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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 51 - 100 of 169

FEMA Flood Maps

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Website describing and providing links to FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center, which home owners and builders can use to determine the flood risk of their location.

FEMA Flood Resistant Provisions of the International Codes

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Documents describing Flood Resistant Provisions of the international codes (including the international building, residential, exiting building, mechanical, plumbing, fuel gas, fire, swimming pool and spa, private sewage disposal, and code council performance codes) and summaries of changes from the...

FEMA Foundation and Anchoring Criteria for Safe Rooms

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet discussing designs for prefabricated safe rooms built to ICC 500 standards mentioned in FEMA P-361.

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
A website providing information on funding for mitigation programs to reduce disaster losses under FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

FEMA How to Prepare for a Winter Storm

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet providing an overview of how to properly prepare for a winter storm and how to protect yourself before, during, and after one.

FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Activities

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Activity sheets describing questions and preparedness action items for a variety of disasters including floods, fires, earthquakes, and winter weather.

FEMA National Risk Index

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Website providing maps for natural disaster risk in the United States.

FEMA National Risk Index: Tsunamis

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Website describing and providing a map showing the tsunami risk index for the United States, which home owners and builders can use to determine the tsunami risk of their location.

FEMA Protecting Your Property from Earthquakes

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Organization(s)
HUD,
FEMA,
DHS
Publication Date
Brochure detailing how to latch and lock cabinets and drawers to prevent injury to residents of the home.

FEMA Safe Room Publications and Resources

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
A website containing FEMA publications on safe rooms for both residential and community use.

FEMA Safe Rooms

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Webpage describing the purpose of safe rooms and criteria necessary to meet FEMA P-361 and P-320 criteria.

FEMA Shelter-in-Place Fact Sheets

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheets giving steps for residents to shelter in place during several disaster or emergency scenarios, including flash floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, thunderstorms, tornadoes, winter storms, active shooters, chemical hazards, nuclear/radiological events, pandemics, as well as guidance for...

FEMA Title 44 CFR § 60.3(e)(7))

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
FEMA guidance for flood damage in areas prone to flooding.

Food and Water in an Emergency, FEMA 477

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA,
American Red Cross
Publication Date
A fact sheet on how to prepare for a natural disaster by storing food and water through an emergency food supply.

Foundations in Coastal Areas, FEMA Technical Fact Sheet No. 3.1

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing foundation design criteria, foundation types suitable for coastal environments, and addressing foundations for high-elevation coastal areas (e.g., bluff areas); also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”

Guide for Team Leaders to Help Disaster Victims Get Back to a Healthy Home

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes
Organization(s)
HUD,
CDC,
EPA,
FEMA,
OSHA
Publication Date
Guidance from HUD for volunteer team leaders, project managers and supervisors who work in recovery and rebuilding after natural disasters.

Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction, FEMA P-499

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Report containing 37 fact sheets that provide technical guidance and recommendations concerning the construction of coastal residential buildings.

Homeowner's and Renter's Guide to Asbestos Cleanup After Disasters

Author(s)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
National Institutes of Health,
Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force
Organization(s)
FEMA,
EPA,
HUD,
NIH,
CDC
Publication Date
Guidance from EPA, FEMA, HUD, and NIH on how to deal with asbestos in homes following natural disasters.

Homeowner's and Renter's Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters

Author(s)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
National Institutes of Health,
Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force
Organization(s)
CDC,
EPA,
FEMA,
HUD,
NIH
Publication Date
Homeowner guidance from CDC, EPA, FEMA, HUD, and NIH on how to safely clean up mold issues following flooding from a natural disaster.

Homeowner's and Renter's Guide to Reducing Lead Hazards After Disasters

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
National Institute of Health Division of Technical Resources
Organization(s)
EPA,
FEMA,
HUD,
NIH
Publication Date
Guidance from EPA, FEMA, HUD, and NIH on homeowner safety dealing with lead contaminants.

Homeowner's and Renter's Guide to Reducing Radon After Disasters

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Organization(s)
EPA,
FEMA,
HUD
Publication Date
Homeowner guidance from EPA, FEMA, HUD, and NIH on dealing with radon following a natural disaster.

Housewrap, FEMA Technical Fact Sheet No. 5.1

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing the function of housewrap, its attributes, and common problems associated with its use, including housewrap vs. building paper and housewrap installation; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”

How Do Siting and Design Decisions Affect the Owner’s Costs? FEMA Technical Fact Sheet No. 2.1

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing effects of planning, siting, and design decisions on coastal home costs, including initial, operating, and long-term costs; risk determination; and the effect on costs of meeting and exceeding code and NFIP design and construction requirements; also published in FEMA P-499...

Load Paths, FEMA Technical Fact Sheet No. 4.1 

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Factsheet describing the concept of load paths and the important connections in a wind uplift load path; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”

Local Officials Guide for Coastal Construction, FEMA P-762

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Guide describing sound mitigation measures to lower building natural disaster vulnerability to assist local officials and community decision makers in coastal areas.

Lowest Floor Elevation, FEMA Technical Fact Sheet No. 1.4

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet defining “lowest floor,” identifying common construction practices that are violations of NFIP regulations, and discussing benefits of exceeding the NFIP minimum building elevation requirements; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact...

Masonry Details, FEMA Technical Fact Sheet No. 4.2

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing important roof-to-wall and wall-to-foundation connection details for masonry construction in coastal areas, including load paths, building materials, and reinforcement; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”

Metal Roof Systems in High-Wind Regions - Hurricane Ike Recovery Advisory

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
A Recovery Advisory guide reccomending practices for designing and installing metal roof systems that will enhance wind resistance in high-wind regions (i.e., greater than 90-miles per hour [mph] gust design wind speed).

Mitigation Ideas: A Resource for Reducing Risk to Natural Hazards

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Report providing a resource that communities can use to identify and evaluate a range of potential mitigation actions for reducing risk to natural hazards and disasters.

Moisture Barrier Systems, FEMA Technical Fact Sheet No. 1.9

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing how typical wall moisture barrier systems work, the moisture barrier system and common problems associated with them; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”

National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) Viewer

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Online geospatial map with interactive viewer showing flood risk areas and base flood elevations

National Flood Insurance Technical Bulletins

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Resources describing the National Flood Insurance Program's technical bulletins for flood zone construction, including foundation walls, corrosion protection, floodproofing, and breakaway walls among other topics.