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 75
Organization(s)
United Nations
Publication Date
Description
Guidance document from the UN environment programme on climate-resilient buildings and communities practices, including guidance on heat waves, drought, hurricanes, and flooding.
Organization(s)
SoCalGas
Publication Date
Description
Webpage detailing how to purchase and install the correct shut-off valve for homes in California, including differences between earthquake and excess flow valves and how to install each.
Organization(s)
NREL,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet outlining an innovative aerosol-based sealing technique for tightening building envelopes in new homes, involving pressurizing the structure and dispersing an aerosol sealant "fog" to autonomously identify and seal leaks, with real-time feedback through a standard blower door and laptop...
Organization(s)
Levy Partnership,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Publication Date
Description
Technical report describing the integration of mini split ductless heat pumps and through-wall transfer fans in small single-story homes, to achieve a 50% reduction in space conditioning energy consumption compared to the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, while ensuring affordability and...
Organization(s)
NREL,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing the research on energy-efficient strategies for small single-story homes, including manufactured and Habitat for Humanity-built homes, utilizing mini split ductless heat pumps and through-wall transfer fans to achieve a 50% reduction in energy consumption compared to the 2009...
Organization(s)
University of Central Florida,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Publication Date
Description
Technical report describing how the FSEC Energy Research Center explores low-cost space-conditioning upgrades for existing homes by integrating centrally located, high-efficiency ductless mini split heat pumps with older but functional central space conditioning systems, aiming to achieve energy...
Organization(s)
State of California Division of the State Architect
Publication Date
Description
Webpage with certification requirements for excess flow and earthquake valves from California's Division of the State Architect (DSA).
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
Standard describing methods for installing radon mitigation systems in existing residential buildings three stories or less in height. This version of the standard was published in the year 2021 and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. Other versions of the standard were...
Organization(s)
Danville
Publication Date
Description
Brochure for natural gas utility customers describing seismic valves and excess flow valves for homes.
Organization(s)
Town of Los Gatos California
Publication Date
Description
A webpage outlining recommendations for creating defensible space.
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)
CSLB
Publication Date
Description
California State Code of Regulations, Title 16, Division 8, Article 3, listing requirements for plumbing contractors.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
A list of EPA-certified wood-burning appliances for home heating for a range of budgets.
Organization(s)
CDC
Publication Date
Description
Report describing extreme heat events, how an extreme heat event threatens public health, and how to prepare for and respond to such an event.
Organization(s)
Metropolitan Engineering Consulting & Forensics,
MECF
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
UCLA
Publication Date
Description
Wildfire resistant home checklist from Murray Milne, a professor of architecture at UCLA, who outlines seven steps to take to improve a home's chance of survival during a wildfire.
Organization(s)
PG&E
Publication Date
Description
Guidelines from PG&E outlining how to stay safe during a flood event by shutting off natural gas and electric service to the home.
Organization(s)
Orange County Register
Publication Date
Description
Article describing risks of living in wildfire-prone areas of southern California and ways to reduce risks to homes and communities.
Organization(s)
ICC Evaluation Service
Publication Date
Description
ICC-ES Evaluation Report reviewing proprietary steel shear wall panels developed by Simpson Strong-Tie Company to resist vertical and lateral loads in walls resulting from wind or earthquakes.
Organization(s)
City of Ellensburg
Publication Date
Description
Flyer from the City of Ellensburg WA describing what an excess flow valve is, how they work, and associated costs.
Organization(s)
Colorado Springs Utilities
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
KUB
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing what excess flow valves are, how they work, and the installation process.
Organization(s)
TECO
Publication Date
Description
Utility webpage describing the monetary costs associated with excess flow valves for TECO in Florida.
Organization(s)
Insurance Information Institute
Publication Date
Description
Webpage with statistics on recent U.S. wildfires.
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
Report presenting safe room designs and showing the homeowner and builder/contractor or local design professional how to construct a safe room for a home or small business.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
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...
Organization(s)
Southface,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Publication Date
Description
Technical report on a field validation study that utilizes low-cost indoor air quality sensors to assess a smart ventilation system's effectiveness in maintaining acceptable indoor humidity in low-load homes in humid environments, revealing that while the smart ventilation algorithm demonstrated...
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)
IBHS,
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
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.
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)
Prescott Fire Department,
City of Prescott Arizona
Publication Date
Description
A guideline containing fire sprinkler insulation requirements from the Prescott, Arizona Fire Department.
Organization(s)
PG&E
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
PG&E
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing when and how to safely turn off the natural gas to the home during an emergency.
Organization(s)
Home Construction and Improvement
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing defensible space and wildfire risk reduction steps that homeowners can take to make their homes safer during a wildfire.
How To Shut Off Your Natural Gas In An Emergency – Learn How To Locate And Shut Off Your Natural Gas
Organization(s)
SoCalGas
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing how to locate and manually shut off natural gas service at the meter.
Organization(s)
NREL,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing the newly developed Ventilation-Integrated Comfort System (VICS) that reduces space requirements and eliminates costly ductwork for separate heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, all while enhancing performance, addressing the demand for energy-efficient homes, and...
Organization(s)
SMUD
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing benefits of adding battery storage to homes and an estimation tool.
Organization(s)
National Concrete Masonry Association
Publication Date
Description
Article providing guidance for installing manufactured stone veneer, including information on rainscreens.
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)
National Research Council Canada
Publication Date
Description
Report for local governments, planners, emergency managers, developers, insurers, and property owners describing ways to improve the wildfire resistance of buildings, infrastructure and communities in the wildland urban interface.
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
NFPA standard for indoor automatic fire sprinkler design and installation, focused on residential dwellings.
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
NFPA standard for indoor automatic fire sprinkler design and installation for low-rise residential occupancies.
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
A website outlining considerations for planning and installation of a fire-protection.