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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

2015 IBC - International Building Code

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
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.

2017 Vinyl Siding Installation Manual

Author(s)
Vinyl Siding Institute
Organization(s)
Vinyl Siding Institute
Publication Date
Publication with installation guidance for vinyl siding.

ABTCO Estimating and Installation Guide

Author(s)
ABTCO Vinyl Siding
Organization(s)
ABTCO Vinyl Siding
Publication Date
Vinyl siding estimating and installation guide for vinyl siding products.

Advanced Framing Construction Guide

Author(s)
APA - The Engineered Wood Association
Organization(s)
APA
Publication Date
Detailed guide to advanced framing, a system of construction framing techniques designed to optimize material usage and increase energy efficiency.

Affordable Solid Panel "Perfect Wall" System

Author(s)
Schirber Tom,
Jacobson Rolf,
Handeen Dan,
Mosiman Garrett,
Huelman Patrick
Organization(s)
University of Minnesota,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Publication Date
Technical report describing the SPS (Structural Panel System), an innovative implementation of the "perfect wall" concept, situating environmental control layers on the exterior side of structural components for improved constructability, cost-effectiveness, and performance, validated through the...

Air Sealing That Works

Author(s)
Journal of Light Construction
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction
Publication Date
An article explaining how an airtight shell for the home helps to achieve a tight envelope that is energy efficient and cost effective.

All About Water-Resistive Barriers

Author(s)
Holladay
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Article about different types of weather resistant barrier.

APA Building for High Wind Resistance in Light-Frame Wood Construction

Author(s)
APA - The Engineered Wood Association
Organization(s)
APA
Publication Date
A publication highlighting recommendations that contribute to improved overall performance in the structural shell and focus on good connection details to tie together exterior walls, roofs and floors.

ASTM C 926-22c - Standard Specification for Application of Portland Cement-Based Plaster

Author(s)
American Society for Testing and Materials,
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Specification covering the standard requirements for application of full thickness Portland cement-based plaster for exterior (stucco) and interior work. This standard was produced in the year 2022, and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. There are also other versions of...

ASTM C 926-23 - Standard Specification for Application of Portland Cement-Based Plaster

Author(s)
American Society for Testing and Materials,
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Specification covering the standard requirements for application of full thickness Portland cement-based plaster for exterior (stucco) and interior work. This standard was produced in the year 2023, and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. There are also other versions of...

ASTM E1677 - 11: Standard Specification for Air Barrier (AB) Material or System for Low-Rise Framed Building Walls

Author(s)
American Society for Testing and Materials,
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Standard that covers the minimum performance and acceptance criteria for an air barrier (AB) material or system for framed walls of low-rise buildings with the service life of the building wall in mind. This link directs to a preview of the version of the standard that was published in the year 2011...

ASTM E1677 - 19: Standard Specification for Air Barrier (AB) Material or Assemblies for Low-Rise Framed Building Walls

Author(s)
American Society for Testing and Materials,
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Standard that covers the minimum performance and acceptance criteria for an air barrier (AB) material or system for framed walls of low-rise buildings with the service life of the building wall in mind. This link directs to a preview of the current version of the standard, published in the year 2019...

ASTM E2634 - 18(2022): Standard Specification for Flat Wall Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) Systems

Author(s)
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
A specification covering the application of Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) that act as permanent formwork for cast-in-place reinforced concrete beams & walls. This version of the standard was published in the year 2022 and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. Other versions...

ASTM E2925 – 19a, Standard Specification for Manufactured Polymeric Drainage and Ventilation Materials Used to Provide a Rainscreen Function

Author(s)
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
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...

Avoiding Mass Failures, BSI-105

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report covering interior energy retrofits of masonry buildings.

Best Practices Manual

Author(s)
Hammer & Hand
Organization(s)
Hammer & Hand
Publication Date
This Best Practices Manual is the product of Hammer & Hand’s ongoing work to document and internally codify our standard operating procedures for construction practice.

Brick Masonry Rain Screen Walls

Author(s)
Brick Industry Association
Organization(s)
BIA
Publication Date
Document focusing on the design and wall components that contribute to a pressure equalized rain screen wall, including the frequency of the weep holes and other brick masonry rain screen wall requirements.

Building America Best Practices Series Volume 15: 40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Hot-Humid Climate

Author(s)
Baechler Michael C,
Gilbride Theresa L,
Hefty Marye G,
Cole Pam C,
Adams Karen T,
Noonan Chrissy F,
Love Pat M
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
A guidebook helping builders design and construct homes that are among the most energy efficient available, while addressing issues such as building durability, indoor air quality, and occupant health, safety, and comfort. Measures described in this guide can help builders in the hot-humid climate...

Building America Best Practices Series Volume 9: 40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Hot-Dry and Mixed-Dry Climates

Author(s)
Baechler Michael C,
Gilbride Theresa L,
Hefty Marye G,
Williamson Jennifer,
Ruiz Kathi,
Bartlett Rosemarie,
Love Pat M
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Report providing builders in the hot-dry and mixed-dry climates with guidance for building homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

Building America Building Science Advisor

Author(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
ORNL,
DOE
Publication Date
Web based tool providing decision-making guidance for selecting wall assembly components.

Characterization of Framing Factors for Wood-Framed Low-Rise Residential Buildings

Author(s)
Carpenter Stephen C,
Schumacher Christopher
Organization(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Case study characterizing the framing factors for the exterior walls, ceilings, and floors of 180 wood-framed low-rise residential buildings across the United States.

Cladding Attachment Over Thick Exterior Insulated Sheathing

Author(s)
Baker Peter,
Eng P,
Lepage R
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report on the stability of furring strips as a means for cladding attachment over walls with thick exterior rigid insulation.

Classic Rib® Install Guide

Author(s)
Metal Sales Manufacturing Corporation
Organization(s)
Metal Sales Manufacturing Corporation
Publication Date
Installation manual for installing metal panel siding.

Common Siding Failures

Author(s)
Mark Parlee
Organization(s)
The Building Consultant
Publication Date
An article illustrating common errors found in fiber cement siding installations. Many of these errors and poor flashing examples apply to siding materials beyond fiber cement siding.

Concrete Solutions, BSI-118

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report covering insulating crawlspaces.

Construction Defects – Mortar Bridging and Mortar Droppings

Author(s)
Stephan Bill
Organization(s)
Metropolitan Engineering Consulting & Forensics,
MECF
Publication Date
An article about how mortar droppings during the installation of a brick veneer can clog the weep holes in the wall assembly causing moisture damage. The article also illustrates products that can be installed in the ventilated cavity to mitigate this problem.

Construction Guide: Next Generation High Performance Walls in Climate Zones 3-5 - Part 2: 2x4 Walls with 1” to 1.5” Exterior Insulative Sheathing

Author(s)
Kochkin,
Wiehagen
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
The Guide addresses walls constructed with 2x4 wood frame studs, wood structural panel sheathing (WSP) as wall bracing and added backing for foam sheathing, a layer of rigid foam sheathing insulation up to 1.5 inches thick over the WSP, and a cladding system installed over the foam sheathing in low...

Construction Guide: Next Generation High Performance Walls in Climate Zones 3-5 - Part I: 2x6 Walls

Author(s)
Kochkin,
Wiehagen
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
Part I of the Guide addresses walls constructed with 2x6 wood frame studs, wood structural panel (WSP) sheathing as exterior sheathing, gypsum board as interior sheathing, and a cladding system installed over WSP sheathing in low-rise residential buildings up to three stories in height. Walls with...

Continuous Load Path

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Short article from FEMA explaining what a continuous load path is and the key connection points that make it up.

Deep-Dish Retrofits, BSI-079

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report covering exterior energy retrofits of masonry buildings.

Designing Energy Efficient New Homes for a Warm Climate

Author(s)
The Home Energy Community of Practice
Organization(s)
The Home Energy Community of Practice
Publication Date
Article from The Home Energy Community of Practice on designing energy efficient homes in hot climate zones, including home orientation, window location, and roof design considerations.

Effect of Cladding Systems on Moisture Performance of Wood Frame Walls in a Mixed-Humid Climate

Author(s)
Drumheller S Craig,
Carll Charles G
Organization(s)
NAHB Research Center,
Home Innovation Research Labs,
Forest Products Laboratory,
FPL,
U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service,
USDA Forest Service
Publication Date
The objective of this research was to quantify the field performance of wood-frame walls clad with a variety of common claddings in a mixed-humid climate.

EIFS - Problems and Solutions, BSD-146

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report on problems and solutions with EIFS stucco wall cladding systems.

Extended Plate and Beam Wall System

Author(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs,
DOE
Publication Date
Report that demonstrates the durability, constructability, and cost-effectiveness of the extended plate and beam (EP&B) wall system for new construction housing projects in compliance with the International Energy Conservation Code, addressing moisture risk management and high-performance envelope...

Extended Plate Wall System Expands Adoption of High-R Envelope Solutions

Author(s)
Burkett,
Lena; Gunderson,
Patti
Organization(s)
NREL,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing the Extended Plate Wall (EPW) a system that incorporates a 2-inch layer of foam plastic insulative sheathing within the framing for top and bottom plates, streamlining air sealing, window and door installation, weather resistive barrier application, and cladding attachment for...

Exterior Insulation Implications on Heating and Cooling in Cold Climates

Author(s)
Herk,
Poerschke
Organization(s)
IBACOS
Publication Date
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is interested in finding cost-effective solutions for deep energy retrofits (DERs) related to exterior wall insulation in a cold climate, with targets of 50% peak load reduction and 50% space conditioning energy savings.

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
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.

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.