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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 251 - 300 of 799

Safe Room Resources, FEMA P-388 CD

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
A CD guide intended to help communities mitigate damage or loss from tornadoes and other extremewind events, and provide public information resources for conveying the importance of safe room construction.

Hurricane Retrofit Guide - Gable End Overhangs

Author(s)
Florida Disaster
Organization(s)
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Publication Date
A document aimed at reducing the vulnerability of a gable end roof to wind damage in a hurricane.

National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center

Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
National Weather Service
Organization(s)
NOAA,
NWS
Publication Date
A website issuing watches, warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather and increasing the understanding of hazards.

Storm Prediction Center

Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
National Weather Service
Organization(s)
NOAA,
NWS
Publication Date
A website providing timely and accurate forecasts and watches for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the contiguous United States.

Ready.Gov

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Organization(s)
USDHS
Publication Date
Website serving as a national public service campaign designed to educate and empower the American people to prepare for, respond to and mitigate emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters.

Seismic Design Map

Author(s)
Structural Engineers Association of California,
California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development
Organization(s)
SEAOC,
OSHPD
Publication Date
Web-based tool that uses the USGS web services to retrieve seismic design data and presents it in a report format.

Small Wind Electric Systems

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
A website discussing the use of consumer-grade small electric wind systems such as turbines to lower energy costs.

2020 NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures, Volume I: Part 1 Provisions, Part 2 Commentary, FEMA P-2082-1

Author(s)
Building Seismic Safety Council,
National Institute of Building Sciences,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
Organization(s)
BSSC,
NIBS,
FEMA,
NEHRP
Publication Date
Document presenting the minimum recommended requirements necessary for the design and construction of new buildings and other structures to resist earthquake ground motions throughout the United States.

Are You Ready? An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness, FEMA P-2064

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Report explaining how to develop, practice, and maintain emergency plans that reflect what must be done before, during, and after a disaster to protect people and their property.

Prepare Your Home Ahead of Severe Thunderstorms

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Website providing guidance on how to reduce the risk of damage to a home from hail.

FORTIFIED Home Inside FORTIFIED

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Website providing resources for roofers to construct high-wind, hurricane, and hail-resistant roofs from IBHS Fortified program.

2020 NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures, Volume II: Part 3 Resource Papers, FEMA P-2082-2

Author(s)
Building Seismic Safety Council,
National Institute of Building Sciences,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
Organization(s)
BSSC,
NIBS,
FEMA,
NEHRP
Publication Date
Document containing a series of resource papers that describe earthquake design components, including shear walls, resiliency, ground motion, and story drift and deflection, among others.

Safe Room Funding

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
FEMA information on safe room funding to regional governments.

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.

Natural Hazards

Author(s)
U.S. Geological Survey
Organization(s)
USGS
Publication Date
Website containing USGS-related publications related to natural hazards.

FORTIFIED Home a Program of IBHS

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Website describing the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)'s Fortified Home program which offers home builders standards and guidance for constructing and renovating homes for increased disaster resistance.

The Importance of Windows in Hot Climates

Author(s)
Ueno Kohta
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor,
GBA
Publication Date
Article from Green Building Advisor on the importance of window selection in hot climates, with an emphasis on window glazing.

Preparing Homes for Wildfire

Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Website describing methods for homeowners to prepare their homes to withstand ember attacks and minimize the likelihood of flames or surface fire touching the home or any attachments.

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.

FLASH website

Author(s)
Federal Alliance For Safe Homes
Organization(s)
FLASH
Publication Date
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."

How to Design a Home for a Cold Climate

Author(s)
Diez Roy
Organization(s)
New Home Source
Publication Date
Article summarizing for potential homeowners items to check or demand from the builder in designing a home for a cold climate.

Indoor AirPlus

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
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.

Land Use Tool: Wildland-Urban Interface Code (WUI Code)

Author(s)
Planning for Hazards: Land Use Solutions for Colorado
Organization(s)
Planning for Hazards: Land Use Solutions for Colorado
Publication Date
Website describing the wildland-urban interface code and providing links to resources.

National Hazard Mitigation Association

Author(s)
Natural Disasters Association,
National Hazard Mitigation Association
Organization(s)
NDA,
NHMA
Publication Date
Website providing information on tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms and more.

Ready.gov: Build A Kit

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Organization(s)
USDHS
Publication Date
A fact sheet providing tips on how to assemble a kit of food, water and other disaster supplies in the event of an emergency.

Resilient Communities Need Resilient Buildings

Author(s)
U.S. Resiliency Council
Organization(s)
USRC
Publication Date
Website describing the USRC, which "brings an unparalleled level of capability to the mission of improving community resilience in the built environment."

U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit Case Studies

Author(s)
U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit
Organization(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
NOAA
Publication Date
Website providing guidance for people to find and use tools, information, and subject matter expertise to build climate resilience.

FEMA Flood Insurance

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Website describing the national flood insurance program and how to purchase flood insurance.

Standard for Wildfire Control, NFPA 295

Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Website containing links to key wildfire codes and standards.

Interior Spray Foam, BSI-116

Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Article outlining the use of spray polyurethane foam in residential buildings.

Resilient Housing

Author(s)
Green Builder Media
Organization(s)
Green Builder Media
Publication Date
Website providing resilient housing articles that relate to codes, including webinars, training, and guest articles.

The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) Roofing Manual - 2020 Set

Author(s)
National Roofing Contractors Association
Organization(s)
NRCA
Publication Date
Manuals describing design, materials, and installation techniques applicable to almost all types of roof systems; four-volume set includes Metal Panel and SPF Roof Systems, Membrane Roof Systems, Architectural Metal Flashing and Condensation and Air Leakage Control, and Steep-Slope Roof Systems.

Earthquake Retrofit Your Home

Author(s)
City of San Jose,
State of California,
Planning Building and Code Enforcement
Organization(s)
City of San Jose,
State of California,
Planning Building and Code Enforcement
Publication Date
Factsheet describing ways to retrofit a home to make it more earthquake resistant.