Organization(s)
EPA,
FEMA,
HUD
Publication Date
Description
Homeowner guidance from EPA, FEMA, HUD, and NIH on dealing with radon following a natural disaster.
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 351 - 400 of 759
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report describing for homeowners how to protect their homes from flooding, 3rd Edition.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Brochure describing FEMA documents and foundation tips for floodproofing homes.
Organization(s)
University of California
Publication Date
Description
Wildfire mitigation guidelines from the University of California outlining how to mitigate fire risk for attached decks.
Organization(s)
SSC,
State of California
Publication Date
Description
Guidebook that provides information on earthquake hazards that can damage homes, the design and retrofit of earthquake resistant housing, and how to find more information on earthquake safety.
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.
Organization(s)
Rocky Mountain Institute,
RMI
Publication Date
Description
Article from RMI on how climate change is leading to an increase in critical extreme heat hours and what smart building strategies can be taken to mitigate some of these effects including paint color and insulation.
Organization(s)
Green Building Solutions
Publication Date
Description
A report describing how to build a high-performance affordable house to achieve 30% whole house energy savings in the mixed-humid climate region.
Organization(s)
Washington Post
Publication Date
Description
Article from Washington Post on passive cooling measures for homes during extreme heat.
Organization(s)
The Earthbound Report
Publication Date
Description
Article from The Earthbound Report on passive cooling design strategies for homes located in hot climates.
Organization(s)
New Home Source
Publication Date
Description
Article summarizing for potential homeowners items to check or demand from the builder in designing a home for a cold climate.
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction
Publication Date
Description
Article describing how omission of two small but critical wall details, a kick-out flashing and a weep screed, lead to extensive water damage to a wall.
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing defensible space and wildfire risk reduction steps that homeowners can take to make their homes safer during a wildfire.
Organization(s)
Montana State University Extension,
MSU Extension
Publication Date
Description
Article from Montana State University Extension explaining how proper insulation techniques can greatly reduce the risks of ice dams on roofs in cold climate zones.
Organization(s)
Vinyl Siding Institute
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing proper methods for installing vinyl siding and soffit coverings in high wind and coastal areas.
Organization(s)
CDC
Publication Date
Description
A website providing a checklist of important areas to check when sealing holes inside and outside of the home to prevent entry by rodents and other outside pests.
How To Shut Off Your Natural Gas In An Emergency – Learn How To Locate And Shut Off Your Natural Gas
Organization(s)
SoCalGas
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing how to locate and manually shut off natural gas service at the meter.
Organization(s)
Premier SIPS Structural Insulated Panels,
Home Power Magazine
Publication Date
Description
A structural insulated panel (SIP) roof has no embedded lumber in the structure, and therefore nothing substantial for attaching PV array and solar hot water mounts. Single or double lumber splines could be put into the panels, or I-joists at 4-foot intervals could be added.
Organization(s)
City of Los Angeles
Publication Date
Description
Report describing ways to retrofit a home to make it more resistant to earthquakes.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report by the FEMA Mitigation Assessment Team on damages due to Hurricane Irma which struck Florida in September 2017, and recommendations for construction for future disaster resistance and preparedness.
Organization(s)
FBC
Publication Date
Description
Article presenting the 2008 update on the 2006 details on when required hurricane mitigation retrofits are required and the cost cap on required hurricane mitigation retrofits.
Organization(s)
Florida Building Code
Publication Date
Description
Code describing the requirements for existing site-built single-family homes to receive roof-to-wall retrofits when re-roofing.
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.
Organization(s)
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Publication Date
Description
Report describing the hurricane retrofit guide with focus on walls and wooded framed walls.
Organization(s)
NOAA
Publication Date
Description
NOAA webpage providing images and short descriptions of different types of hurricane shutters.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article describing issues with condensation in unvented attics insulated with open-cell spray foam.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
A news article documenting the milestone of the FORTIFED homes program surpassing 18,000 homes.
Organization(s)
Niagara Frontier Publications
Publication Date
Description
Recommendations from IBHS describing how to safely use generators during winter storm power outages.
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.
Organization(s)
City of Colorado Springs,
State of Colorado
Publication Date
Description
Wildfire guidance for homes located in the wildland urban interface, focused on site design and individual pieces of the home.
Organization(s)
FireSafe Montana
Publication Date
Description
Ignition resistant residential construction and landscaping guidelines from FireSafe Montana.
Organization(s)
Canada Masonry Design Centre,
CMDC
Publication Date
Description
An impact test report from projectile missile tests against brick veneer, verifying that brick veneers perform well to resisting hurricane force wind driven debris.
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.
Organization(s)
Big Ass Fans,
HPAC Engineering
Publication Date
Description
Article describing how air speed affects thermal comfort and how fans can provide energy savings.
Organization(s)
NAHB
Publication Date
Description
Guide detailing best practices on how to build wall assemblies with absorptive claddings such as brick, stone that drain and dry well.
Organization(s)
Applied Energy,
National Science Foundation,
NSF
Publication Date
Description
Study using simulations to understand the impact that shading and natural ventilation would have had on the survivability of non-air-conditioned buildings during the 2021 heat wave in the Pacific Northwest.
Organization(s)
University of Texas
Publication Date
Description
Report detailing natural ventilation and passive airflow systems.
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.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Website providing the technical specifications and related documents for home builders, subcontractors, architects, and other housing professionals interested in certifying a home to the EPA's Indoor airPLUS program requirements.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
A factsheet providing information on how to prevent pests from entering the home by sealing cracks and openings.
Organization(s)
Pipeline & Gas Journal
Publication Date
Description
Article describing excess flow valves installed on gas lines to shut-off natural gas flow to a home in the event that a gas line is severed due to an earthquake, natural disaster, earthquake, etc.
Organization(s)
National Library of Medicine,
NLM
Publication Date
Description
Article from Samuel L. Manzello and Sayaka Suzuki on tests undertaken to find the ideal amount of board spacing to resist deck ignition during fires.
Organization(s)
SoCalGas
Publication Date
Description
Webpage detailing how to purchase and install the correct shut-off valve for homes in California, including differences between earthquake and excess flow valves and how to install each.
Organization(s)
LASFM
Publication Date
Description
Site showing flame spread ratings and definitions for common building materials.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article from Building Science Corporation explaining 'wash and wear buildings' that are designed to be flooded and washed out afterwards.
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.
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Article describing what evaporative coolers are, how they work, different types, performance, where they are appropriate, and how to install and maintain them.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report showing installers how to attach ducts, pipes, and associated equipment to buildings to minimize earthquake damage.
Organization(s)
RTC Insurance Advisors
Publication Date
Description
Article describing the insurance savings of a home with a hip roof versus a gable roof from the perspective of an insurance advisor.