Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 1 - 50 of 71 results:

2008 Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters, ICC NSAA 500

2012

International Code Council,

National Storm Shelter Association

ICC,

NSSA

Guide providing minimum design and construction requirements for storm shelters that provide a safe refuge from storms that produce high winds, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

2015 International Building Code - IBC a Compilation of Wind Resistant Provisions

2021

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Report summarizing the wind-resistant provisions of the 2015 edition of the International Building Code.

A Business Case for Home Performance Contracting

2012

Baechler Michael C,

et al.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL

Report discussing opportunities and trends in the U.S. home performance contracting industry, along with market drivers such as consumer demand; federal, state, and local programs; and utility and non-governmental programs.

AIA Disaster Assistance Handbook, Third Edition

2017

American Institute of Architects

AIA

Report describing the experience gained from AIA’s Disaster Assistance Program with first-hand accounts of disaster response and recovery, case studies and other best practices, including approaches to designing buildings to be more adaptable to uncertainty.

Air Sealing Colorado Homes – 10.634

2019

Weiner C.

Colorado State University,

U.S. Department of Agriculture,

USDA

Fact sheet describing air-sealing concerns and remedies, including HRV/ERV installation, caulking, spray foam, and weatherstrip installation.

Air-Seal Windows and Doors

2012

Sloggatt Mike

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

Article describing how to stop air leaks around the windows and doors of a home.

Assessing the Impact of Thickness of the Performance of Stucco Cladding

2004

Brown William C,

Dietrich Mike,

Latimer Mark

American Society of Heating,

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE

A report that evaluates the force it takes to crack stucco of various thicknesses.

Be Prepared For Extreme Heat, FEMA V-1004

2018

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Information sheet from FEMA on preparation for extreme heat, including measures for keeping homes cool.

Building America Research-to-Market Plan

2015

Werling Eric

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Report presenting the building america research to market plan.

Deep Energy Retrofits - Reducing Costs and Increasing Cost-Effectiveness

2015

Less Brennan,

Walker Iain S

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,

LBNL

Part of a larger LBNL report (Deep Energy Retrofit Guidance for the Building America Solutions Center), the Reducing costs and Increasing Cost-Effectiveness chapter provides suggestions for controlling deep retrofit costs, including both 'do's' and 'don'ts'.

Design Guide For Improving Hospital Safety In Earthquakes Floods and High Winds: Providing Protection To People And Buildings, FEMA 577

2007

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

FEMA risk management series guide on hospital safety and resilience to natural disasters.

Developing Pre-Disaster Resilience Based on Public and Private Incentivization

2015

Multihazard Mitigation Council and Council on Finance,

Insurance and Real Estate

National Institute of Building Sciences,

NIBS

Report providing information on ways to incentivize funding of hazard mitigation programs.

Energy Facts: Energy Tips - Selection and Comparison of Weatherstripping Materials

2024

Michigan State University Extension

Fact sheet describing weatherstripping materials, types, expected life expectancy, installation requirements, and pros and cons.

Energy Resources: A Course on the Fundamentals of the World's Energy, its Source, Usage and Conservation

2025

Dallas Abbott

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Online textbook describing energy, including energy types, and energy use in homes.

ENERGY STAR® Program Requirements for Residential Windows, Doors, and Skylights

2014

ENERGY STAR

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

EPA,

ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR specifications for residential window, door and skylights, Version 6, effective January 1, 2015.

FEMA Community Tornado Safe Room Doors: Installation and Maintenance

2021

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Fact sheet discussing safe room and storm shelter door assemblies along with ICC® 500 compliance.

FEMA Safe Room Publications and Resources

2021

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

A website containing FEMA publications on safe rooms for both residential and community use.

Field Evaluation of Efficient Building Technology with Photovoltaic Power Production in New Florida Residential Housing

1998

Parker Danny S

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Report comparing a high-performance house with a code-built control home.

Floodproofing Non-Residential Buildings, FEMA P-936

2013

Low David K,

et al.

Federal Emergency Management Agency,

FEMA

Report describing dry floodproofing technologies for non-residential buildings, including information about regulatory requirements, design considerations, and descriptions of floodproofing methods and equipment.

Food and Water in an Emergency, FEMA 477

2006

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA,

American Red Cross

A fact sheet on how to prepare for a natural disaster by storing food and water through an emergency food supply.

FORTIFIED Home Garage Door Requirements in the 2020 FORTIFIED Home Standard

2021

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

Factsheet describing garage door pressure rating requirements in high wind– prone areas.

Garage Doors: Assessing Garage Door Damage and Associated Roof Damage

2020

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

Website describing results of research on impacts to garage doors from hurricanes, tornadoes, and high wind events.

Grim Lessons from Tornado Alley

2019

Thompson Boyce

Federal Emergency Management Agency,

FEMA

Website article touring areas hit hardest by tornadoes to see how they are building differently to protect against the next big twister.

Home Energy Displays: Consumer Adoption and Response

2012

LaMarche Janelle,

et al.

Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems,

Fraunhofer CSE,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Research study investigating the factors influencing consumer adoption of HEDs and evaluating the resulting electricity consumption.

Hurricane Shutter Types

2023

Hurricane Research Division,

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA

NOAA webpage providing images and short descriptions of different types of hurricane shutters.

Impact Resistance of Brick Veneer Structures to Hurricane Debris

2005

Bennett Richard M,

et al.

Canada Masonry Design Centre,

CMDC

An impact test report from projectile missile tests against brick veneer, verifying that brick veneers perform well to resisting hurricane force wind driven debris.

Implementing a Zero Energy Ready Home Multifamily Project

2015

Springer David,

German Alea

Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,

ARBI,

Davis Energy Group

Report on on lessons learned from building one multifamily home to the Zero Energy Ready Home program requirements.

Increasing the Durability of Building Constructions, BSD-144

2006

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSD

Report discussing the importance of durability and energy efficiency in building construction.

Indoor Airflow – Perfect Balance vs. Door Undercut

2011

Guertin Mike

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

Central return designs require an open pathway between the room and the heart of the house where the return grill is located.

Is Your Home Protected from Hurricane Disaster? A Homeowner’s Guide to Hurricane Retrofit

2002

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

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

Mitigation Ideas: A Resource for Reducing Risk to Natural Hazards

2013

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

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.

Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards

2013

RESNET

RESNET standards aimed to ensure that accurate and consistent home energy ratings are performed by accredited home energy rating providers through their raters nationwide.

Natural Hazards

2020

U.S. Geological Survey

USGS

Website containing USGS-related publications related to natural hazards.

OSHA Fact Sheet: Using Portable Generators Safely

2005

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA

A fact sheet educating the public on the potential hazards and safe use of portable generators.

Prepare Your Home Ahead of Severe Thunderstorms

2020

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

Website providing guidance on how to reduce the risk of damage to a home from hail.

Preparedness Webinars

2022

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Database describing FEMA preparedness webinars including natural hazard preparedness.

Preparing for Disaster, FEMA P-475

2004

Federal Emergency Management Agency,

American Red Cross

FEMA,

American Red Cross

Fact sheet describing how to prepare for a natural disaster and assemble a disaster supply kit.

Ready.gov: Build A Kit

2020

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

USDHS

A fact sheet providing tips on how to assemble a kit of food, water and other disaster supplies in the event of an emergency.

Realizing Resilience through Incentives - Results from the Institute’s 2016 Symposia

2016

Tobias Leanne,

Blais Neil,

Schneider Philip J

National Institute of Building Sciences,

NIBS

Article describing key takeaways from two symposia held during Building Innovation 2016: The National Institute of Building Sciences Fourth Annual Conference and Expo, including that resilience can be affordable and cost-effective.

Residential Tornado Safe Room Doors

2021

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Fact sheet describing residential tornado safe room doors.

Resistance of Exterior Walls to High Velocity Projectiles

2001

Kashuba Scott D,

Kuzik Mark D,

Hatzinikolas Michael A

Canadian Masonry Research Institute,

CMPA

Report describing the testing of various siding materials for their ability to resist bullets from small firearms.

Retrofit Improvements - Bracing of Roof Projections

2012

Home Innovation Research Labs

HIRL

Fact sheet describing how to install bracing to retrofit roof dormers for increased wind resistance.

Retrofit Improvements - Improve Window & Door Flashing/Sealing

2012

Home Innovation Research Labs

HIRL

Fact sheet describing methods for flashing and air-sealing windows and doors.

ReVision Home: Windows and Patio Doors

2010

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

Steven Winter Associates

CARB,

SWA

Information sheet about window retrofit strategies for hot-dry climates.

Safe Room Funding

2020

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

FEMA information on safe room funding to regional governments.

Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes - Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms, Fourth Edition, FEMA P-361

2021

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Report covering the planning, design, construction, and operation of residential and community safe rooms. Written for architects, engineers, building officials, local officials and emergency managers, and prospective safe room owners and operators.

Standard for Gasketing, A156.22-2021, ANSI/BHMA

2021

American National Standards Institute,

Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association

ANSI,

BHMA

Standard establishing requirements for the performance and installation of gasketing systems including mortised to doors, frames or both which was published in the year 2021 and a can be purchased to be viewed in full from the ANSI webstore in the link.

Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate by Fan Pressurization, ASTM E779-19

2019

American Society for Testing and Materials,

ASTM International

ASTM

Standard describing a test method measuring air-leakage rates through a building envelope under controlled pressurization and de-pressurization which was published in the year 2019 and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link.

Standard Test Methods for Determining Airtightness of Buildings Using an Orifice Blower Door, ASTM E1827 - 22

2022

American Society for Testing and Materials,

ASTM International

ASTM

Standard describing two techniques for measuring air leakage rates through a building envelope in buildings that may be configured to a single zone which was published in the year 2022 and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link.

Suggested Emergency Food Supplies

2022

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

USDHS

Article describing suggested food supplies, sanitation, safety, and cooking for during and after an emergency.