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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 208

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Website describing the national flood insurance program and how to purchase flood insurance.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
A FEMA description of what constitutes a flood-resistant material.
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Guide describing the requirements by FORTIFIED Home™ for improving the home's resistance to high wind and hail.
Author(s)
IBHS Fortified Home
Organization(s)
IBHS Fortified Home
Publication Date
Description
Website providing guides, standards, and references describing the requirements of the IBHS Fortified Home program to improve the disaster resistance of new and existing homes.
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Calculator determining the appropriate design pressures for steep-slope roof coverings for roofers and evlauators.
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Website providing access to the training for building professionals to earn certification as FORTIFIED™ Home Evaluators and FORTIFIED-Wise credentials.
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Checklist highlighting key concepts of wind design uplift pressures and design uplift pressure ratings for proper selection and installation of residential roof covering systems to comply with section R905.1 of the 2015 International Residential Code for a FORTIFIED Roof™–New Roof designation.
Author(s)
IBHS Fortified Home
Organization(s)
IBHS Fortified Home
Publication Date
Description
Website offering an online training that teaches disaster-resistant best practices for roofers.
Author(s)
Electrical Safety Foundation International
Organization(s)
ESFI
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing safe operation of backup electrical generators for use during power outages.
Author(s)
Greenguard Certification
Organization(s)
Greenguard Certification
Publication Date
Description
Website explaining GREENGUARD Certification, which helps manufacturers create and helps buyers identify interior products and materials that have low chemical emissions, improving the quality of the air in which the products are used.
Author(s)
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Website highlighting the DOE Building Technologies Office Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings Initiative, including technical reports, other publications, resources, and presentations.
Author(s)
Office on Smoking and Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Organization(s)
OSH,
NCCDPHP,
CDC
Publication Date
Description
Webpage that describes health problems that can be caused by secondhand smoke.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Document describing ASCE 24-14 Flood Resistant Design and Construction changes and highlights, on topics including siting, materials, performance, and utilities.
Author(s)
Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition
Organization(s)
HFSC
Publication Date
Description
Website containing educational and marketing resources for residential fire sprinklers.
Author(s)
California Seismic Safety Commission
Organization(s)
SSC
Publication Date
Description
Guidebook that provides information on earthquake hazards that can damage homes, the design and retrofit of earthquake resistant housing, and how to find more information on earthquake safety.
Author(s)
Siding Cost Guide
Organization(s)
Siding Cost Guide
Publication Date
Description
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.
Author(s)
Green Building Advisor
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
Website that explains and provides diagrams for covering up above-grade rigid foam insulation.
Author(s)
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Organization(s)
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Publication Date
Description
A document aimed at reducing the vulnerability of a gable end roof to wind damage in a hurricane.
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS Fortified Home
Publication Date
Description
Website providing resources for roofers to construct high-wind, hurricane, and hail-resistant roofs from IBHS Fortified program.
Author(s)
Colorado Springs Fire Department
Organization(s)
City of Colorado Springs Colorado
Publication Date
Description
Wildfire guidance for homes located in the wildland urban interface, focused on site design and individual pieces of the home.
Author(s)
NOAA Office for Coastal Management
Organization(s)
NOAA
Publication Date
Description
Case study describing Alachua County, Florida’s, green infrastructure strategy for land use development that incorporates rain gardens, ponds, swales, and native vegetation to manage stormwater.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Activity sheets describing questions and preparedness action items for a variety of disasters including floods, fires, earthquakes, and winter weather.
Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
Description
NREL webpage for insulating attics.
Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article outlining the use of spray polyurethane foam in residential buildings.
Author(s)
Planning for Hazards: Land Use Solutions for Colorado
Organization(s)
Planning for Hazards: Land Use Solutions for Colorado
Publication Date
Description
Website describing the wildland-urban interface code and providing links to resources.
Author(s)
American Lighting Association
Organization(s)
ALA
Publication Date
Description
American Lighting Association website homepage.
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
Webpage published by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) that lists more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks.
Author(s)
Metal Construction Association
Organization(s)
MCA
Publication Date
Description
An installation training manual discussing the installation of metal roofing materials and related accessories, for both new construction and retrofit projects.
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Website providing guidance about mold and moisture for homes, schools, multifamily and commercial buildings.
Author(s)
Natural Disasters Association
Organization(s)
NDA
Publication Date
Description
Website providing information on tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms and more.
Author(s)
U.S. Geological Survey
Organization(s)
USGS
Publication Date
Description
Website containing USGS-related publications related to natural hazards.
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
An NFPA standard for inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire sprinklers, including fire pump operation and flow tests, evaluation techniques such as sprinkler inspections, valve status tests, internal piping assessments, and forward flow tests for backflow preventers, and water storage system...
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
This standard provides a benchmark for safe electrical design, installation, and inspection to protect people and property from electrical hazards and has been adopted in all 50 states.
Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
National Weather Service
Organization(s)
NOAA,
NWS
Publication Date
Description
A website issuing watches, warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather and increasing the understanding of hazards.
Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
National Weather Service
Organization(s)
NOAA,
NWS
Publication Date
Description
A website providing timely and accurate forecasts and watches for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the contiguous United States.
Author(s)
Egerter Amy,
Campbell Martha
Organization(s)
Rocky Mountain Institute,
RMI,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report describing the current state of technology and market gaps for industrialized retrofits as demonstrated by Energiesprong in the Netherlands and providing key recommendations for how the United States might develop its own capacity for such retrofits.