Library | Building America Solution Center

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 - 27 of 27

5 Ways to Protect Your Home From Wildfires

Author(s)

McGuigan Connor

Organization(s)

Sierra Club

Publication Date

November, 2017

Article from the Sierra Club explaining 5 steps to take to ensure your home's resistance to wildfires, including site maintenance and roof construction guidelines.

Attic Retrofits Using Nail-Base Insulated Panels

Author(s)

Mallay,

Kochkin

Organization(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Publication Date

March, 2018

This report outlines research activities that are expected to facilitate the adoption of energy retrofits by remodeling contractors and roofing contractors using retrofit panels. The results of this research will be applicable to many existing house designs in most climates and markets. The...

AY-126 Thermal and Ignition Barriers For The SPF Industry

Author(s)

Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance

Organization(s)

Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance

Publication Date

August, 2020

SPFA website signup page to access SPFA documents.

Benefits of Seismic Upgrades: Is Earthquake Retrofitting Worth It in CA?

Author(s)

California Earthquake Authority

Organization(s)

CEA

Publication Date

February, 2020

Article from California Earthquake Authority on the benefits of retrofitting homes to withstand earthquake forces, with a focus on foundations, walls, and chimneys.

Building America Special Research Project—High-R Roofs Case Study Analysis, BA-1006

Author(s)

Straube John,

Grin Aaron

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

November, 2010

Report comparing a variety of roof insulating strategies to present their advantages and disadvantages according to several comparison criteria.

Building America Special Research Project: High R-Value Enclosures for High Performance Residential Buildings in All Climate Zones, BA-1005

Author(s)

Straube

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

February, 2011

This report will review, and summarize the current state of understanding and research into enclosures with higher thermal resistance, so-called “High-R Enclosures.” Recommendations are provided for further research.

Built to Last, Understanding Thermal Movement in Residential Metal Roof Systems is Key to Long-term Performance

Author(s)

Nick Sabino

Organization(s)

National Roofing Contractors Association

Publication Date

April, 2016

An article discussing how different metal roof materials and attachment methods affect the ability of the roof to thermally expand and contract and the durability of different solutions.

Chimney failure most common damage in an earthquake

Author(s)

Tucker,

Jill

Organization(s)

SFGate

Publication Date

August, 2014

News article from SFGate explaining and giving figures on how chimney failure is the most common type of damage to homes during an earthquake.

Dam Ice Dam, BSI-046

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

November, 2015

Article describing strategies for reducing the risk of ice dam formation on roofs in winter.

Field Performance of Unvented Cathedralized (UC) Attics in the USA, PA-0502

Author(s)

Rudd

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2005

Journal article reporting on field experience of unvented cathedralized (UC) attics in several environments in the United States.

Fortified Home Technical Resources

Author(s)

IBHS Fortified Home

Organization(s)

IBHS Fortified Home

Publication Date

September, 2020

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.

General PV Specification

Author(s)

Aldrich Robb

Organization(s)

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Publication Date

March, 2009

Brochure on specifications for PV systems.

High-Performance Home Technologies: Solar Thermal & Photovoltaic Systems; Volume 6 Building America Best Practices Series

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Ruiz Kathi,

Steward Heidi,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Publication Date

June, 2007

Best Practices document providing an introduction to current photovoltaic and solar thermal building practices.

How to Build an Insulated Cathedral Ceiling

Author(s)

Holladay

Organization(s)

Green Building Advisor

Publication Date

November, 2011

Information sheet presenting the correct methods for building an insulated cathedral ceiling.

How to Verify New Construction Compliance - IBHS FORTIFIED

Author(s)

IBHS Fortified

Organization(s)

IBHS

Publication Date

September, 2020

Checklist for verifying FORTIFIED levels and documentation needed.

IRC FAQ: Conditioned Attics, GM-0905

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

May, 2009

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.

Is Your Home Protected from Hurricane Disaster? A Homeowner’s Guide to Hurricane Retrofit

Author(s)

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety

Organization(s)

IBHS

Publication Date

January, 2002

Report describing ways to retrofit a home to make it more hurricane resistant.

Opening and Compartmentalization Effects of Internal Pressure in Low-Rise Buildings with Gable and Hip Roofs

Author(s)

Tecle Amanuel S,

Bitsuamlak Girma T,

Chowdhury Arindam Gan

Organization(s)

Journal of Architectural Engineering,

American Society of Civil Engineers,

ASCE

Publication Date

March, 2015

Study examining how design features, such as building envelope openings and compartmentalization, affect the wind pressure in typical low-rise buildings with gable and hip roofs.

Radiant Barrier: Effect of Radiant Barriers on Heating and Cooling Bills

Author(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Organization(s)

ORNL

Publication Date

September, 2022

Fact sheet describing analysis of potential heating and cooling savings from radiant barriers in attics.

Raised Truss

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2011

Information sheet with the definition and uses for a raised truss.

Repair of Earthquake-Damaged Masonry Fireplace Chimneys

Author(s)

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Organization(s)

FEMA

Publication Date

January, 2015

Webpage from FEMA describing how to properly reconstruct masonry fireplace chimneys damages by earthquakes.

Rocks Don’t Burn, BSI–068

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

May, 2013

Report covering non-combustible continuous exterior insulation and non-combustible roof venting.

TESTING APPLICATION STANDARD (TAS) No. 100–95 TEST PROCEDURE FOR WIND AND WIND DRIVEN RAIN RESISTANCE OF DISCONTINUOUS ROOF SYSTEMS

Author(s)

Florida Building Code

Organization(s)

Florida Building Code

Publication Date

September, 2020

Fact sheet describing the test procedure for wind and wind driven rain resistance of discontinuous roofing systems.

Unreinforced Masonry Chimneys

Author(s)

Southern California Earthquake Center

Organization(s)

SCEC,

University of Southern California

Publication Date

August, 2021

Webpage from Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) on identifying key problem spots on unreinforced masonry chimneys and how to retrofit them to withstand seismic forces.

Unvented Roof Assemblies for All Climates, BSD-149

Author(s)

Schumacher

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

April, 2007

Report reviewing unvented roof assemblies, such as conditioned attics and unvented cathedral ceilings that are becoming common in North American construction.

Unvented Roof Summary, RR-0301

Author(s)

Kohta

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation

Publication Date

January, 2003

Document summarizing the various papers on unvented conditioned cathedralized attics found on BSC's website.

Wildfire-Resistant Buildings

Author(s)

Journal of Light Construction

Organization(s)

Journal of Light Construction

Publication Date

April, 2022

Article describing ways to design and construct a building to resist wildfires.