Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 51 - 100 of 103 results:

Indoor airPLUS Technical Bulletin Pest Entry Prevention

2019

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

A factsheet providing information on how to prevent pests from entering the home by sealing cracks and openings.

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).

Is There a Mouse in the House? Eliminate Mice with IPM

2017

Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University,

PennState Extension

Article explaining how to use integrated pest management to choose methods of pest control that are safe and effective.

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.

National Hazard Mitigation Association

2020

Natural Disasters Association,

National Hazard Mitigation Association

NDA,

NHMA

Website providing information on tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms and more.

National Wildlife Control Operators Association

2020

National Wildlife Control Operators Association

NWCOA

NWCOA website homepage.

New York Department of Environmental Conservation

2021

New York State

New York Department of Environmental Conservation

Website of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

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.

Pest Prevention by Design: Authoritative Guidelines for Designing Pests out of Structures

2012

Geiger Chris A,

Cox Caroline

San Francisco Department of the Environment,

SF Environment,

Center for Environmental Health,

CEH,

International Code Council,

ICC

Report providing detailed steps for builders, architects, and property managers to take for integrated pest management for control of a variety of pests including insects, rodents, and birds.

Pump Day Procedures

2013

ICF Systems

Massachusetts Building Products

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

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.

Rats: Information for Tenants and Property Owners

2017

City of New York

Website providing information about how to keep the properties rat-free and address conditions that can lead to rats.

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.

READ THIS: Before You Move In, GM-0606

2006

Brennan Terry,

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Report describing steps homeowners can take to improve the indoor air quality in their home, including ventilating, preventing pests, and reducing pollutants in the home.

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.

Reduce Pest Intrusion

2018

Building Energy Codes Program,

U.S. Department of Energy

DOE

Guide describing ways builders can block off entry points and otherwise make homes inhospitable to all manner of pests.

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.

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.

Rodent Exclusion Methods

2013

Wildlife Damage Management

Website providing information about how to prevent rodent entry in homes.

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.

Stop Pests in Housing

2018

Northeastern IPM Center

Website providing information on all types of pest management for multi-family housing.

Stop Pests in Housing - Rodents

2024

Stop Pests

Webpage providing information how to deal with rodents by knowing what they look like, where they live, and what they do.

Subterranean Termites – Their Prevention and Control in Buildings

2006

Peterson Chris,

et al.

U.S. Department of Agriculture,

USDA,

USDA Forest Service

A report describing methods for constructing homes and treating soils to reduce the risk of termites in buildings.

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.

Tennessee 'Bee Whisperer' Removes 35,000 Honey Bees from Brick Wall

2018

Farber Madeline

Fox News

A story about bees building a hive in the drainage plane behind the brick veneer siding. The bees entered the wall through unprotected drainage holes.

Termite Damaged Weatherboard

2001

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

CSIRO

Image depicting damage from termites in weatherboard cladding.

Termite Infestations

2021

Green Jody

University of Nebraska - Lincoln,

Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Article describing identification of termite infestations in homes and treatment options.

Termites

2014

Peterson Chris,

et al.

U.S. Forest Service,

USDA

An introduction to the insect termites.

Termites and ICFs

2017

Insulated Concrete Forms Association

ICF Builder

Document with information on preventing termites when using ICFs.

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.

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.”

Washington State Department of Health – Rodents

2021

Washington State Department of Health

WSDOH

A website providing information on sealing the home against rodents and how to trap rodents once they have made their way into the home.

Water Management System Builder Checklist Guide

2011

ENERGY STAR,

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA,

ENERGY STAR

A builder checklist guide for the water management of properties with appropriately-designed building technologies.

Waterproofing Deep Foundations for New Construction

2024

Amos,

Chan; Walter Moore

Building Design and Construction

AIA CEU course covering design considerations for below-grade waterproofing for new construction, the types of below-grade systems available, and specific concerns associated with waterproofing deep foundations.

Welcome to the Best Practices for Nuisance Wildlife Control: A Training Manual

2019

Wildlife Damage Management

NYSDEC,

CCE,

USDA,

NIFA

Web-based manual providing guidance for removal and preventing entry of nuisance wildlife.