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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 649

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Brochure providing information about flashing.
Author(s)
Mark Parlee
Organization(s)
The Building Consultant
Publication Date
Description
An article illustrating common errors found in fiber cement siding installations. Many of these errors and poor flashing examples apply to siding materials beyond fiber cement siding.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Documents describing the similarities and differences between the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) minimum requirements and the requirements of the International Codes® (I-Codes®) and ASCE 24, Flood Resistant Design and Construction, a standard referenced by the I-Codes., and illustrating...
Author(s)
Keote Shreyas Ashok,
Kumar Dhanendra,
Singh Rishabh
Organization(s)
Journal of Energy and Power Sources,
Indian Institute of Technology BHU Varanasi,
IIT BHU
Publication Date
Description
Article describing construction best practices to help reduce the wind-induced pressure loads on a low-rise building during a hurricane.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Organization(s)
HUD
Publication Date
Description
Brochure helping homeowners identify hazards, work with contractors to remove the hazards, help ensure the work is done properly, and educate when they can return safely to the home.
Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article describing the difference between conditioned or unvented attics and unconditioned or vented attics.
Author(s)
Sonne Jefferey,
Vieira Robin
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Paper describing the effects of tree canopies on residential climates indicating tree cover to be beneficial to climate conditions
Author(s)
Energy Saver
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
DOE Energy Saver webpage summarizing the use of whole-house fans for cooling.
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
A factsheet that offers guidance on choosing appropriate materials and using proper construction practices when rebuilding, repairing, or renovating a home to increase its resistance to fires.
Author(s)
University of Minnesota Extension
Organization(s)
University of Minnesota
Publication Date
Description
Webpage explaining what causes the formation of ice dams on roofs and steps to take to prevent them.
Author(s)
Stephen L. Quarles
Organization(s)
University of California
Publication Date
Description
Article from Stephen L. Quarles on fire resistant decking design and materials recommendations.
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety,
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
IBHS,
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing research by IBHS into causes of deck ignition in a wildfire and tips for constructing and maintain decks to reduce the risk by ignition by embers and under-deck fires.
Author(s)
Bolton Bill
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction,
JLC
Publication Date
Description
Article describing codes and test methods related to fire-resistant construction of decks.
Author(s)
Milne
Organization(s)
UCLA
Publication Date
Description
Wildfire resistant home checklist from Murray Milne, a professor of architecture at UCLA, who outlines seven steps to take to improve a home's chance of survival during a wildfire.
Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Organization(s)
NOAA
Publication Date
Description
Website helping communities address coastal issues with data, tools, and training resources.
Author(s)
Mid-America Regional Council
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
A guide on the use of rain barrels for greater water efficiency and use in gardens and lawns.
Author(s)
Pacific Gas & Electric
Organization(s)
PG&E
Publication Date
Description
Guidelines from PG&E outlining how to stay safe during a flood event by shutting off natural gas and electric service to the home.
Author(s)
Barkaszi Stephen F,
Dunlop James P
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
A research paper exploring the installation and mounting of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops and the challenges faced by system designers and installers.
Author(s)
Jack Spirko
Organization(s)
Permaculture Research Institute
Publication Date
Description
Article describing the difference between swales and hugels (berms used to create soil from woody debris).
Author(s)
California Division of the State Architect
Organization(s)
DSA,
California Department of General Services,
DGS
Publication Date
Description
A quick guide from the California Division of the State Architect (DSA) explaining the three types of gas shutoff devices to stop the flow of natural gas into buildings in the event of an earthquake or rupture of the gas line.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Organization(s)
HUD
Publication Date
Description
Designer checklist covering hazards involving ground and surface water, rain and water vapor, HVAC and plumbing, sunlight, insects, decay, and natural hazards, and builder checklist covering all disaster resistance, sorted by building component.
Author(s)
Clean Energy Exhibition
Organization(s)
Clean Energy Exhibition
Publication Date
Description
Webpage providing details of an experimental earth tube installation at the Clean Energy Exhibition in Georgia.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Website providing links to building codes, seismic codes, code enforcement, safe buildings, and seismic retrofitting.
Author(s)
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
California Governor's Office of Emergency Services,
Southern California Earthquake Center
Organization(s)
NEHRP,
FEMA,
Cal OES,
SCEC,
Earthquake Country Alliance,
ECA
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing methods for securing HVAC units to avoid damage during an earthquake.
Author(s)
Earthquake Country Alliance
Organization(s)
Southern California Earthquake Center
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing how to secure refrigerators and other major appliances to wall studs using earthquake appliance straps or angle brackets and bolts.
Author(s)
Earthquake Country Alliance
Organization(s)
Southern California Earthquake Center
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing how to secure televisions, microwaves, computers, and other electronics to prevent damage during earthquakes.
Author(s)
Earthquake Country Alliance
Organization(s)
Southern California Earthquake Center
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing how to secure water heaters to resist seismic activity.
Author(s)
City of San Jose Planning Building and Code Enforcement
Organization(s)
City of San Jose Planning Building and Code Enforcement
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing ways to retrofit a home to make it more earthquake resistant.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Website providing links to scalable guidance and tools about the importance of earthquake mitiation to the private sector, its owners, managers, and employees.
Author(s)
American Red Cross
Organization(s)
American Red Cross
Publication Date
Description
Webpage providing earthquake safety tips including proactive home structure and utility action items.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
Organization(s)
FEMA,
NEHRP
Publication Date
Description
Reference guide helping families prepare for an earthquake and prevent earthquake-related damage.
Author(s)
MBS Engineering
Organization(s)
MBS Engineering
Publication Date
Description
A one-page fact sheet outlining the purpose of an earthquake valve and how the valve can stop gas from flowing into a residence or building.
Author(s)
Department of Homeland Security
Organization(s)
USDHS
Publication Date
Description
Website describing what to do for safety in an earthquake and other types of disasters.
Author(s)
Mile High Flood District
Organization(s)
MHFD
Publication Date
Description
A best-practices guide compiled to reduce the effects of erosion and enhance vegetation establishment and survivability on slopes and channels.
Author(s)
Irtaza,
Javed,
Jameel
Organization(s)
Asian Journal of Civil Engineering
Publication Date
Description
Article presenting a numerical study of wind pressure on the low-rise hip-roof building by varying the roof pitch using computational fluid dynamics computer modeling and wind tunnel testing of hip roofs with different roof pitches: 15°, 20°, 30° and 40°.
Author(s)
El Dorado County Fire District
Organization(s)
El Dorado County Fire District
Publication Date
Description
Document explaining requirements and recommendations for defensible space, with a focus on sloped vegetation.