Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 51 - 100 of 107 results:

Home Energy Guide - Techniques, Tactics, and Tips: Ice Dams

2003

Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy Information Center

Minnesota Department of Commerce

Article describing the causes that form ice dams, as well as solutions for preventing future ice dams on roofs, focusing on air sealing to prevent hot air leakage.

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

2006

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Report presenting seismic design and construction guidance for one- and two-family houses for homebuilders, knowledgeable homeowners, and other non-engineers.

Homeowner's Guide to Retrofitting - Six Ways to Protect Your House From Flooding, FEMA I-235

2020

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Brochure describing FEMA documents and foundation tips for floodproofing homes.

How to Build an Insulated Cathedral Ceiling

2011

Holladay Martin

Green Building Advisor

Information sheet presenting the correct methods for building an insulated cathedral ceiling.

How to Install Cellulose Insulation

2011

Holladay Martin

Green Building Advisor,

GBA

Information sheet presenting techniques for installing cellulose insulation.

How to Verify New Construction Compliance

2020

IBHS Fortified

IBHS

Checklist for verifying FORTIFIED levels and documentation needed.

How You can Strengthen Your Home for the Next Big Earthquake in the Los Angeles Area

2005

City of Los Angeles,

Department of Building and Safety

City of Los Angeles

Report describing ways to retrofit a home to make it more resistant to earthquakes.

IBACOS Builder System Performance Packages: January 2003--December 2003

2004

Broniek John

Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,

IBACOS,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Report presenting system design packages for cold and mixed-humid climates.

Ice Dams, BSD-135

2006

Straube John

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article outlining the casuses and solutions for ice dam problems.

Innovation in Frost Protected Shallow Foundations

2019

Green Home Institute

Video describing how a frost-protected shallow foundation (FPSF) is constructed and including use of a stay-in-place EPS (expanded polystyrene) footing form that provides insulation and simplifies the installation of frost-protected monolithic concrete slab foundations.

Innovation in Frost Protected Shallow Foundations

2019

Green Home Institute

Insulating Concrete Forms for Multifamily Residential Construction

2019

Lemay Lionel,

Peng Tien

Civil + Structural Engineers

Article describing methods for designing and constructing multifamily buildings with insulating concrete forms (ICFs).

Kick the Can! No Recessed Lights in the Building Envelope

2011

Bailes Allison

Energy Vanguard

Article discussing the downside to recessed can lights.

Local Officials Guide for Coastal Construction, FEMA P-762

2009

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Guide describing sound mitigation measures to lower building natural disaster vulnerability to assist local officials and community decision makers in coastal areas.

Measure Guideline: Guidance on Taped Insulating Sheathing Drainage Planes

2014

Grin Aaron,

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Measure Guideline research report providing simple, long term, and durable solutions when using tapes and flashing membranes in conjunction with the exterior face of rigid polymeric foam sheathing to create the drainage plane of a wall system.

Measure Guideline: Hybrid Foundation Insulation Retrofits

2012

Lstiburek Joseph W,

Ueno Kohta

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Document providing information on basement insulation, air sealing and water management retrofits.

Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Charley in Florida Observations Recommendations and Technical Guidance, FEMA 488

2005

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

FEMA mitigation assessment team report following Hurricane Charley in Florida including observations, recommendations, and technical guidance for retrofitting hurricane-damaged homes.

Moisture Control for Residential Buildings

2020

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Report providing extensive guidance on controlling moisture in building envelopes through proper selection and installation on air, water, thermal, and vapor barriers.

Moving Ducts Inside: Big Builders, Scientists Find Common Ground

2008

Lubliner Michael,

et al.

WSU Extension Energy Program,

Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development

Conference paper making the case that moving ducts to conditioned space saves energy, is practical for production builders (when accompanied by careful pre-planning), and creates significant andmarketable energy savings for homebuyers.

NFIP Technical Bulletin 1: Requirements for Flood Openings in Foundation Walls and Walls of Enclosures - Below Elevated Buildings in Special Flood Hazard Areas

2020

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Document describing guidance and requirements for flood openings in walls at and below grade.

Openings in Foundation Walls and Walls of Enclosures - Below Elevated Buildings in Special Flood Hazard Areas in accordance with the National Flood Insurance Program Technical, Bulletin 1

2008

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Report providing guidance on protecting foundation walls and enclosures from flood damage.

Opportunities for Energy Conservation and Improved Comfort From Wind Washing Retrofits in Two-Story Homes - Part II

2010

Withers Charles R,

Cummings James B

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Report presenting the results of a study evaluating retrofit solutions for addressing the effects of wind washing on homes.

Pump Day Procedures

2013

ICF Systems

Massachusetts Building Products

Information sheet including a checklist of steps to follow for pouring concrete.

Radiant Barrier Calculator

2011

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

ORNL

Website providing an online calculator for determining energy and cost savings from installing radiant barriers in attics.

Radiant Barriers

2015

U.S. Department of Energy

DOE

U.S. Department of Energy's website describing radiant barriers in homes.

Radiant Barriers: A Question and Answer Primer

2005

Melody Ingrid,

Fairey Philip W,

Beal David

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Website with answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about attic radiant barriers.

Rain and Groundwater Management Technote

2017

Home Innovation Research Labs,

National Association of Home Builders

HIRL,

NAHB

Fact sheet describing design and construction practices to reduce the likelihood of water intrusion in walls and foundations in residential construction.

Raised Ceiling Interior Duct System

2014

U.S. Department of Energy

DOE

DOE case study findings on raised ceiling interior duct systems.

Raised-Heel Trusses

2011

American Plywood Association

APA

Information sheet with the definition and uses for a raised truss.

READ THIS: Before You Design, Build or Renovate, GM-0602

2005

Brennan Terry,

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Document with important building science considerations, designed for members of the residential construction and remodeling industries, as well as owners and managers who work in affordable housing.

Rebuilding Houston, BSI–101

2017

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Report covering the reconstruction of flood damaged homes.

Recommended Residential Construction for Coastal Areas: Building on Strong and Safe Foundations, FEMA P-550

2009

Coulbourne Bill,

et al.

Federal Emergency Management Agency,

FEMA,

URS Corporation,

DK Low and Associates,

Greenhorne and O'Mara,

Dewberry and Davis

Report providing recommended designs and guidance for rebuilding homes destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Coast.

Reducing Flood Risk to Residential Buildings That Cannot Be Elevated, FEMA P-1037

2015

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Guide discussing ways that homeowners in ground-secured houses can reduce the risks and damage caused by floods upon residential buildings.

Residential Buildings: Foundations

2022

U.S. Department of Energy

DOE

Website describing the U.S. Department of Energy's residential buildings program.

Residential Seismic Strengthening

2021

City of Portland,

State of Oregon

City of Portland,

State of Oregon

Website providing resources for seismic retrofits for builders and homeowners as well as city permit requirements from the City of Portland OR.

Resilient Design Guide: High Wind Wood Frame Construction Edition

2020

Federal Alliance For Safe Homes

FLASH

Report providing architects, designers, and homeowners with information to make house plans useful for constructing a more wind resilient structure.

Retrofit Improvements: Flash and Seal Roof Penetrations

2020

Home Innovation Research Labs

HIRL

Fact sheet describing flashing of roof penetrations to make a home more resistant to high winds, hurricanes, and rainwater intrusion.

Revised Builder’s Guide to Frost Protected Shallow Foundations

2004

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,

Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing,

National Association of Home Builders

HUD,

PATH,

NAHB Research Center

Report describing how to construct a frost protected shallow foundation (FPSF) as a practical alternative to a deeper, more-costly foundation in cold regions with seasonal ground freezing and the potential for frost heave.

Rodent Exclusion Manual: Mechanical Rodent Proofing Techniques: a training manual for National Park Service Employees

2014

National Park Service

Manual describing methods for rodent-proofing buildings.

Seismic Performance Assessment of Buildings, Volume 1 - Methodology, Second Edition, FEMA P-58-1

2018

Applied Technology Council,

Federal Emergency Management Agency

ATC,

FEMA

Reports describing a mathematical methodology for assessing the seismic performance of buildings.

Slab Happy, BSI-059

2012

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

How hard can it be to insulate a flat sheet of concrete? I mean you only have three choices – on the top, on the bottom, or on the edge. OK, you might have some combination of the three as well.

Small Commercial Building Fact Sheet - Building Envelope

2016

Southface Energy Institute

SEI

Fact sheet describing building envelope performance measures applicable to residential and small commercial construction.

Technology Fact Sheet Slab Insulation: Improve Comfort and Save Energy in Homes with Slab-on-Grade Floors

2000

Southface Energy Institute

DOE

Brochure describing insulation approaches for homes with slab-on-grade floors.

TechNote - Rain and Groundwater Management: Reducing the Risk of Water Intrusion and Damages

2014

Home Innovation Research Labs

HIRL

Fact sheet describing water management in a residential building.

Thermal Protection in Recessed Luminaires

2001

Pierce Jim

Independent Alliance of the Electrical Industry,

IAEI

Article on thermal protectors in recessed light fixtures.

Understanding Basements, BSD-103

2006

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Information sheet with methods for constructing or retrofitting basements to reduce moisture issues.

Unvented Roof Assemblies for All Climates, BSD-149

2007

Schumacher Christopher

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Report reviewing unvented roof assemblies, such as conditioned attics and unvented cathedral ceilings that are becoming common in North American construction.

Unvented Roof Summary, RR-0301

2003

Ueno Kohta

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Document summarizing the various papers on unvented conditioned cathedralized attics found on BSC's website.

Upgrading Below Grade Spaces - Residential Energy Efficiency Stakeholder

2012

Huelman Patrick H,

Breidenbach Sam,

Schirber Steve

NorthernSTAR,

University of Minnesota,

UMN,

NSTAR,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Presentation describing the challenges of insulating an existing basement, presented to the Building America residential energy-efficiency stakeholder meeting.

Use of Connectors and Brackets, FEMA Technical Fact Sheet 4.3

2010

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Technical fact sheet highlighting important building connections and illustrating the proper use of various types of connection hardware; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”