Skip to main content

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 - 46 of 46

American Gas Association White Paper Automatic Shut-off Valves (ASV) And Remote Control Valves (RCV) On Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines

Author(s)
American Gas Association
Organization(s)
AGA
Publication Date
Report providing information regarding the benefits and challenges associated with the installation of earthquake-actuated automatic shut-off valves (ASVs) or remote-control valves (RCVs) to stop the flow of natural gas into buildings in the event of an earthquake or rupture of the gas line.

ANSI/ASCE/SEI 25-16: Earthquake-Actuated Automatic Gas Shutoff Devices

Author(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Organization(s)
ASCE,
Structural Engineering Institute,
SEI,
American National Standards Institute,
ANSI
Publication Date
Standard providing minimum functionality requirements for earthquake-actuated automatic gas shutoff devices. Applicable to systems carrying natural gas and propane, the devices are used in piping, equipment, and appliances typically found in structures of three stories or less. The current version...

Association of Bay Area Governments

Author(s)
Association of Bay Area Governments
Organization(s)
ABAG
Publication Date
A basic guide walking through the various types of valves useful in mitigating the effects of earthquakes and other seismic events on natural gas pipelines for residential use.

Automatic Seismic Gas Shut-Off Valve

Author(s)
Oscar Castillo
Organization(s)
4 Home Sales Realty
Publication Date
Article describing different types of earthquake shut-off valves for home buyers.

CA Senate Bill SB-1898 Seismic Safety: Gas Shutoff Devices

Author(s)
California Legislative Information
Organization(s)
California Legislative Information
Publication Date
Description of California Senate Bill SB 1898, which requires the sale of new seismic gas shutoff devices sold in California to be certified by the State Architect.

California Code of Regulations C-36 - Plumbing Contractor

Author(s)
California Contractors State License Board
Organization(s)
CSLB
Publication Date
California State Code of Regulations, Title 16, Division 8, Article 3, listing requirements for plumbing contractors.

Chimney failure most common damage in an earthquake

Author(s)
Tucker,
Jill
Organization(s)
SFGate
Publication Date
News article from SFGate explaining and giving figures on how chimney failure is the most common type of damage to homes during an earthquake.

Earthquake Country Alliance: Refrigerators

Author(s)
Earthquake Country Alliance
Organization(s)
Southern California Earthquake Center
Publication Date
Factsheet describing how to secure refrigerators and other major appliances to wall studs using earthquake appliance straps or angle brackets and bolts.

Earthquake Country Alliance: TVs, Computers and Electronics

Author(s)
Earthquake Country Alliance
Organization(s)
Southern California Earthquake Center
Publication Date
Factsheet describing how to secure televisions, microwaves, computers, and other electronics to prevent damage during earthquakes.

Earthquake Country Alliance: Water Heater

Author(s)
Earthquake Country Alliance
Organization(s)
Southern California Earthquake Center
Publication Date
Factsheet describing how to secure water heaters to resist seismic activity.

Earthquake Retrofit Your Home

Author(s)
City of San Jose Planning Building and Code Enforcement
Organization(s)
City of San Jose Planning Building and Code Enforcement
Publication Date
Factsheet describing ways to retrofit a home to make it more earthquake resistant.

Earthquake Safety Checklist: FEMA B-526

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
Organization(s)
FEMA,
NEHRP
Publication Date
Reference guide helping families prepare for an earthquake and prevent earthquake-related damage.

Earthquake Valve Overview

Author(s)
MBS Engineering
Organization(s)
MBS Engineering
Publication Date
A one-page fact sheet outlining the purpose of an earthquake valve and how the valve can stop gas from flowing into a residence or building.

Excess Flow Valve

Author(s)
City of Ellensburg
Organization(s)
City of Ellensburg
Publication Date
Flyer from the City of Ellensburg WA describing what an excess flow valve is, how they work, and associated costs.

Excess Flow Valves

Author(s)
Colorado Springs Utilities
Organization(s)
Colorado Springs Utilities
Publication Date
Website for gas utility customers describing the installation of excess flow valves to stop the flow of natural gas into a home in the event of a line rupture.

Excess Flow Valves

Author(s)
Knoxville Utilities Board
Organization(s)
KUB
Publication Date
Webpage describing what excess flow valves are, how they work, and the installation process.

Excess Flow Valves

Author(s)
TECO Peoples Gas
Organization(s)
TECO
Publication Date
Utility webpage describing the monetary costs associated with excess flow valves for TECO in Florida.

FEMA 232, Homebuilders' Guide to Earthquake Resistant Design and Construction

Author(s)
National Institute of Building Sciences Building Seismic Safety Council,
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA,
ICC
Publication Date
Report presenting seismic design and construction guidance for one- and two-family houses for homebuilders, knowledgeable homeowners, and other non-engineers.

FEMA P-530: Earthquake Safety at Home

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Guide provides homeowners ways to prepare for an earthquake and protect a home against earthquake damage.

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.

High Volume Excess Flow Valves

Author(s)
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Organization(s)
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Publication Date
Webpage describing federal regulation related to excess flow valves on residential natural gas lines.

Homeowner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety

Author(s)
California Seismic Safety Commission
Organization(s)
SSC
Publication Date
Guidebook that provides information on earthquake hazards that can damage homes, the design and retrofit of earthquake resistant housing, and how to find more information on earthquake safety.

Industry Becoming More Comfortable with Excess Flow Valves

Author(s)
Pipeline & Gas Journal
Organization(s)
Pipeline & Gas Journal
Publication Date
Article describing excess flow valves installed on gas lines to shut-off natural gas flow to a home in the event that a gas line is severed due to an earthquake, natural disaster, earthquake, etc.

New and Substantially Improved Buildings - Fuel Systems

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Guide for fuel systems design including installation guidance and formulas for calculating loads and buoyancy forces for specifying number, type and capacity of strapping for hold-downs in flood-prone areas.

NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities Code

Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Standard establishing criteria for levels of health care services or systems based on risk to the patients, staff, or visitors in health care facilities to minimize the hazards of fire, explosion, and electricity.

Residential Seismic Strengthening

Author(s)
City of Portland OR
Organization(s)
City of Portland OR
Publication Date
Website providing resources for seismic retrofits for builders and homeowners as well as city permit requirements from the City of Portland OR.

Safety: Excess Flow Valves

Author(s)
Pacific Gas & Electric
Organization(s)
PG&E
Publication Date
Brochure for utility customers describing installation of an excess flow valve to automatically shut off natural gas flow into a home in the event of a gas line rupture.

Seismic Gas Shut-Off Valve Requirements

Author(s)
City of Malibu
Organization(s)
City of Malibu
Publication Date
Fact sheet for natural gas customers describing city’s seismic gas shut-off valve requirements.

Structural Design Loads for the Home Inspector

Author(s)
Gromicko
Organization(s)
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors,
InterNACHI
Publication Date
Article defining structural design loads and ways to calculate them, including dead loads, live loads, soil lateral loads, wind loads, snow loads, earthquake loads, and other loads.

Unreinforced Masonry Chimneys

Author(s)
Southern California Earthquake Center
Organization(s)
SCEC,
University of Southern California
Publication Date
Webpage from Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) on identifying key problem spots on unreinforced masonry chimneys and how to retrofit them to withstand seismic forces.

Ways to stay safe in a natural disaster.

Author(s)
NW Natural
Organization(s)
NW Natural
Publication Date
Webpage from NW Natural on how to prepare homes with natural gas service for earthquakes and floods, what to do during an emergency, and how to respond after the emergency has passed.

What Are Seismic Shut-Off Valves?

Author(s)
MBS Engineering
Organization(s)
MBS Engineering
Publication Date
An informational guide established to educate the public on seismic shut-off valves and how to avoid fires following an earthquake.