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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 1 - 50 of 73

2014 ICC 500/NSSA Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters

Author(s)
International Code Council,
National Storm Shelter Association
Organization(s)
ICC,
NSSA
Publication Date
The purpose of this standard is to establish minimum requirements to safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare relative to the design, construction and installation of storm shelters constructed for protection from high winds associated with tornadoes and hurricanes.

Best Practices Manual

Author(s)
Hammer & Hand
Organization(s)
Hammer & Hand
Publication Date
This Best Practices Manual is the product of Hammer & Hand’s ongoing work to document and internally codify our standard operating procedures for construction practice.

Brick Masonry Rain Screen Walls

Author(s)
Brick Industry Association
Organization(s)
BIA
Publication Date
Document focusing on the design and wall components that contribute to a pressure equalized rain screen wall, including the frequency of the weep holes and other brick masonry rain screen wall requirements.

Building Thermal Performance, Extreme Heat, and Climate Change

Author(s)
Matthew J. Nahlik,
Mikhail V. Chester,
Stephanie S. Pincetl,
David Eisenman,
Deepak Sivaraman,
Paul English
Organization(s)
ASCE
Publication Date
Article published by American Society of Civil Engineers on different building types and their effictiveness resisting extreme heat from a building envelope perspective.

Designing Energy Efficient New Homes for a Warm Climate

Author(s)
The Home Energy Community of Practice
Organization(s)
The Home Energy Community of Practice
Publication Date
Article from The Home Energy Community of Practice on designing energy efficient homes in hot climate zones, including home orientation, window location, and roof design considerations.

Disconnect or Redirect Your Downspout Brochure

Author(s)
Mid-America Regional Council
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
A guide on the use of rain barrels for greater water efficiency and use in gardens and lawns.

Discussion of Strategies for Mounting Photovoltaic Arrays on Rooftops

Author(s)
Barkaszi Stephen F,
Dunlop James P
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
A research paper exploring the installation and mounting of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops and the challenges faced by system designers and installers.

FEMA High Winds Publications

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
A selection of publications and guidance to assist communities in making their buildings more resilient against the impacts of high winds.

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-55, Coastal Construction Manual Volume II

Author(s)
Coulbourne William,
Jones Christopher P,
Kapur Omar,
Koumoudis Vasso,
Line Philip,
Low David K,
Overcash Glenn,
Passman Samantha,
Reeder Adam,
Seitz Laura,
Smith Thomas,
Tezak Scott
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA,
Applied Technology Council,
ATC,
URS Group,
DK Low and Associates,
Atkins,
TLSmith Consulting
Publication Date
Volume II of a two-volume report providing a comprehensive approach to design, construction, and renovation of homes located in coastal environments.

FEMA P-55, Coastal Construction Manual, Volume I, 4th edition

Author(s)
Coulbourne William,
Jones Christopher P,
Kapur Omar,
Koumoudis Vasso,
Line Philip,
Low David K,
Overcash Glenn,
Passman Samantha,
Reeder Adam,
Seitz Laura,
Smith Thomas,
Tezak Scott
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA,
Applied Technology Council,
ATC,
URS Group,
DK Low and Associates,
Atkins,
TLSmith Consulting
Publication Date
Volume 1 of a two-volume report providing a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, and risk management for homes constructed in coastal environments.

FEMA Safe Rooms

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
A website explaining the purpose of safe rooms and criteria necessary to meet FEMA P-361 and P-320 criteria.

Fire in California: Preparing Your Home

Author(s)
University of California Cooperative Extension
Organization(s)
University of California Cooperative Extension
Publication Date
Guidelines from the University of California Cooperative Extension on how fires spread, how homes typically burn, and what homeowners can do to prepare their homes for wildfire season.

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.

Fortified Home Hail Supplement to the High Wind Standard

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Guide describing the requirements by FORTIFIED Home™ for improving the home's resistance to high wind and hail.

Fortified Home High Wind Standard

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Guide describing the requirements by FORTIFIED Home™ for improving the home's resistance in severe thunderstorms, straight-line wind events, and high winds at the outer edges of tornadoes.

Fortified Home High Wind Technical Requirements Summary New Construction

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Report summarizing the requirements to strenghthen new homes against property damage caused by high wind occurrences per the IBHS Fortified Homes High Wind Standard for New Homes.

Fortified Home High Wind Technical Requirements Summary: Existing Homes

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Report summarizing the requirements to strenghthen new homes against property damage caused by high wind occurrences per the IBHS Fortified Homes High Wind Standard for Existing Homes.

Fortified Home Hurricane Standard

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Guide describing the requirements by FORTIFIED Home™ for improving the home's resistance in severe thunderstorms, straight-line wind events, and high winds at the outer edges of tornadoes.

Fortified Home Hurricane Technical Requirements Summary: Existing Homes

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Report summarizing the requirements for strenghtening and protecting the roof, openings in the house, and creating a continuous load path to strengthen walls and foundation per the IBHS Fortified Homes Hurricane Standard for Existing Homes.

Fortified Home Hurricane Technical Summary: New Construction

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Report summarizing the requirements for strenghtening and protecting the roof, openings in the house, and creating a continuous load path to strengthen walls and foundation per the IBHS Fortified Homes Hurricane Standard for New Homes.

Fortified Home Re-Roofing Checklist: High Wind

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Checklist providing information about the specific requirements of FORTIFIED Roof™ design and construction standard for re-roofing specific for high wind resistance.

Fortified Home Re-Roofing Checklist: High Wind & Hail

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Checklist providing information about the specific requirements of FORTIFIED Roof™ design and construction standard for re-roofing specific for high wind and hail resistance.

Fortified Home Re-Roofing Checklist: Hurricane

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Checklist providing information about the specific requirements of FORTIFIED Roof™ design and construction standard for re-roofing specific for hurricane resistance.

Fortified Home: Choosing the Right Tape

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Checklist providing recommendations for the right tape in order to reduce the risk of leaks during storms with wind-driven rain.

Fortified Roof: Standard Detail Set for Fortified Roof

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Webpage providing video links and Spanish/English handouts for installing roofs to meet the hurricane and high wind resistant guidance in the IBHS Fortified Home criteria.

Foundation and Anchoring Criteria for Safe Rooms

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet discussing designs for prefabricated safe rooms built to ICC 500 standards mentioned in FEMA P-361.

Fundamentals of Resilient Design: Wet Floodproofing

Author(s)
Resilient Design Institute
Organization(s)
Resilient Design Institute
Publication Date
Website describing wet floodproofing measures to prevent against structural damage, internal damage and damage to electrical components.

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.

HIGHLIGHTS OF ASCE 24-14 Flood Resistant Design and Construction

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Document describing ASCE 24-14 Flood Resistant Design and Construction changes and highlights, on topics including siting, materials, performance, and utilities.

Home Survival in Wildfire-Prone Areas: Building Materials and Design Considerations

Author(s)
Quarles,
Valachovic,
Nakamura,
Nader,
De Lasaux
Organization(s)
University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Publication Date
A guide that summarizes building materials and design considerations for increasing wildfire-resistivity of homes in areas that are prone to wildfires.

Hurricane Retrofit Guide: Gable End Overhangs

Author(s)
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Organization(s)
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Publication Date
A document aimed at reducing the vulnerability of a gable end roof to wind damage in a hurricane.

IBHS Fortified Home – Roofers

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS Fortified Home
Publication Date
Website providing resources for roofers to construct high-wind, hurricane, and hail-resistant roofs from IBHS Fortified program.

Minimizing Flood Damage to Electrical Service Components

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Factsheet describing smart practices for minimizing damage to residential electrical service components during coastal and riverine flood events.