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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 141

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 Technical Resources

Author(s)
IBHS Fortified Home
Organization(s)
IBHS Fortified Home
Publication Date
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.

Fortified Home Wind Uplift Design Pressure Calculator

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Calculator determining the appropriate design pressures for steep-slope roof coverings for roofers and evlauators.

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.

Fortified Technical Bulletin: Corrosion-Resistant Fasteners

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Checklist highlighting the requirement for metal structural connections and materials fasteners used to retrofit or construct FORTIFIED buildings less than 3,000 ft from saltwater to be suitably protected from corrosion.

Fortified Technical Bulletin: Design Pressure Guidance for Roof Coverings

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
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.

Fortified Technical Bulletin: Metal Panel Roof Covering Guidance

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Checklist providing selection and installation guidance for residential, non-structural metal roof systems installed over wood roof decks with a roof slope 2:12 or greater to comply with section R905.1 of the 2015 IRC for a FORTIFIED Roof – New Roof Designation.

Fortified Technical Bulletin: Roof Deck

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Checklist providing information on how and when to install solid sheathing over spaced deck boards on homes located in areas that use the FORTIFIED Home™–High Wind standards.

Fortified Technical Bulletin: Roof Flashing

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Fact sheet instructing installers about flashing installed on a FORTIFIED roof and points to roof covering manufacturers for flashing installation instructions.

Fortified Technical Bulletin: Sealed Roof Deck

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Checklist providing the type of roofing felt recommended by IBHS as a quilified sealed roof deck system for asphalt shingle or metal roofing.

Fortified Technical Bulletin: Sealed Roof Deck Underlayment Alternative

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing the acceptable underlayment alternatives including ASTM D6757 Underlayment Felt Containing Inorganic Fibers for Steep-Slope Roofing for certain applications.

Fortified Wise University

Author(s)
IBHS Fortified Home
Organization(s)
IBHS Fortified Home
Publication Date
Website offering an online training that teaches disaster-resistant best practices for roofers.

General PV Specification

Author(s)
Aldrich Robb
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Brochure on specifications for PV systems.

How to Build an Insulated Cathedral Ceiling

Author(s)
Holladay
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Information sheet presenting the correct methods for building an insulated cathedral ceiling.

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.

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.

Ice Dams, BSD-135

Author(s)
Straube
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Article outlining the casuses and solutions for ice dam problems.

Insurance Difference Between a Hip and Gable Roof

Author(s)
Colucci Robert
Organization(s)
RTC Insurance Advisors
Publication Date
Article describing the insurance savings of a home with a hip roof versus a gable roof from the perspective of an insurance advisor.

Interference Effects on Wind Loads on Low-Rise Hip Roof Buildings

Author(s)
Ahmad Shakeel,
Kumar Krishen
Organization(s)
Aligarh Muslim University,
University of Roorkee
Publication Date
Article describing how the configuration of surrounding buildings affects the wind loads on a hip roof in a low-rise building.

IRC FAQ: Conditioned Attics, GM-0905

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Report discussing how to create livable space in the attic that meets IRC code requirements by either creating a ventilated roof assembly, or and unvented attic assembly.

Metal Roof Installation Manual

Author(s)
Metal Construction Association
Organization(s)
MCA
Publication Date
An installation training manual discussing the installation of metal roofing materials and related accessories, for both new construction and retrofit projects.

Metal Roof Systems in High-Wind Regions

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
A Recovery Advisory guide reccomending practices for designing and installing metal roof systems that will enhance wind resistance in high-wind regions (i.e., greater than 90-miles per hour [mph] gust design wind speed).

No Sweat, BSI-094

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Guide providing information on controlling attic ductwork sweating.

Protect your Home from Hail

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Website providing guidance on how to reduce the risk of damage to a home from hail.

Radiant Barriers

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
U.S. Department of Energy's website describing radiant barriers in homes.