Library | Building America Solution Center

Application of Spray Foam Insulation Under Plywood and Oriented Strand Board Roof Sheathing, BA-1312

Author(s)

Grin,

Smegal,

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

December, 2013

Report covering moisture and leakage issues associated with spray foam insulation application to the underside of roof sheathing.

Attic or Roof? An Evaluation of Two Advanced Weatherization Packages, BA-1205

Author(s)

Neuhauser

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

BSC

Publication Date

June, 2012

Report about a project that examines implementation of advanced retrofit measures in the context of a large-scale weatherization program and the archetypal Chicago, Illinois, brick bungalow.

Basement Insulation Systems, BA-0202

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

November, 2002

Report describing approaches to insulating basements in homes built to meet Energy Star levels of performance of heat loss reduction.

Basement Insulation, Info 511

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

May, 2009

Information sheet describing techniques for insulating basements.

Building America Residential System Research Results: Achieving 30% Whole House Energy Savings Level in Mixed-Humid Climates; January 2006 - December 2006

Author(s)

Building America Industrialized Housing Partnership,

Building Industry Research Alliance,

Building Science Consortium,

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

Davis Energy Group,

IBACOS,

National Association of Home Builders Research Center,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Organization(s)

BAIHP,

BIRA,

BSC,

CARB,

DEG,

NAHBRC,

NREL

Publication Date

December, 2006

Report summarizing research results for the 30% energy savings level and demonstrates that lead builders can successfully provide 30% homes in the Mixed-Humid Region on a cost-neutral basis.

Building America Special Research Project - High-R Foundations Case Study Analysis, RR-1003

Author(s)

Smegal,

Straube

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

August, 2013

Research study describing a number of promising foundation and basement insulation strategies that can meet the requirement for better thermal control in colder climates while enhancing moisture control, health, and comfort.

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.

Building in Extreme Cold, BSI-031

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

February, 2010

Article describing the control layers (air, thermal, and vapor barriers) needed to build homes successfully in very cold locations.

Building Materials Property Table, Info-500

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

April, 2015

Document presenting some of the key technical properties of many of the most common building materials.

Capillarity - Small Sacrifices, BSI-011

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

May, 2014

Article describing correct ways to eliminate water damage by incorporating a sacrificial layer to foundation walls and footings.

Cladding Attachment Over Thick Exterior Insulated Sheathing

Author(s)

Baker Peter,

Eng P,

Lepage R

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2014

Report on the stability of furring strips as a means for cladding attachment over walls with thick exterior rigid insulation.

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

November, 2014

Information sheet that summarizes Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction including advantages and disadvantages of this construction strategy.

Evaluation of Two CEDA Weatherization Pilot Implementations of an Exterior Insulation and Over-Clad Retrofit Strategy for Residential Masonry Buildings in Chicago

Author(s)

Neuhauser

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

August, 2013

Report examining implementation of an exterior insulation and over-clad strategy for brick masonry buildings in Chicago.

Expert Meeting Report: Cladding Attachment Over Exterior Insulation (BSC Report)

Author(s)

Baker Peter

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

October, 2013

Report about an expert meeting focused on issues surrounding cladding attachment and performance of walls with exterior insulating sheathing.

External Insulation of Masonry Walls and Wood Framed Walls

Author(s)

Baker Peter

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

January, 2013

Research study developing baseline engineering analysis to support the installation of thick layers of exterior insulation (2 in. to 8 in.) on existing masonry walls and wood framed walls.

Flow-Through Assemblies, BSI-091

Author(s)

Lstiburek Joseph

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2016

Article discussing flow-through assemblies of walls.

Foam Shrinks, and Other Lessons, PA-1201

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

March, 2012

Journal article describing lessons learned from updating a 16-year-old deep-energy retrofit.

Great Fire of London, BSI–098

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

August, 2017

Report covering the fire performance of combustible cladding over combustible insulation.

High R-Value Wall Assembly: Double Stud with Spray Foam Wall Construction

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

November, 2014

Information sheet briefly summarizing double stud with spray foam wall construction including the advantages and disadvantages of this construction strategy.

High-R Roofs Case Study Analysis, BA-1006

Author(s)

Straube,

Grin

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

March, 2009

Report that considers a number of promising wall systems that can meet the requirement for better thermal control.

Hybrid Assemblies, BSI-100

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

October, 2017

Article describing issues with condensation in unvented attics insulated with open-cell spray foam.

Hybrid Wall Evaluation for Ten New Construction Homes in Wyandotte, Michigan

Author(s)

Lukachko Alex,

Grin Aaron,

Bergey Daniel

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2013

Report detailing the design and construction of 10 new houses under the Wyandotte Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2.

Ice Dams, BSD-135

Author(s)

Straube

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

October, 2006

Article outlining the casuses and solutions for ice dam problems.

ICF Wall Construction

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

November, 2014

Information sheet summarizing ICF wall construction including the advantages and disadvantages of this construction strategy.

Impact Resistance of Advanced Framed Wall Systems with Insulating Sheathing as the Primary Sheathing, RR-0603

Author(s)

Lstiburek Joseph,

Baker Peter

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

May, 2009

Research study to determine the impact resistance performance of advanced framed wall systems with insulating sheathing as the primary sheathing from wind blown debris.

Installation of Cavity Insulation, Info-501

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

May, 2009

Article explaining installing cavity insulation.

Interior Spray Foam, BSI-116

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

April, 2020

Article outlining the use of spray polyurethane foam in residential buildings.

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.

Joni Mitchell, Water and Walls, BSI-071

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

BSC,

Building Science Corporation

Publication Date

November, 2013

Article describing walls and moisture development on them.

Mass Save Deep Energy Retrofit Builder Guide, GM-1302

Author(s)

Pettit,

Neuhauser,

Gates

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

July, 2013

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.

Author(s)

Neuhauser

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2015

Report describing the use of mineral fiber insulating sheathing in a high performance enclosure retrofit package.

Moisture Control for Residential Buildings

Author(s)

Joseph Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2020

Report providing extensive guidance on controlling moisture in building envelopes through proper selection and installation on air, water, thermal, and vapor barriers.

New Light in Crawlspaces, BSI-009

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

March, 2010

Building science insight into crawlspaces.

No Sweat, BSI-094

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

April, 2016

Guide providing information on controlling attic ductwork sweating.

Ping Pong Water and The Chemical Engineer, BSI-016

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

October, 2016

Article outlining moisture accumulation in open cell spray polyurethane foam.

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.

Slab Edge Insulation for All Climates, Information Sheet 513

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

May, 2009

Information sheet about insulating slabs.

Slab Happy, BSI-059

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

April, 2012

How hard can it be to insulate a flat sheet of concrete? I mean you only have three choices – on the top, on the bottom, or on the edge. OK, you might have some combination of the three as well.