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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 - 50 of 195

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Publication Date
Description
Website detailing how to prepare for, stay safe during, and return home after hurricanes.
Author(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Organization(s)
ASCE
Publication Date
Description
Web-based mapping tool offering a fast, reliable way to look up key design parameters specified in Standard ASCE 7-10, 7-16, or 7-22 for a specific address or location which is free to use and can look up data for eight different environmental hazard types: wind, tornado, seismic, ice, rain, flood...
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Publication Date
Description
Webpage containing a library of ready-to-use social media posts, graphics and video links that promote life-saving information about how individuals and families can prepare for and survive during a hurricane.
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Report assessing building codes for the 18 Atlantic and Gulf coast states which are most prone to hurricanes, as of 2018.
Author(s)
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Organization(s)
CDC
Publication Date
Description
Website providing information to prepare for winter storms, prevent cold temperature-related health problems, and protect yourself during all stages of a winter storm.
Author(s)
Hurricane Research Division,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Organization(s)
NOAA
Publication Date
Description
NOAA webpage providing images and short descriptions of different types of hurricane shutters.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Database describing FEMA preparedness webinars including natural hazard preparedness.
Author(s)
U.S. Geological Survey,
Earthquake Hazards Program
Organization(s)
USGS
Publication Date
Description
Website providing a probabilistic map of the expected number of damaging earthquakes around the U.S.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Organization(s)
USDHS
Publication Date
Description
Article describing suggested food supplies, sanitation, safety, and cooking for during and after an emergency.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Website describing and providing a map showing the tsunami risk index for the United States, which home owners and builders can use to determine the tsunami risk of their location.
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Checklist providing information about the specific requirements of FORTIFIED Roof™ design and construction standard for re-roofing specific for high wind resistance.
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Checklist providing information about the specific requirements of FORTIFIED Roof™ design and construction standard for re-roofing specific for hurricane resistance.
Author(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Organization(s)
ASCE,
SEI
Publication Date
Description
Standard using performance-based principles to determine dead, live, soil, flood, tsunami, snow, rain, atmospheric ice, earthquake, wind, and fire loads, and their combinations for general structural design. This version of the standard was published in the year 2016 and is available in both digital...
Author(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Organization(s)
ASCE,
SEI
Publication Date
Description
Standard using performance-based principles to determine dead, live, soil, flood, tsunami, snow, rain, atmospheric ice, seismic, and wind loads, and their combinations for general structural design. The current version of this standard was published in the year 2022 and is available in both digital...
Author(s)
Gromicko Nick,
Gromicko Ben
Organization(s)
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors,
InterNACHI
Publication Date
Description
Article defining structural design loads and ways to calculate them, including dead loads, live loads, soil lateral loads, wind loads, snow loads, earthquake loads, and other loads.
Author(s)
Wieber Michael
Organization(s)
NW Seismic
Publication Date
Description
A website containing a video series by NW Seismic illustrating how a seismic retrofit should be done and ways they are done incorrectly.
Author(s)
Blanchard Tobie,
Reichel Claudette Hanks
Organization(s)
LSU Ag Center Research Extension
Publication Date
Description
Web article describing many ways homeowners, contractors, and builders can make homes more resistant to hurricanes, tornadoes, high winds, floods, and hail.
Author(s)
ICC Evaluation Service
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.
Author(s)
Knowles III Hal S,
Ruppert Kathleen C,
Lenfesty Karla A,
Halderman Barbara
Organization(s)
University of Florida IFAS Extension
Publication Date
Description
This document covers how broken windows can allow wind and rain inside the house and even lead to roof failure.
Author(s)
United Nations Environment Programme
Organization(s)
UNEP
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.
Author(s)
Simpson Strong Tie
Organization(s)
Simpson Strong Tie
Publication Date
Description
Catalog detailing the metal connector products manufactured by Simpson Strong-Tie and their applications and strengths.
Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Organization(s)
NOAA
Publication Date
Description
Website helping communities address coastal issues with data, tools, and training resources.
Author(s)
Siding Cost Guide
Organization(s)
Siding Cost Guide
Publication Date
Description
A starting point for ballparking and comparing the cost of different siding materials and a brief overview of the pros and cons of different siding materials.
Author(s)
NOAA Office for Coastal Management
Organization(s)
NOAA
Publication Date
Description
Case study describing Alachua County, Florida’s, green infrastructure strategy for land use development that incorporates rain gardens, ponds, swales, and native vegetation to manage stormwater.
Author(s)
APA - The Engineered Wood Association
Organization(s)
American Plywood Association,
APA
Publication Date
Description
Wall bracing calculator simplifying the design of residential structures that comply with 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018 or 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) wall bracing requirements.
Author(s)
Mid-America Regional Council
Organization(s)
MARC
Publication Date
Description
A guide on the use of rain barrels for greater water efficiency and use in gardens and lawns.
Author(s)
Florida Disaster
Organization(s)
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Publication Date
Description
A document aimed at reducing the vulnerability of a gable end roof to wind damage in a hurricane.
Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
National Weather Service
Organization(s)
NOAA,
NWS
Publication Date
Description
A website providing timely and accurate forecasts and watches for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the contiguous United States.
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Website providing resources for roofers to construct high-wind, hurricane, and hail-resistant roofs from IBHS Fortified program.
Author(s)
U.S. Geological Survey
Organization(s)
USGS
Publication Date
Description
Website containing USGS-related publications related to natural hazards.
Author(s)
Federal Alliance For Safe Homes
Organization(s)
FLASH
Publication Date
Description
Website containing resources from the nonprofit FLASH, which "is the country’s leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters."
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Indoor airPLUS is a voluntary partnership and labeling program that helps new home builders improve the quality of indoor air by requiring construction practices and product specifications that minimize exposure to airborne pollutants and contaminants.
Author(s)
Natural Disasters Association,
National Hazard Mitigation Association
Organization(s)
NDA,
NHMA
Publication Date
Description
Website providing information on tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms and more.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Organization(s)
USDHS
Publication Date
Description
A fact sheet providing tips on how to assemble a kit of food, water and other disaster supplies in the event of an emergency.
Author(s)
U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit
Organization(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
NOAA
Publication Date
Description
Website providing guidance for people to find and use tools, information, and subject matter expertise to build climate resilience.