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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 193

Erosion and Sediment Control On Your Construction Site

Author(s)
County of Santa Cruz Planning Department
Organization(s)
County of Santa Cruz Planning Department
Publication Date
Report describing construction site erosion and sediment control practices recommended and required by a county planning department.

Erosion Control for the Home Builder

Author(s)
Jackson Township,
Ohio
Organization(s)
Jackson Township,
Ohio
Publication Date
Factsheet describing steps builders should take to reduce erosion and control sediment on construction sites during home construction.

Excavationless Exterior Foundation Insulation Exploratory Study

Author(s)
Mosiman,
Wagner,
Schirber
Organization(s)
NorthernSTAR,
University of Minnesota,
NSTAR
Publication Date
Research study searching for combinations of existing technologies that could enable a minimally invasive, cost-competitive, easily deployable method of upgrading soil-side foundation insulation in existing buildings.

FAQs -- After Gutting a Flooded Home

Author(s)
Louisiana State University College of Agriculture
Organization(s)
LSU AgCenter
Publication Date
Webpage from LSU AgCenter answering frequently asked questions after gutting a flooded home, including mitigation strategies for future floods.

FDOT Drainage Handbook: Drainage Connection Permits

Author(s)
Florida Department of Transportation
Organization(s)
FDOT
Publication Date
Handbook describing the permitting process regulating the transfer of stormwater from private property owners to the State of Florida Department of Transportation stormwater drainage systems.

Features and Advantages of Condensing Boilers

Author(s)
HPAC Engineering
Organization(s)
HPAC Engineering
Publication Date
An engineering design guide for hydronic heat loops, discussing the features and advantages of condensing boilers.

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.

Fixing an Expansion Tank with Excess Water

Author(s)
PEX Universe
Organization(s)
PEX Universe
Publication Date
A webpage discussing how water heater expansion tanks operate and how to repair them.

Fixing Wet Basements and Crawlspaces

Author(s)
Todd
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Publication Date
Article describing methods to manage moisture, rainwater, and vapor in basements and crawlspaces.

Flexible Residential Test Facility: Impact of Infiltration and Ventilation on Measured Cooling Season Energy and Moisture Levels

Author(s)
Parker Danny S,
Kono Jamie E,
Vieira Robin K,
Fairey Philip W,
Sherwin John S,
Withers Charles,
Hoak David,
Beal David
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Research report assessing the moisture and cooling load impacts of airtightness and mechanical ventilation in homes in hot-humid climates.

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.

Foundation Design Handbook

Author(s)
Carmody John,
Mosiman Garrett,
Handeen Daniel,
Huelman Patrick H,
Christian Jeffrey E
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
University of Minnesota
Publication Date
Handbook providing guidance on the design and construction of foundations for homes, including insulation, air sealing, and water management details for basements, crawlspaces, and slabs.

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.

Groundwater Control, Info-101

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Information sheet about groundwater control.

High-R Walls for Remodeling: Wall Cavity Moisture Monitoring

Author(s)
Wiehagen,
Kochkin
Organization(s)
NAHB Research Center,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Research study presenting results of an existing home monitoring project designed to measure wall cavity moisture characteristics.

How to Insulate a Basement Wall

Author(s)
Holladay
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Blog entry describing methods for insulating basement walls on the interior or exterior.

Implementing Green Infrastructure at Multiple Scales to Enhance Resilience

Author(s)
NOAA Office for Coastal Management
Organization(s)
NOAA
Publication Date
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.

Inspection and Verification Guidance for WaterSense® Labeled New Homes

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
PDF detailing the inspection and verification guidance for WaterSense labeled new homes including indoor and outdoor efficiency requirements, and homeowner and building management education.

Laboratory Evaluation of Energy Recovery Ventilators

Author(s)
Kosar
Organization(s)
BA-PIRC,
Gas Technology Institute
Publication Date
Report targeting the growing number of homes utilizing deep retrofit measures and new construction practices to realize sufficiently lower infiltration levels that require mechanical ventilation as prescribed by ASHRAE Standard 62.2.

Laboratory Test Report for Six ENERGY STAR Dehumidifiers

Author(s)
Winkler Jon,
Christensen Dane,
Tomerlin Jeff
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Report documenting the measured performance of six residential ENERGY STAR vapor compression dehumidifiers.

Landscaping Tips

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Guide describing landscaping tips for healthy and regionally-based gardens, including maintenance, mulching, water efficiency, and plant resources.

Let’s Concentrate on Condensate

Author(s)
Hart
Organization(s)
ASHI Reporter
Publication Date
Article describing how to properly manage condensing HVAC equipment.

Living on the Coast: Protecting Investments in Shore Property on the Great Lakes

Author(s)
University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Organization(s)
University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Publication Date
A publication describing how to protect coastal investments by adapting to natural processes and protecting coastal environments and shorelines.

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.

Mass Save Deep Energy Retrofit Builder Guide, GM-1302

Author(s)
Pettit,
Neuhauser,
Gates
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Guidebook providing useful examples of high performance retrofit techniques for the building enclosure of wood frame residential construction in a cold and somewhat wet climate.

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.

Measure Guideline: Basement Insulation Basics

Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Mantha Pallavi,
Puttagunta Srikanth
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Document describing good practices for insulating basements in new and existing homes.

Measure Guideline: Guidance on Taped Insulating Sheathing Drainage Planes

Author(s)
Grin,
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Measure Guideline research report providing simple, long term, and durable solutions when using tapes and flashing membranes in conjunction with the exterior face of rigid polymeric foam sheathing to create the drainage plane of a wall system.

Measure Guideline: Internal Insulation of Masonry Walls

Author(s)
Straube,
Ueno,
Schumacher
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Report summarizing the importance of properly insulating and air sealing masonry walls, providing step by step instructions and approaches.

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).