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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 51 - 100 of 146

Author(s)
FIRESafe Marin
Organization(s)
FIRESafe Marin
Publication Date
Description
Webpage from FireSafe Marin explaining the vulnerability of different deck setups and materials.
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety,
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
IBHS,
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing research conducted by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety into how burning embers can ignite softwood decks like redwood and cedar and how to minimize the likelihood these decks will be ignited by embers.
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
A webpage containing information provides links to state- and province- based coalitions dedicated to advocating for home fire sprinklers.
Author(s)
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection,
Lake County Fire Safe Council
Organization(s)
Cal Fire
Publication Date
Description
Article from CAL FIRE on fire-resistant landscaping to mitigate ignition of homes.
Author(s)
Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team
Organization(s)
TFFT
Publication Date
Description
Five step plan from the Tahoe Fire & Fuels team outlining how to create an effective defensible space for wildfire protection. Recommendations include siting for homes on slopes.
Author(s)
City of Gresham,
State of Oregon
Organization(s)
City of Gresham,
State of Oregon
Publication Date
Description
A guideline containing fire sprinkler insulation requirements from the Prescott, Arizona Fire Department.
Author(s)
Pacific Gas & Electric
Organization(s)
PG&E
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing the safety hazards associated with natural gas and tips on how to avoid these hazards by a step process of turning off natural gas service to a home and restoring service afterwards.
Author(s)
Town of Danville CA
Organization(s)
Town of Danville CA
Publication Date
Description
Brochure for natural gas utility customers describing seismic valves and excess flow valves for homes.
Author(s)
Pacific Gas & Electric
Organization(s)
PG&E
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing when and how to safely turn off the natural gas to the home during an emergency.
Author(s)
Commins Tav
Organization(s)
State of California Division of the State Architect
Publication Date
Description
Webpage with certification requirements for excess flow and earthquake valves from California's Division of the State Architect (DSA).
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report covering the fire performance of combustible cladding over combustible insulation.
Author(s)
Gabriele Rob
Organization(s)
SafeHome.org
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing how to guard homes and properties against wildfire, as well as what to do during a wildfire, whether sheltering in place or attempting evacuation.
Author(s)
U.S. Geological Survey
Organization(s)
USGS
Publication Date
Description
Webpage providing maps and information to assess the particular hazards and risks for an area.
Author(s)
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration,
U.S. Department of Transportation
Organization(s)
PHMSA,
DOT
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing federal regulation related to excess flow valves on residential natural gas lines.
Author(s)
Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition
Organization(s)
HFSC
Publication Date
Description
Website containing educational and marketing resources for residential fire sprinklers.
Author(s)
Newport Partners,
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
Report assessing the costs of home fire sprinkler systems.
Author(s)
Quarles Stephen L,
Valachovic Yana,
Nakamura Gary M,
Nader Glenn A,
DeLasaux Michael J
Organization(s)
University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Publication Date
Description
A guide that summarizes building materials and design considerations for increasing wildfire-resistivity of homes in areas that are prone to wildfires.
Author(s)
University of California
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.
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
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.
Author(s)
Colorado Springs Fire Department
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.
Author(s)
FireSafe Montana
Organization(s)
FireSafe Montana
Publication Date
Description
Ignition resistant residential construction and landscaping guidelines from FireSafe Montana.
Author(s)
Pipeline & Gas Journal
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.
Author(s)
Southern California Gas Company
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.
Author(s)
Planning for Hazards: Land Use Solutions for Colorado
Organization(s)
Planning for Hazards: Land Use Solutions for Colorado
Publication Date
Description
Website describing the wildland-urban interface code and providing links to resources.
Author(s)
FireSafe Montana
Organization(s)
FireSafe Montana
Publication Date
Description
Guide for homeowners describing actions they can take to modify their home and the surrounding site to create a survivable space to reduce the amount of damage a home would likely experience during a wildfire.
Author(s)
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Organization(s)
Cal Fire
Publication Date
Description
A webpage outlining CAL FIRE’s recommendations for creating defensible space.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report providing a resource that communities can use to identify and evaluate a range of potential mitigation actions for reducing risk to natural hazards and disasters.
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
National Fire Protection Association website.
Author(s)
Schneider Philip J,
Santos Janet,
Rashed Tarek,
Mickey Kathelene,
Isteita Maher,
Huyck Charles,
Ghosh Simi,
Eguchi Ronald,
Dash Nicole,
Scawthorn Charles,
Porter Keith
Organization(s)
Natural Institute of Building Science,
NIBS
Publication Date
Description
Report updating and expanding on a 2005 study that found, among other things, that every $1 of natural hazard mitigation funded by FEMA between 1993 and 2003 saved the American people an average of $4 in avoided future losses.
Author(s)
Gromala David S,
Kapur Omar,
Kochkin Vladimir,
Line Philip,
Passman Samantha,
Reeder Adam,
Trusty Wayne
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report describing the interactions, both positive and negative, between common green building practices and the robustness of residential buildings to withstand natural hazards.
Author(s)
National Research Council Canada
Organization(s)
NRCC
Publication Date
Description
Report for local governments, planners, emergency managers, developers, insurers, and property owners describing ways to improve the wildfire resistance of buildings, infrastructure and communities in the wildland urban interface.
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
An NFPA Standard that identifies a method for determining the minimum water supply necessary for structural fire-fighting purposes in areas where it has been determined that there is no water or inadequate water for fire fighting.
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
An NFPA standards document that provides minimum requirements for the design, construction, installation, and maintenance of tanks and accessory equipment that supply water for private fire protection.
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
An NFPA standard for inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire sprinklers, including fire pump operation and flow tests, evaluation techniques such as sprinkler inspections, valve status tests, internal piping assessments, and forward flow tests for backflow preventers, and water storage system...
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
This standard provides a benchmark for safe electrical design, installation, and inspection to protect people and property from electrical hazards and has been adopted in all 50 states.
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
Standard establishing criteria for levels of health care services or systems based on risk to the patients, staff, or visitors in health care facilities to minimize the hazards of fire, explosion, and electricity.
Author(s)
U.S. Fire Administration
Organization(s)
U.S. Fire Administration
Publication Date
Description
A webpage that provides wildfire preparedness and safety pictographs.
Author(s)
Jarnskjold Tobias,
Jensen Geir,
Knudsen Atle
Organization(s)
Edition Diffusion Presse Sciences,
EDP Sciences
Publication Date
Description
A study on how fires spread through exterior building envelopes with discussion on how fires propagate in a rain screen cavity.
Author(s)
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Organization(s)
State of California,
Cal Fire
Publication Date
Description
Webpage offering recommendations to homeowners and contractors for retrofitting a home to make it more resistant to wildfires.