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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 1 - 41 of 41

2012 IFGC - International Fuel Gas Code

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2012 edition of code establishing a baseline for the design and installation of fuel gas systems and gas fired appliances through performance requirements.

2012 IMC - International Mechanical Code

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2012 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for mechanical systems, including heating, cooling, ventilation, exhaust, ducts, fireplaces, combustion and hydronic systems, using prescriptive and performance-related provisions.

2012 Supplement to the Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation

Author(s)
Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation
Organization(s)
Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation
Publication Date
A supplement to the 2012 Florida Building Code on energy efficiency and conservation.

2015 IMC - International Mechanical Code

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2015 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for mechanical systems, including heating, cooling, ventilation, exhaust, ducts, fireplaces, combustion and hydronic systems, using prescriptive and performance-related provisions.

2018 IMC - International Mechanical Code

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2018 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for mechanical systems, including heating, cooling, ventilation, exhaust, ducts, fireplaces, combustion and hydronic systems, using prescriptive and performance-related provisions.

ACCA Homepage

Author(s)
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
Organization(s)
ACCA
Publication Date
Website homepage for the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA).

ACCA Standard 12: Home Evaluation and Performance Improvement

Author(s)
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
Organization(s)
ACCA
Publication Date
This Standard establishes the minimum requirements to evaluate a residence with regards to energy efficiency, water conservation, occupant comfort, and indoor air quality.

ACCA Standard 5: HVAC Quality Installation Specification

Author(s)
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
Organization(s)
ACCA
Publication Date
Standard providing a universally accepted definition for quality installation for residential and commercial heating, ventilating, and air conditioning applications.

ACCA Standard 9: HVAC Quality Installation Verification Protocols

Author(s)
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
Organization(s)
ACCA
Publication Date
Document detailing the requirements, roles, and obligations for participants in an organized effort, ensuring that HVAC installations comply with the ANSI/ACCA 5 QI – 2010 (HVAC Quality Installation Specification) QI Standard.

ACR: The NADCA Standard for Assessment, Cleaning & Restoration of HVAC Systems

Author(s)
National Air Duct Cleaners Association
Organization(s)
National Air Duct Cleaners Association
Publication Date
Standard providing industry-backed information for assessing new and existing HVAC systems, evaluating and verifying the cleanliness of HVAC system components, preventing job related hazards and guiding the cleaning and restoration of HVAC systems to a specific level of cleanliness.

ADC Flexible Duct Performance & Installation Standards

Author(s)
Air Duct Council
Organization(s)
ADC
Publication Date
Standard for use and reference by designers, architects, engineers, contractors, installers and users for evaluating, selecting, specifying and properly installing flexible duct in heating and air conditioning systems.

ANSI/AHRI Standard 680, 2017 Standard for Performance Rating of Residential Air Filter Equipment

Author(s)
American National Standards Institute,
Air-Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute
Organization(s)
ANSI,
AHRI
Publication Date
Standard 680 establishes definitions, classifications, test requirements, data requirements, ratings, operating requirements, marking and nameplate data and conformance conditions for residential air filter equipment.

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 152-2014 - Method of Test for Determining the Design and Seasonal Efficiencies of Residential Thermal Distribution Systems

Author(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers
Organization(s)
ASHRAE,
American National Standards Institute,
ANSI
Publication Date
Standard that prescribes a testing method to determine the efficiency of space heating and/or cooling thermal distribution systems under seasonal and design conditions. This version of the standard was published in the year 2014, and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. The...

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55-2020, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy

Author(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers
Organization(s)
ASHRAE,
American National Standards Institute,
ANSI
Publication Date
Standard 55 specifies conditions for acceptable thermal environments and is intended for use in design, operation, and commissioning of buildings and other occupied spaces. This is the current version of the standard, which was published in the year 2021, and is available for preview and purchase at...

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2022 –Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality

Author(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers
Organization(s)
ASHRAE,
American National Standards Institute,
ANSI
Publication Date
Standard that provides procedures and methods for meeting minimum ventilation and indoor air quality requirements to engineers, design professionals, owners, and jurisdictional authorities where model codes have been adopted. This is the current version of the standard, which was published in the...

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2010 - Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings

Author(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers
Organization(s)
ASHRAE,
American National Standards Institute,
ANSI
Publication Date
Standard that defines the roles of and minimum requirements for mechanical and natural ventilation systems and the building envelope intended to provide acceptable indoor air quality in low-rise residential buildings. This version of the standard was published in the year 2010, and is available for...

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2013 - Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings

Author(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers
Organization(s)
ASHRAE,
American National Standards Institute,
ANSI
Publication Date
Standard that defines the roles of and minimum requirements for mechanical and natural ventilation systems and the building envelope intended to provide acceptable indoor air quality in low-rise residential buildings. This version of the standard was published in the year 2013, and is available for...

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2016 - Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings

Author(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers
Organization(s)
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Standard that defines the roles of and minimum requirements for mechanical and natural ventilation systems and the building envelope intended to provide acceptable indoor air quality in low-rise residential buildings. This version of the standard was published in the year 2016, and is available for...

ASTM E3087-18: Standard Test Method for Measuring Capture Efficiency of Domestic Range Hoods

Author(s)
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Test method that measures the capture efficiency of wall-mounted domestic range hoods under controlled conditions in a test chamber. The current version of this standard is available for preview and purchase at the link and was published in the year 2018. A previous version of this standard is...

BPVC Code Cases: Boilers and Pressure Vessels (BPVC-CC-BPV) - 2017

Author(s)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Organization(s)
ASME
Publication Date
Code establishing the rules of safety relating only to pressure integrity for the design, fabrication, and inspection of boilers and pressure vessels during construction. This version of the code was published in the year 2017 and is available to order at the referenced link. There are also versions...

BPVC Code Cases: Boilers and Pressure Vessels (BPVC-CC-BPV) - 2021

Author(s)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Organization(s)
ASME
Publication Date
Code establishing the rules of safety relating only to pressure integrity for the design, fabrication, and inspection of boilers and pressure vessels during construction. This version of the code was published in the year 2021 and is available to order at the referenced link. There are also versions...

Building America Best Practices Series Volume 15: 40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Hot-Humid Climate

Author(s)
Baechler Michael C,
Gilbride Theresa L,
Hefty Marye G,
Cole Pam C,
Adams Karen T,
Noonan Chrissy F,
Love Pat M
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
A guidebook helping builders design and construct homes that are among the most energy efficient available, while addressing issues such as building durability, indoor air quality, and occupant health, safety, and comfort. Measures described in this guide can help builders in the hot-humid climate...

Building America Best Practices Series Volume 9: 40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Hot-Dry and Mixed-Dry Climates

Author(s)
Baechler Michael C,
Gilbride Theresa L,
Hefty Marye G,
Williamson Jennifer,
Ruiz Kathi,
Bartlett Rosemarie,
Love Pat M
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Report providing builders in the hot-dry and mixed-dry climates with guidance for building homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

Certified Home Ventilating Products Directory

Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
Organization(s)
HVI
Publication Date
Website providing an online directory of more than 3,600 residential ventilation products lisiting flowrates, sones, watts, and other performance metrics; all listed products have been tested by the Home Ventilating Institute.

Code Notes: Residential Fan Efficiency

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
IECC code note explaining new fan efficacy requirements, along with how to determine which fans are affected by the new fan requirements.

Controls and Safety Devices for Automatically Fired Boilers (CSD-1) - 2012

Author(s)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Organization(s)
ASME
Publication Date
Standard covering requirements for the assembly, installation, maintenance, and operation of controls and safety devices on automatically operated boilers directly fired with gas, oil, gas-oil, or electricity, having fuel input ratings under 12,500,000 Btu/hr. This version of the code was published...

Controls and Safety Devices for Automatically Fired Boilers (CSD-1) - 2021

Author(s)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Organization(s)
ASME
Publication Date
Standard covering requirements for the assembly, installation, maintenance, and operation of controls and safety devices on automatically operated boilers directly fired with gas, oil, gas-oil, or electricity, having fuel input ratings under 12,500,000 Btu/hr. This version of the code was published...

Duct System Flammability and Air Sealing Fire Separation Assemblies in the International Residential Code

Author(s)
Rudd,
Prahl
Organization(s)
ABT Systems,
IBACOS
Publication Date
Report identifying two barriers that limit the ability of builders to explore opportunities for higher levels of energy efficiency in housing: the use of duct system materials that inherently achieve airtightness and are right-sized for low-load houses, and, the ability to air seal fire separation...

ENERGY STAR HVAC Design Report

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
This report is designed to meet ASHRAE 62.2-2010/2013 and ANSI/ACCA’s 5 QI-2015 protocol, thereby improving the performance of HVAC equipment in new homes when compared to homes built to minimum code.

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.

Home Ventilating Institute

Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
Organization(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
Publication Date
Website providing certified rating programs to help manufacturers, builders, contractors and homeowners compare performance of ventilation products for air flow, sound, and other performance characteristics.

Investigation of Potential Benefits of Revising Exception 1 under “FLORIDA BUILDING CODE, ENERGY CONSERVATION, Section 101.4.7.1.1 Duct Sealing upon Equipment Replacement.”

Author(s)
McIlvaine Janet E R,
Beal David
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Report describing as-found interior platform return plenums, the magnitude of their contribution to the total amount of duct leakage, and techniques and results of retrofits executed by the HVAC trade during equipment replacement.

Technician’s Guide & Work Book For Quality Installation

Author(s)
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
Organization(s)
ACCA
Publication Date
The Technician's Guide equips practitioners with the knowledge to properly implement all of the measurement procedures required in the HVAC QI Specification.

The Performance Check Between Whole Building Thermal Performance Criteria and Exterior Wall Measured Clear Wall R-Value, Thermal Bridging, thermal mass and airtightness

Author(s)
Kosny Jan,
Christian Jeffrey E,
Desjarlais Andre O,
Kossecka Elisabeth,
Berrenberg Lance
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
Polish Academy of Sciences,
PAN,
American Polysteel Forms
Publication Date
Paper that illustrates a performance check between the thermal performance of a Massive Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) wall system mocked up and Whole Building Performance criteria such as total space heating and cooling loads (thermal comfort).