Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
Description
2019 version of the California Residential Code.
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 67
Organization(s)
Sierra Club
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
APA
Publication Date
Description
Detailed guide to advanced framing, a system of construction framing techniques designed to optimize material usage and increase energy efficiency.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report describing approaches to using less wood in home building that minimize waste.
Organization(s)
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Description
A report that evaluates the force it takes to crack stucco of various thicknesses.
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Description
ASTM standard for wood-composite decking and guardrail materials under a variety of tests, including fire performance and UV resistance. This standard was produced in the year 2021, and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. There are also other versions of this standard...
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Description
Specification describing criteria for manufactured polymeric materials used to provide a rainscreen function, a means for the drainage of liquid moisture and the ventilation of vapor moisture that enters an above-grade exterior wall assembly. The current version of the standard was published in the...
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Description
ASTM standard test method for surface burning response of different building materials. This version of the standard was published in the year 2022 and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. Other versions of the standard were published in the years 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018...
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Description
ASTM standard test method for testing the surface burning response of different building materials. This version of the standard was published in the year 2023 and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. Other versions of the standard were published in the years 2022, 2021, 2020...
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Description
Webpage for searching all of ASTM's standards, books, journals, and technical articles.
Organization(s)
Cal Fire,
CAL FIRE - OSFM
Publication Date
Description
California Office of the State Fire Marshal's homepage for the Building Materials Listing Program, providing builders, contractors, architects, and others with access to a database of fire alarm systems and fire-resistant construction materials including roof coverings, wall, ceiling, and floor...
Organization(s)
Cal Fire,
CAL FIRE - OSFM
Publication Date
Description
California Office of the State Fire Marshal's compiled and searchable list of different building materials and their test results for fire resistance.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Document presenting some of the key technical properties of many of the most common building materials.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Document detailing how to build radon-resistant homes.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
BSC definition of a capillary break.
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction
Publication Date
Description
Document providing guidance about choosing the correct caulk for a project.
Organization(s)
Portland Cement Association
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet discussing the properties and benefits of insulating concrete forms.
Organization(s)
ICF Builder
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet disucssing myths about insulated concrete forms.
Organization(s)
University of California
Publication Date
Description
Article from Stephen L. Quarles on fire resistant decking design and materials recommendations.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report covering the rainwater performance of building assemblies.
Organization(s)
Odice
Publication Date
Description
An example of a commercially available thermally expansive fire stopping product for controlling the spread of fires in a rainscreen cavity.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
FEMA mitigation assessment team report following Hurricane Charley in Florida including observations, recommendations, and technical guidance for retrofitting hurricane-damaged homes.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
FEMA mitigation assessment team report following Hurricane Ivan in Florida and Alabama including observations, recommendations, and technical guidance.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report from FEMA on how to reduce damage from localized flooding including planning, drainage, building codes and retrofits, and regulations.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report from FEMA describing techniques for floodproofing structures.
Organization(s)
University of California Cooperative Extension
Publication Date
Description
Guidelines from the University of California Cooperative Extension on how fires spread, how homes typically burn, and what homeowners can do to prepare their homes for wildfire season.
Organization(s)
University of Zagreb
Publication Date
Description
A guide for designers, architects, engineers, and fire experts on how to design rainscreen and ventilated cavities such that they don’t contribute to the spread of a fire.
Organization(s)
FIRESafe Marin
Publication Date
Description
Webpage from FireSafe Marin explaining the vulnerability of different deck setups and materials.
Organization(s)
FIRESafe Marin
Publication Date
Description
List of guidelines for plants and their fire resistance from FIRESafe Marin.
Organization(s)
FIRESafe Marin
Publication Date
Description
Webpage from FireSafe Marin explaining the different landscaping strategies near homes to lower the risk of a home's ignition from wildfire.
Organization(s)
Firetherm
Publication Date
Description
An example of commercially available thermally expansive fire stopping products for controlling the spread of fires in a rainscreen cavity.
Organization(s)
Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshall
Publication Date
Description
Site showing flame spread ratings and definitions for common building materials.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Guide from Building Science Corporation on how to construct a flood and hurricane resistant home.
Organization(s)
GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
Publication Date
Description
Standard describing GREENGUARD Emission Criteria for use with GREENGUARD Certification Program for Low Emitting Products.
Organization(s)
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Brochure with details on advanced framing techniques.
Organization(s)
Siding Cost Guide
Publication Date
Description
A starting point for ballparking and comparing the cost of different siding materials and a brief overview of the pros and cons of different siding materials.
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction
Publication Date
Description
A story about how omission of two small but critical wall details, a kick-out flashing and a weep screed, lead to extensive water damage to a wall.
Organization(s)
Vinyl Siding Institute
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing proper methods for installing vinyl siding and soffit coverings in high wind and coastal areas.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Checklist for verifying FORTIFIED levels and documentation needed.
Organization(s)
City of Colorado Springs Colorado
Publication Date
Description
Wildfire guidance for homes located in the wildland urban interface, focused on site design and individual pieces of the home.
Organization(s)
FireSafe Montana
Publication Date
Description
Ignition resistant residential construction and landscaping guidelines from FireSafe Montana.
Organization(s)
Canada Masonry Design Centre,
CMDC
Publication Date
Description
An impact test report from projectile missile tests against brick veneer, verifying that brick veneers perform well to resisting hurricane force wind driven debris.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article from Building Science Corporation explaining 'wash and wear buildings' that are designed to be flooded and washed out afterwards.
Organization(s)
International Masonry Institute
Publication Date
Description
Webpage featuring hundreds of illustrations of masonry construction details for brick, congrete, stone, tile, stucco, etc.
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
Description
The next generation of building enclosures is a key step toward achieving high-performance goals through decreasing energy load demand and enabling advanced space-conditioning systems. Yet the adoption of high-R enclosures and particularly high-R walls has been a slow-growing trend because...
Organization(s)
U.S. Gypsum Company
Publication Date
Description
Brochure discussing specific practices for mitigating moisture and mold during the construction process.
Organization(s)
Western Wood Products Association
Publication Date
Description
Document addressing common questions about moisture, mold and wood.
Organization(s)
Premier SIPS
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet with nail withdrawl capacities in OSB.
Organization(s)
Edition Diffusion Presse Sciences,
EDP Sciences
Publication Date
Description
A study on how fires spread through exterior building envelopes with discussion on how fires propagate in a rain screen cavity.
Organization(s)
Cal Fire
Publication Date
Description
Article from CAL FIRE on fire-resistant landscaping to mitigate ignition of homes.