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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 351 - 400 of 803

Fire in California: Preparing Your Home

Author(s)
University of California Cooperative Extension
Organization(s)
University of California Cooperative Extension
Publication Date
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.

Fire Protection of Facades

Author(s)
Marija Jelčić Rukavina,
Milan Carević,
Ivana Banjad Pečur
Organization(s)
University of Zagreb
Publication Date
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.

Fire Ratings for Construction Materials

Author(s)
Quarles
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture National Cooperative Extension
Publication Date
Article defining terms and testing requirements for fire-resistant construction materials including combustible, noncombustible, fire-resistant or fire-resistance, and ignition-resistant.

Fire Resistant Decks

Author(s)
FIRESafe Marin
Organization(s)
FIRESafe Marin
Publication Date
Webpage from FireSafe Marin explaining the vulnerability of different deck setups and materials.

Fire Spread on Ember-Ignited Decks

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety,
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
IBHS,
NFPA
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing research conducted by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety into how burning embers can ignite softwood decks like redwood and cedar and how to minimize the likelihood these decks will be ignited by embers.

Fire Sprinkler Coalitions

Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
A webpage containing information on state-based fire sprinkler coalitions.

Firebreak: Wildfire Resilience Strategies for Real Estate

Author(s)
Urban Land Institute
Organization(s)
Urban Land Institute
Publication Date
Updated wildfire risk assessment, community impacts, and building science measures following the disastrous 2020 wildfire season in the western U.S.

Firescaping

Author(s)
FIRESafe Marin
Organization(s)
FIRESafe Marin
Publication Date
Webpage from FireSafe Marin explaining the different landscaping strategies near homes to lower the risk of a home's ignition from wildfire.

Firetherm

Author(s)
Firetherm
Organization(s)
Firetherm
Publication Date
An example of commercially available thermally expansive fire stopping products for controlling the spread of fires in a rainscreen cavity.

FireWise Research Fact Sheet Series

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety,
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
IBHS,
NFPA
Publication Date
Webpage listing 10 factsheets describing research by IBHS into wildfire causes and construction tips for reducing the risk of ignition.

Five Steps to Creating an Effective Defensible Space

Author(s)
Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team
Organization(s)
TFFT
Publication Date
Five step plan from the Tahoe Fire & Fuels team outlining how to create an effective defensible space for wildfire protection. Recommendations include siting for homes on slopes.

Fixing Wet Basements and Crawlspaces

Author(s)
Todd
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Publication Date
Article describing methods to manage moisture, rainwater, and vapor in basements and crawlspaces.

Flame-Spread Ratings

Author(s)
Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshall
Organization(s)
Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshall
Publication Date
Site showing flame spread ratings and definitions for common building materials.

Flexible Duct Performance and Installation Standards

Author(s)
Air Diffusion Council
Organization(s)
ADC
Publication Date
Standard providing a comprehensive approach to evaluating, selecting, specifying and installing flexible duct in HVAC systems.

Flood and Hurricane Resistant Buildings, BSD-111

Author(s)
Joseph Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Guide from Building Science Corporation on how to construct a flood and hurricane resistant home.

Flood Preparedness

Author(s)
California Department of Water Resources
Organization(s)
DWR
Publication Date
Website providing information to the public about preparing for floods and floods related to fires.

Foam Shrinks, and Other Lessons, PA-1201

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Journal article describing lessons learned from updating a 16-year-old deep-energy retrofit.

Foil Bubble Pack: Subslab Insulation?

Author(s)
Fulger
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Publication Date
Article describing the effective R-values of various subslab insulation products, including foil bubble pack.

Fold-Form Insulated Concrete Forms

Author(s)
Owens Corning
Organization(s)
Owens Corning
Publication Date
Information sheet with manufacturer specifications about insulated concrete forms.

Fortified Home Technical Resources

Author(s)
IBHS Fortified Home
Organization(s)
IBHS Fortified Home
Publication Date
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.

Foundation Design Handbook

Author(s)
Carmody John,
Mosiman Garrett,
Handeen Daniel,
Huelman Patrick H,
Christian Jeffrey E
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
University of Minnesota
Publication Date
Handbook providing guidance on the design and construction of foundations for homes, including insulation, air sealing, and water management details for basements, crawlspaces, and slabs.

Freeze Protection for CPVC Fire Sprinkler Piping

Author(s)
Prescott Fire Department
Organization(s)
Prescott Fire Department,
City of Prescott Arizona
Publication Date
A guideline containing fire sprinkler insulation requirements from the Prescott, Arizona Fire Department.

Gas safety tips

Author(s)
Pacific Gas & Electric
Organization(s)
PG&E
Publication Date
Webpage describing the safety hazards associated with natural gas and tips on how to avoid these hazards by a step process of turning off natural gas service to a home and restoring service afterwards.

Gas Shutoff Devices

Author(s)
Pacific Gas & Electric
Organization(s)
PG&E
Publication Date
Webpage describing when and how to safely turn off the natural gas to the home during an emergency.

General PV Specification

Author(s)
Aldrich Robb
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Brochure on specifications for PV systems.

General Solar Thermal Specification

Author(s)
Aldrich Robb
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Brochure on specifications for solar thermal systems.

Generator

Author(s)
Guthrie County REC
Organization(s)
Guthrie County REC
Publication Date
Webpage from Guthrie County REC with video and image links illustrating how to safely use backup generation during power outages.

Generator Safety factsheet for consumers

Author(s)
Electrical Safety Foundation International
Organization(s)
ESFI
Publication Date
Webpage describing safe operation of backup electrical generators for use during power outages.

Generator Use During a Power Outage

Author(s)
Washington State Department of Health
Organization(s)
Washington State Department of Health
Publication Date
Webpage from Washington State Department of Health describing how to use backup generators properly to not overload during a power outage.

Gossamer Wind ENERGY STAR Ceiling Fans

Author(s)
FESC
Organization(s)
FESC
Publication Date
Website providing information about the Gossamer Wind Series Ceiling fans, conceived by Danny Parker at the Florida Solar Energy Center as a means of realizing the energy efficiency and comfort potential of ceiling fans.

Great Fire of London, BSI–098

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report covering the fire performance of combustible cladding over combustible insulation.

Greenguard Certification for Paints and Coatings

Organization(s)
GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
Publication Date
Standard describing GREENGUARD Emission Criteria for use with GREENGUARD Certification Program for Low Emitting Products.

GREENGUARD or GREENGUARD GOLD Certification for Paints and Coatings

Author(s)
Greenguard Certification
Organization(s)
Greenguard Certification
Publication Date
Website explaining GREENGUARD Certification, which helps manufacturers create and helps buyers identify interior products and materials that have low chemical emissions, improving the quality of the air in which the products are used.

Groundwater Control, Info-101

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Information sheet about groundwater control.

Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Report about opportunities for ventilation when traditional methods are limited by weather conditions or by contaminants in the outdoor air.

Guide to Closing and Conditioning Ventilated Crawlspaces

Author(s)
Dickson
Organization(s)
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Report explaining the issues and concerns with conventional ventilated crawlspaces and to outline prescriptive measures for improvements that will create healthier and more durable spaces.

Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates

Author(s)
Gilbride Theresa L,
Antonopoulos Chrissi A,
Margiotta Evan R,
Kaltreider Christian E
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy,
EERE
Publication Date
Report identifying Building America and 2021 International Energy Conservation Code climate zone designations for every county in the United States; where a county's climate zone designation has changed since the 2018 IECC, that change is indicated as well.

Guide to Insulating Sheathing

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Guide providing information on using exterior foam insulating sheathing in building wall assemblies to enhance thermal performance.

Guidelines for Installing Flexible Duct

Author(s)
ATCO Rubber Products Inc.,
Air Duct Council
Organization(s)
ADC
Publication Date
Presentation about proper installation of flexible ducts.

HardiPlank Lap Siding Butt Joint Flashing

Author(s)
Todd Fratzel
Organization(s)
Home Construction and Improvement
Publication Date
A article about the best practice method of installing fiber cement siding, to install flashing at the butt joints of the siding boards, rather than face caulking the butt joints afterwards.

Heat Pump Water Heating Modeling in EnergyPlus

Author(s)
Wilson Eric,
Christensen Craig
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Presentation about heat pump water heater modeling using EnergyPlus.

Heat your Water with the Sun

Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
Provides consumers with general information on solar water heating systems and how to select a contractor.