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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 135

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
Description
2015 edition of code for commercial buildings that brings together all structural, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy and electrical provisions for all buildings except detached one- and two-family residences and townhouses up to three stories.
Author(s)
U.S. Geological Survey
Organization(s)
USGS
Publication Date
Description
A colored map showing seismic zones across the United States, ranging from lowest to highest seismic hazards.
Author(s)
American Institute of Architects
Organization(s)
AIA
Publication Date
Description
Report describing the experience gained from AIA’s Disaster Assistance Program with first-hand accounts of disaster response and recovery, case studies and other best practices, including approaches to designing buildings to be more adaptable to uncertainty.
Author(s)
American Gas Association
Organization(s)
AGA
Publication Date
Description
Report providing information regarding the benefits and challenges associated with the installation of earthquake-actuated automatic shut-off valves (ASVs) or remote-control valves (RCVs) 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. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Organization(s)
CSPC
Publication Date
Description
Safety brochure from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) describing the dangers to children of furniture tipping over if it is not securely anchored.
Author(s)
USPC
Organization(s)
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Publication Date
Description
Website providing consumers with information about the risk to children from appliances and furniture tipping over and ways to anchor furniture and appliances to prevent this hazard.
Author(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Organization(s)
ASCE,
Structural Engineering Institute,
SEI,
American National Standards Institute,
ANSI
Publication Date
Description
Standard providing minimum functionality requirements for earthquake-actuated automatic gas shutoff devices. Applicable to systems carrying natural gas and propane, the devices are used in piping, equipment, and appliances typically found in structures of three stories or less. The current version...
Author(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Organization(s)
ASCE
Publication Date
Description
Web-based mapping tool offering a fast, reliable way to look up key design parameters specified in Standard ASCE 7-10, 7-16, or 7-22 for a specific address or location. The tool is free to use and can look up data for eight different environmental hazard types: wind, tornado, seismic, ice, rain...
Author(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Organization(s)
ASCE,
Structural Engineering Institute,
SEI
Publication Date
Description
Standard using deficiency-based and systematic procedures that use performance-based principles to evaluate and retrofit existing buildings to withstand the effects of earthquakes. This version of the standard was published in the year 2013, and is available in both digital and print versions. The...
Author(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Organization(s)
ASCE,
Structural Engineering Institute,
SEI
Publication Date
Description
Standard using deficiency-based and systematic procedures that use performance-based principles to evaluate and retrofit existing buildings to withstand the effects of earthquakes. The current version of this standard was published in the year 2017, and is available in both digital and print...
Author(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Organization(s)
ASCE,
Structural Engineering Institute,
SEI
Publication Date
Description
Standard using performance-based principles to determine dead, live, soil, flood, snow, rain, atmospheric ice, earthquake, and wind loads, and their combinations for general structural design. This version of the standard was published in the year 2010 and is available in both digital and print...
Author(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Organization(s)
ASCE,
Structural Engineering Institute,
SEI
Publication Date
Description
Standard using performance-based principles to determine dead, live, soil, flood, tsunami, snow, rain, atmospheric ice, earthquake, wind, and fire loads, and their combinations for general structural design. This version of the standard was published in the year 2016 and is available in both digital...
Author(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Organization(s)
ASCE,
Structural Engineering Institute,
SEI
Publication Date
Description
Standard using performance-based principles to determine dead, live, soil, flood, tsunami, snow, rain, atmospheric ice, seismic, and wind loads, and their combinations for general structural design. The current version of this standard was published in the year 2022 and is available in both digital...
Author(s)
Association of Bay Area Governments
Organization(s)
ABAG
Publication Date
Description
A basic guide walking through the various types of valves useful in mitigating the effects of earthquakes and other seismic events on natural gas pipelines for residential use.
Author(s)
Oscar Castillo
Organization(s)
4 Home Sales Realty
Publication Date
Description
Article describing different types of earthquake shut-off valves for home buyers.
Author(s)
Wieber
Organization(s)
NW Seismic
Publication Date
Description
A website containing a video series by NW Seismic illustrating how a seismic retrofit should be done and ways they are done incorrectly.
Author(s)
California Legislative Information
Organization(s)
California Legislative Information
Publication Date
Description
Description of California Senate Bill SB 1898, which requires the sale of new seismic gas shutoff devices sold in California to be certified by the State Architect.
Author(s)
California Contractors State License Board
Organization(s)
CSLB
Publication Date
Description
California State Code of Regulations, Title 16, Division 8, Article 3, listing requirements for plumbing contractors.
Author(s)
Central United States Earthquake Consortium
Organization(s)
CUSEC
Publication Date
Description
Website providing disaster preparedness information and resources for residents and building owners in locations susceptible to earthquakes.
Author(s)
Tucker,
Jill
Organization(s)
SFGate
Publication Date
Description
News article from SFGate explaining and giving figures on how chimney failure is the most common type of damage to homes during an earthquake.
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)
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)
Structural Insulate Panel Association
Organization(s)
Structural Insulate Panel Association,
SIPA
Publication Date
Description
Article in the SIPA Technical Bulletin (No. 11) comparing the earthquake resistance of light-frame wood shear wall construction to residential construction with structural insulated panels (SIPS).
Author(s)
City of Ellensburg
Organization(s)
City of Ellensburg
Publication Date
Description
Flyer from the City of Ellensburg WA describing what an excess flow valve is, how they work, and associated costs.
Author(s)
Colorado Springs Utilities
Organization(s)
Colorado Springs Utilities
Publication Date
Description
Website for gas utility customers describing the installation of excess flow valves to stop the flow of natural gas into a home in the event of a line rupture.
Author(s)
Knoxville Utilities Board
Organization(s)
KUB
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing what excess flow valves are, how they work, and the installation process.
Author(s)
TECO Peoples Gas
Organization(s)
TECO
Publication Date
Description
Utility webpage describing the monetary costs associated with excess flow valves for TECO in Florida.
Author(s)
National Institute of Building Sciences Building Seismic Safety Council,
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA,
ICC
Publication Date
Description
Report presenting seismic design and construction guidance for one- and two-family houses for homebuilders, knowledgeable homeowners, and other non-engineers.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
American Red Cross
Organization(s)
FEMA,
Red Cross
Publication Date
Description
A fact sheet on how to prepare for a natural disaster by storing food and water through an emergency food supply.