Skip to main content

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 751 - 799 of 799

What Are Seismic Shut-Off Valves?

Author(s)
MBS Engineering
Organization(s)
MBS Engineering
Publication Date
An informational guide established to educate the public on seismic shut-off valves and how to avoid fires following an earthquake.

What is a Cool Exterior Wall?

Author(s)
Cool Roof Rating Council
Organization(s)
CRRC
Publication Date
Web page explaining what a cool exterior wall is and how they work, as well as benefits to their use and links to research studies.

What is a Cool Roof?

Author(s)
Cool Roof Rating Council
Organization(s)
CRRC
Publication Date
Web page explaining what a cool roof is and how they work, as well as benefits to their use and links to research studies.

What is a Levee?

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Document describing what levees are, how they work, and who owns them.

What Is a Seismic Shut-Off Valve?

Author(s)
MBS Engineering
Organization(s)
MBS Engineering
Publication Date
Infographic explaining what a seismic shut-off valve is and providing frequently asked questions.

What Is a Weep Hole and Its Purpose?

Author(s)
Krejci Cassie,
Muncaster John
Organization(s)
Polyguard
Publication Date
An article describing a way to protect drain and ventilation holes in brick veneer siding against pests. Selecting a fine screen mesh opening (1/55-inch or 0.5-mm) is important to guard against small insects such as subterranean termites.

What to Do if a Wildfire is Approaching

Author(s)
IBHS DisasterSafety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Guidelines from IBHS on modifications to homes to prepare for a wildfire if evacuation orders are anticipated for the area.

When should I worry about snow accumulation on the roof?

Author(s)
Cold Climate Housing Research Center
Organization(s)
CCHRC
Publication Date
Webpage describing how different amounts and types of snow loads affect the structural integrity of roofs and homes.

Where Tornadoes Happen

Author(s)
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Center for Science Education
Organization(s)
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Center for Science Education
Publication Date
A heat map showing the average number of tornadoes per year across the United States

Where Your Front Door Meets the Forest

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Organization(s)
USDA
Publication Date
Webpage describing the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and how to plan residential building to mitigate wildfire risks associated with building in the WUI.

Who's Leading: The Dance Between Mini-Splits and Existing HVAC Systems

Author(s)
Metzger Cheryn E
Publication Date
Conference paper presented at the 2020 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings presenting the results of an evaluation of control strategies used when new mini-splits are installed in a home with an existing HVAC system.

Whole House Fans

Author(s)
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Organization(s)
PG&E,
California Public Utilities Commission
Publication Date
Technical fact sheet describing proper operation, sizing, and installation of whole-house fans.

Why We Need to Know More About Basement Moisture

Author(s)
Cheple Marilou,
Huelman Patrick H
Organization(s)
University of Minnesota,
UMN,
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE,
NorthernSTAR,
NSTAR,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Conference paper presented at the 8th International Conference on Thermal Performance of Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings describing moisture from basements and crawlspaces as a source of indoor humidity and providing recommendations for finishing below-grade spaces to limit potential indoor...

Wildfire and the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

Author(s)
U.S. Fire Administration
Organization(s)
USFA
Publication Date
Webpage from USFA compiling resources from across the U.S. on Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) information.

Wildfire Hazard Potential

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Organization(s)
USDA
Publication Date
Webpage from USDA and U.S. Forest Service with a map of potential wildfire risk across the U.S.

Wildfire Home Retrofit Guide

Author(s)
Restaino Christina,
Kocher Susan,
Shaw Nicole,
Hawks Steven,
Murphy Carlie,
Quarles Stephen L
Organization(s)
University of Nevada Reno Extension,
University of California Cooperative Extension,
Tahoe Resource Conservation District,
Cal Fire
Publication Date
A report for homeowners and contractors providing specific recommendations for how to retrofit existing components of a home to withstand wildfire.

Wildfire Operations: Wildfire Science

Author(s)
Canada Government of Northwest Territories Department of Environment and Climate Change
Organization(s)
GNWT ECC
Publication Date
Website describing how wildfires spread and how fuels, weather, and topography influence fires.

Wildfire Prepared Protect Your Home from Wildfire

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Webpage that providing designation program enables homeowners to take preventative measures for their home and yard to protect against wildfire.

Wildfire Public Policy

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Webpage describing ways builders and communities an reduce wildfire risk.

Wildfire Ready

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
A webpage providing guidance on increasing the wildfire resistance of a home.

Wildfire Risk to Communities

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
USDA Forest Service
Organization(s)
USDA,
USDA Forest Service
Publication Date
A website created by the U.S. Forest Service, containing interactive maps, charts and resources to help communities explore their risk to wildfires.

Wildfire Smoke Impacts on Residential IAQ

Author(s)
Antonopoulos Chrissi A,
Emmerich Steven,
Karg Rick,
Singer Brett C
Organization(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Article describing the impacts of wildfire smoke on indoor air quality and some ways ASHRAE is responding.

Wildfire Statistics

Author(s)
Congressional Research Service
Organization(s)
CRS
Publication Date
Fact sheet providing recent statistics on wildfires in the U.S.

Wildfire-Resistant Buildings

Author(s)
Journal of Light Construction
Organization(s)
JLC
Publication Date
Article describing ways to design and construct a building to resist wildfires.

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Products

Author(s)
CAL FIRE Fire Engineering Division,
Cal Fire Office of the State Fire Marshal,
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Organization(s)
CAFED,
CAL FIRE OSFM,
CADFFP
Publication Date
A list of exterior building products and materials approved for use in wildland urban interface zoned homes. These products are non-combustible or ignition-resistant.

Wildland Urban Interface Construction Shasta County

Author(s)
Department of Resource Management Building Division
Organization(s)
County of Shasta California
Publication Date
An example of wildland urban interface construction requirements for new buildings built in very high fire risk zones/areas.

Wildland-Urban Interface Growth in the U.S.

Author(s)
U.S. Forest Service
Organization(s)
USDA
Publication Date
Article describing the growth of the wildland urban interface in the United States from 1990 to 2010, expanding from 30.8 to 43.4 million homes (a 41% increase), and growing from 581,000 to 770,000 kM2 (33% growth), an increase of 189,000 km2, an area that is larger than Washington State.

Wind and Trees: Air Infiltration Effects on Energy Use in Housing

Author(s)
Mattingly G.E.,
Peters E.F.
Organization(s)
Princeton University
Publication Date
Paper describing wind influences on air infiltration related energy losses for residential housing and the shielding effects of fences, adjacent structures, and vegetation.

Wind Loading on Ridge, Hip and Perimeter Roof Tiles: A Full-Scale Experimental Study

Author(s)
Habte Filmon,
Mooneghi Maryam Asghari,
Baheru Thomas,
Zisis Ioannis,
Chowdhury Arindam Gan,
Masters Forrest,
Irwin Peter
Organization(s)
Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics,
International Association for Wind Engineering,
IAWE
Publication Date
Study showcasing the location of the highest uplift force on the hip, ridge, and perimeter regions of roofs, and thus roofing material needs for the most fasteners and adhesive at these locations.

Wind Pressures on 4∶12-Sloped Hip Roofs of L-and T-Shaped Low-Rise Buildings

Author(s)
Shuai Shao,
Tian Yuji,
Yang Qingshan,
Stathopoulos Ted
Organization(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers,
ASCE,
Journal of Structural Engineering
Publication Date
Study analyzing wind pressures on hip roofs where two hip roofs come together forming an L or T shaped roof or building.

Wind Retrofit Guide for Residential Buildings, FEMA P-804

Author(s)
Kapur Omar,
Mahadevia Amit,
Park Jae,
Passman Samantha,
Perotin Manuel,
Reeder Adam,
Seitz Laura,
Sheldon Adrienne,
Tezak Scott
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA
Publication Date
Report providing guidance on how to improve the wind resistance of existing residential buildings in Mississippi and across the Gulf Coast.

Wind Safe Rooms

Author(s)
Disaster Center,
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety,
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
IBHS,
FEMA
Publication Date
Guide describing "wind safe” room as a reinforced area of a home designed to withstand severe windstorms.

Wind Safety of the Building Envelope

Author(s)
Smith Tom
Organization(s)
Whole Building Design Guide,
WBDG
Publication Date
Article discussing structural and nonstructural building components and illustrates a variety of wind-induced damages, including wind-driven rain infiltration.

Window Attachments

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
DOE presentation describing a project to study window attachments.

Window Systems

Author(s)
University of Florida IFAS Extension
Organization(s)
University of Florida IFAS Extension,
University of Florida
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing impact-resistant window systems with specifics on Florida’s building codes.

Winter

Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Organization(s)
National Weather Service
Publication Date
Website sharing how to stay safe before, during, and after a winter storm.

Winter Power Outages Can Lead to Generator Concerns

Author(s)
University of Missouri Extension
Organization(s)
University of Missouri,
MU
Publication Date
Article describing how generators being used for backup power during outages can lead to safety concerns.

Winter Storm Safety

Author(s)
American Red Cross
Organization(s)
Red Cross
Publication Date
Webpage from American Red Cross describing how to stay safe and prepare homes for severe winter weather such as blizzards.

Winter Weather

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Website providing consumers with general guidance on preparing for and surviving a winter storm.

Winter Weather: Before, During, and After

Author(s)
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Organization(s)
CDC
Publication Date
Website providing information to prepare for winter storms, prevent cold temperature-related health problems, and protect yourself during all stages of a winter storm.

Wood Construction Connectors 2021–2023

Author(s)
Simpson Strong Tie
Organization(s)
Simpson Strong Tie
Publication Date
Catalog detailing the metal connector products manufactured by Simpson Strong-Tie and their applications and strengths.

Wood Frame Roof-to-Wall Connections in Hurricane Retrofit Guide

Author(s)
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Organization(s)
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Publication Date
A hurricane retrofit guide describing techniques for strengthening roof-to-wall connections for family homes.