Library

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.

Document focusing on the design and wall components that contribute to a pressure equalized rain screen wall, including the frequency of the weep holes and other brick masonry rain screen wall requirements.

Web based tool providing decision-making guidance for selecting wall assembly components.

Installation manual for installing metal panel siding.

An article illustrating common errors found in fiber cement siding installations. Many of these errors and poor flashing examples apply to siding materials beyond fiber cement siding.

Article about how mortar droppings during the installation of a brick veneer can clog the weep holes in the wall assembly causing moisture damage. The article also illustrates products that can be installed in the ventilated cavity to mitigate this problem.

A fact sheet providing information on termite species and how to prevent them from entering into your home.

Report covering the rainwater performance of building assemblies.

This publication provides a set of best practices for improving indoor air quality in conjunction with energy upgrade work in homes.

An example of a commercially available thermally expansive fire stopping product for controlling the spread of fires in a rainscreen cavity.

Article describing a 9-step process to getting rid of rats and mice, and some preventative actions to take.

Report covering the fire performance of combustible cladding over combustible insulation.

A article about the best practice method of installing fiber cement siding, to install flashing at the butt joints of the siding boards, rather than face caulking the butt joints afterwards.

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.

Guide detailing best practices on how to build wall assemblies with absorptive claddings such as brick, stone that drain and dry well.

A factsheet providing information on how to prevent pests from entering the home by sealing cracks and openings.

Report covering reservoir claddings, back ventilation and vapor throttles.

Article explaining how to use integrated pest management to choose methods of pest control that are safe and effective.

Article providing guidance for installing manufactured stone veneer, including information on rainscreens.

Webpage featuring hundreds of illustrations of masonry construction details for brick, congrete, stone, tile, stucco, etc.

Website providing information on tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms and more.

NWCOA website homepage.

Website of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

A study on how fires spread through exterior building envelopes with discussion on how fires propagate in a rain screen cavity.

Report providing detailed steps for builders, architects, and property managers to take for integrated pest management for control of a variety of pests including insects, rodents, and birds.

An example of a form a building codes department created to ensure builders are fully aware and have taken steps to provide drainage so that water doesn’t accumulate behind siding. This example is from the city of Newberg, Oregon.

Website providing information about how to keep the properties rat-free and address conditions that can lead to rats.

Technical report describing the Re-Side Right initiative by the New Jersey Institute of Technology's Building America research team that proposes enhancing home efficiency during the re-siding process by incorporating an insulating layer that acts as both an air barrier and water resistive barrier...

Guide describing ways builders can block off entry points and otherwise make homes inhospitable to all manner of pests.

Report describing the testing of various siding materials for their ability to resist bullets from small firearms.

Manual describing methods for rodent-proofing buildings.

Website providing information about how to prevent rodent entry in homes.

Website providing the pros and cons of different siding materials for home building, including wood, vinyl, fiber cement, stucco, brick, metal, and stone.

Manual describing the installation process for Craneboard insulated vinyl siding; while installation is similar across insulated vinyl siding products, see manufacturers for specific guidance.

Specification describing criteria for manufactured polymeric materials used to provide a rainscreen function, a means for the drainage of liquid moisture and the ventilation of vapor moisture that enters an above-grade exterior wall assembly which was published in the year 2019, and is available for...

Website providing information on all types of pest management for multi-family housing.

Webpage providing information how to deal with rodents by knowing what they look like, where they live, and what they do.

A report describing methods for constructing homes and treating soils to reduce the risk of termites in buildings.

A story about bees building a hive in the drainage plane behind the brick veneer siding. The bees entered the wall through unprotected drainage holes.

Image depicting damage from termites in weatherboard cladding.

Article describing identification of termite infestations in homes and treatment options.

An introduction to the insect termites.

Document with information on preventing termites when using ICFs.

Projectile missile testing of various wall panel configuration to understand how the different wall constructions would perform when struck with wind driven debris from a hurricane.

A presentation about the need for rainscreens including the damage water and moisture ingress into a home’s siding and framing can cause, and ways to design a resilient wall that drains and ventilates well.

A website providing information on sealing the home against rodents and how to trap rodents once they have made their way into the home.

An article written by Don Jackson of The Journal of Light Construction on how to detail brick veneer siding wall.

Web-based manual providing guidance for removal and preventing entry of nuisance wildlife.

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.