Library | Building America Solution Center

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 - 21 of 21

2015 IBC - International Building Code

Author(s)

International Code Council

Organization(s)

ICC

Publication Date

October, 2015

2015 edition of code for commercial buildings that brings together all structural, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy and electrical provisions for all buildings except detached one- and two-family residences and townhouses up to three stories.

Coastal Community Resilience Indicators and Rating Systems

Author(s)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Organization(s)

NOAA

Publication Date

January, 2015

Report providing tools and resources to help community planners to improve coastal resilience.

Construction of Low-Rise Buildings in Cyclone Prone Areas and Modification of Cyclone

Author(s)

Keote Shreyas Ashok,

Kumar Dhanendra,

Singh Rishabh

Organization(s)

Journal of Energy and Power Sources,

Indian Institute of Technology BHU Varanasi,

IIT BHU

Publication Date

July, 2015

Article describing construction best practices to help reduce the wind-induced pressure loads on a low-rise building during a hurricane.

Developing Pre-Disaster Resilience Based on Public and Private Incentivization

Author(s)

Multihazard Mitigation Council and Council on Finance,

Insurance and Real Estate

Organization(s)

NIBS

Publication Date

October, 2015

Report providing information on ways to incentivize funding of hazard mitigation programs.

Don’t Try Building Hugel Swales

Author(s)

Jack Spirko

Organization(s)

Permaculture Research Institute

Publication Date

November, 2015

Article describing the difference between swales and hugels (berms used to create soil from woody debris).

Durability by Design: 2nd Edition: A Professional's Guide to Durable Home Design

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Organization(s)

HUD

Publication Date

October, 2015

Designer checklist covering hazards involving ground and surface water, rain and water vapor, HVAC and plumbing, sunlight, insects, decay, and natural hazards, and builder checklist covering all disaster resistance, sorted by building component.

Effect on Wind Pressures by Variation of Roof Pitch of Low-Rise Hip-Roof Building

Author(s)

Irtaza,

Javed,

Jameel

Organization(s)

Asian Journal of Civil Engineering

Publication Date

May, 2015

Article presenting a numerical study of wind pressure on the low-rise hip-roof building by varying the roof pitch using computational fluid dynamics computer modeling and wind tunnel testing of hip roofs with different roof pitches: 15°, 20°, 30° and 40°.

Enhancing Community Resilience through Energy Efficiency, ACEEE-U1508

Author(s)

Ribeiro David,

Mackres Eric,

Baatz Brendon,

Cluett Rachel,

Jarrett Michael,

Kelly Meegan,

Vaidyanathan Shruti

Organization(s)

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,

ACEEE

Publication Date

October, 2015

Report describing the research gap in the connection between resilience and energy efficiency.

Florida Building Code, 5th Edition (2014) Fenestration Mitigation Advanced Class

Author(s)

Heise

Organization(s)

Florida AIA

Publication Date

September, 2015

Presentation explaining the fenestration elements of the Florida Building Code.

FORTIFIED Animation: Hurricane - Continuous Load Path

Author(s)

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety

Organization(s)

IBHS

Publication Date

January, 2015

Animated video demonstrating the continuous load path of a hurricane on a house.

Fortified Home High Wind Standard

Author(s)

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety

Organization(s)

IBHS

Publication Date

January, 2015

Guide describing the requirements by FORTIFIED Home™ for improving the home's resistance in severe thunderstorms, straight-line wind events, and high winds at the outer edges of tornadoes.

Fortified Home High Wind Technical Requirements Summary New Construction

Author(s)

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety

Organization(s)

IBHS

Publication Date

January, 2015

Report summarizing the requirements to strenghthen new homes against property damage caused by high wind occurrences per the IBHS Fortified Homes High Wind Standard for New Homes.

Fortified Home New Roof Requirements Overview: High Wind

Author(s)

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety

Organization(s)

IBHS

Publication Date

January, 2015

Checklist providing good and bad methods of fortifying the roof, especially in high wind situations.

Fortified Technical Bulletin: Garage Doors

Author(s)

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety

Organization(s)

IBHS

Publication Date

September, 2015

Factsheet describing garage door pressure rating requirements in high wind– prone areas.

Guide to Wood Frame Construction in High Wind Areas for One- and Two-Family Dwellings - 140 MPH Exposure B Wind Zone, Based on the 2015 WFCM

Author(s)

American Wood Council

Organization(s)

AWC

Publication Date

November, 2015

Report providing design guidance for wood-framed residential construction in high wind areas where design wind velocity requirements do not exceed 140 miles per hour.

HUD Federal Disaster Policy: Toward a More Resilient Future (Evidence Matters Report, Winter 2015)

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Organization(s)

HUD

Publication Date

January, 2015

Newsletter reviewing federal disaster policy, the research basis for resilience, and three models of building resilient communities.

Opening and Compartmentalization Effects of Internal Pressure in Low-Rise Buildings with Gable and Hip Roofs

Author(s)

Tecle Amanuel S,

Bitsuamlak Girma T,

Chowdhury Arindam Gan

Organization(s)

Journal of Architectural Engineering,

American Society of Civil Engineers,

ASCE

Publication Date

March, 2015

Study examining how design features, such as building envelope openings and compartmentalization, affect the wind pressure in typical low-rise buildings with gable and hip roofs.

Ready to Respond: Strategies for Multifamily Building Resilience

Author(s)

Enterprise Green Communities

Organization(s)

Enterprise Green Communities

Publication Date

January, 2015

Report providing strategies to support occupant behavior changes for enhancing resilience, and to reduce a building's vulnerability to extreme weather, climate change, and loss of power.

Residential Safe Rooms

Author(s)

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Organization(s)

FEMA

Publication Date

February, 2015

A fact sheet educating homeowners on the importance of residential safe rooms, including their cost and how to register a safe room with local officials.

Small Wind Site Assessment Guidelines

Author(s)

Olsen,

Preus

Organization(s)

NREL

Publication Date

September, 2015

NREL technical report providing guidance on site selection for installation of small wind turbines.

Strategies to encourage state and local adoption of disaster-resistant codes and standards to improve resiliency, ATC-117

Author(s)

Applied Technology Council

Organization(s)

ATC,

Federal Emergency Management Agency,

FEMA

Publication Date

March, 2015

Report recommending strategies and approaches that the Federal government and other stakeholders may take to encourage and aid States and local communities in the adoption of the most current building codes.