ply Gem Siding Group products.

Moisture Management for High R-Value Walls

Author(s)
Lepage,
Schumacher,
Lukachko
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Report explaining moisture-related concerns for high R-value wall assemblies and discusses past Building America research work that informs this study.

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
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...

Performance profiles of exterior fire protective building envelopes

Author(s)
Jarnskjold Tobias,
Jensen Geir,
Knudsen Atle
Organization(s)
Edition Diffusion Presse Sciences,
EDP Sciences
Publication Date
A study on how fires spread through exterior building envelopes with discussion on how fires propagate in a rain screen cavity.

Plaster and Drywall Assemblies Manual

Author(s)
Fowler Mark,
Stanley Bryan,
Coats Darin
Organization(s)
Technical Services Information Bureau,
Walls & Ceilings
Publication Date
Manual covering design, detailing, material selection and troubleshooting for plaster, IEFs, and drywall, with info on continuous insulation, air barriers, rain screens, fire and sound ratings, etc.