Library | Building America Solution Center

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2009 International Plumbing Code - IPC

2018

International Code Council

ICC

2009 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

2010 Wind Retrofit Guide for Residential Buildings, FEMA P-804

2019

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Fact sheet providing an overview of the FEMA document Wind Retrofit Guide for Residential Buildings.

2012 International Plumbing Code - IPC

2018

International Code Council

ICC

2012 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

2015 Fortified Home High Wind Technical Summary

2015

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

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.

2015 I-Codes: Summary of Changes to Flood Provisions

2015

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Fact sheet summarizing the changes to the flood provisions in the 2012 I-Codes that appear in the 2015 edition.

2015 International Plumbing Code - IPC

2021

International Code Council

ICC

2015 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

2015 Uniform Plumbing Code - UPC

2015

International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials

IAPMO

Code set from IAPMO explaining plumbing standards. 2015 publication.

2017 Florida Building Code – Building, Sixth Edition

2017

International Code Council,

Florida Building Commission

ICC,

FBC

Florida building code including all the amendments and additions by Florida for the wind-borne debris regions and the high-velocity hurricane zone.

2018 International Plumbing Code - IPC

2021

International Code Council

ICC

2018 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

2018 Uniform Plumbing Code - UPC

2018

International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials

IAPMO

Code set from IAPMO explaining plumbing standards. 2018 publication.

2019 Fortified Home New Construction Hurricane Technical Summary

2019

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

Report summarizing the requirements for strenghtening and protecting the roof, openings in the house, and creating a continuous load path to strengthen walls and foundation per the IBHS Fortified Homes Hurricane Standard for New Homes.

2020 Fortified Home Standard Detail Set High Wind

2015

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

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.

2020 Fortified Home Standard Detail Set Hurricane

2020

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

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.

5 Ways to Protect Your Home From Wildfires

2017

McGuigan Connor

Sierra Club

Article from the Sierra Club explaining 5 steps to take to ensure your home's resistance to wildfires, including site maintenance and roof construction guidelines.

A Crash Course in Roof Venting, PA-1101

2011

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article describing methods for venting a vented attic and a roof assembly over an unvented attic.

A Practical Guide to Cool Roofs and Cool Pavements

2012

Global Cool Cities Alliance,

R20 Regions of Climate Action

GCCA,

R20

Guide developed to help contractors, building operators, and city officials successfully adopt cool roof and pavement technology.

About Attic Ventilation

2022

ENERGY STAR

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

EPA,

ENERGY STAR

Energy Star web page providing guidance on attic ventilation.

Acceptance Criteria for Waterproof Membranes for Flooring and Shower Lining, AC115

2016

International Code Council

ICC

Acceptance criteria providing guidelines for demonstrating compliance with codes referenced in the criteria related to barriers to water migration in thin-set installations of ceramic tile and stone flooring and shower sub-pan linings.

Air Infiltration in Coastal Regions - The Paston Effect

2014

Bailey Ronald B,

Swanson Hollace J

BEC

Case study about high humidity, mold and condensation on surfaces in S. Florida, and how building characteristics cause and amplify these problems.

Alaska Residential Building Manual, 7th Edition

2008

Deer Charlie,

et al.

University of Alaska,

Alaska Housing Finance Corporation

Manual describing best practices or home construction in Alaska and northern climates.

Alliance for Water Efficiency

2020

Alliance for Water Efficiency

AWE

Alliance for Water Efficiency website homepage.

APA Building for High Wind Resistance in Light-Frame Wood Construction

2019

APA - The Engineered Wood Association

American Plywood Association,

APA

A publication highlighting recommendations that contribute to improved overall performance in the structural shell and focus on good connection details to tie together exterior walls, roofs and floors.

ASCE Ground Snow Loads

2017

Wilkerson

Medeek Design

Webpage providing mapping tool for obtaining ground snow load, based on ASCE 7-10, for any location in the contiguous United States, with the exception of locations requiring a case study due to extreme local variations in ground snow loads. Fee required for some data.

Asphalt Shingle Roofing for High-Wind Regions, FEMA Technical Fact Sheet No. 7.3

2010

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Technical fact sheet describing ways to construct asphalt shingle roofs to be more resistant to high winds and hurricanes; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”

Avoiding Moisture Problems

2003

Van der Meer Bill

National Association for State Community Services Programs,

NASCSP,

Weatherization Training Center at Penn College,

Pennsylvania College of Technology,

PCT

Technical article describing issues and moisture concerns related to weatherization efforts.

AY-126 Thermal and Ignition Barriers For The SPF Industry

2011

Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance

SPFA

SPFA website signup page to access SPFA documents.

Backerboards - Winners against Water

2010

Yost Peter

Green Building Advisor,

GBA

Article describing different kinds of water-resistant backer boards.

Basement Insulation Technology Fact Sheet

2002

Southface Energy Institute

SEI,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Fact sheet describing basement insulation considerations.

Basement Insulation, Info 511

2009

Building Science Corporation

BSC

Information sheet describing techniques for insulating basements.

Benefits of Seismic Upgrades: Is Earthquake Retrofitting Worth It in CA?

2020

California Earthquake Authority

CEA

Article from California Earthquake Authority on the benefits of retrofitting homes to withstand earthquake forces, with a focus on foundations, walls, and chimneys.

Boiler Inspections for Safety, Life and Efficiency

2008

Kleva Stephen

Contractor Magazine

Article explaining the importance of regular inspections of boiler systems in maintaining their safety, lifespan, and efficiency.

Build A Better Home: Moisture-Resistant Roof Construction

2017

APA - The Engineered Wood Association

American Plywood Association,

APA

Report providing water management details for roof assemblies.

Builder's Guide to Hot-Humid Climates

2005

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

The Builder's Guide provides the building industry with the latest and best practical information on how to apply building science principles to structures as systems in hot-humid climate regions.

Builder's Guide to Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

2009

Lukachko Alex

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Presentation describing details for installing structural insulated panels (SIPs).

Building America Special Research Project - High-R Roofs Case Study Analysis, BA-1006

2010

Straube John,

Grin Aaron

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Report comparing a variety of roof insulating strategies to present their advantages and disadvantages according to several comparison criteria.

Building in Extreme Cold, BSI-031

2010

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article describing the control layers (air, thermal, and vapor barriers) needed to build homes successfully in very cold locations.

Building Performance: Hurricane Andrew In Florida - Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance, FIA 22

1992

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Document containing recommendations on how to brace roofs and gable end walls based on lessons learned from analyzing the destruction from hurricane Andrew.

Building Science Introduction

2011

ENERGY STAR

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

EPA,

ENERGY STAR

Document outlining building science principles about air flow, heat flow and moisture flow in homes.

Built to Last, Understanding Thermal Movement in Residential Metal Roof Systems is Key to Long-term Performance

2016

Nick Sabino

National Roofing Contractors Association,

NRCA

An article discussing how different metal roof materials and attachment methods affect the ability of the roof to thermally expand and contract and the durability of different solutions.

Bulk Water Control Methods for Foundations, BA-1015

2011

Lstiburek Joseph W,

Ueno Kohta

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Report about the fundamental concepts that must be understood at the planning or initial nspection of existing homes regarding surface and ground water management.

Capillarity - Small Sacrifices, BSI-011

2014

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article describing correct ways to eliminate water damage by incorporating a sacrificial layer to foundation walls and footings.

Capillarity Sucks, BSI-123

2021

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article describing the principle of capillarity in construction materials.

Chimney Failure Most Common Damage In An Earthquake

2014

Tucker Jill

SFGate

News article from SFGate explaining and giving figures on how chimney failure is the most common type of damage to homes during an earthquake.

Coastal Construction Manual - Principles and Practices of Planning, Siting, Designing, Constructing, and Maintaining Residential Buildings in Coastal Areas, Fourth edition, Volume I, FEMA P-55

2011

Coulbourne William,

et al.

Federal Emergency Management Agency,

FEMA,

Applied Technology Council,

ATC,

URS Group,

DK Low and Associates,

Atkins,

TLSmith Consulting

Volume 1 of a two-volume report providing a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, and risk management for homes constructed in coastal environments.

Coastal Construction Manual - Principles and Practices of Planning, Siting, Designing, Constructing, and Maintaining Residential Buildings in Coastal Areas, Fourth Edition, Volume II, FEMA P-55

2011

Coulbourne William,

et al.

Federal Emergency Management Agency,

FEMA,

Applied Technology Council,

ATC,

URS Group,

DK Low and Associates,

Atkins,

TLSmith Consulting

Volume II of a two-volume report providing a comprehensive approach to design, construction, and renovation of homes located in coastal environments.

Comparative Evaluation of the Impact of Roofing Systems on Residential Cooling Energy Demand in Florida

2002

Parker Danny S,

Sonne Jeffrey K,

Sherwin John S

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Study investigating measured cooling energy performance in side-by-side identical homes with varying roof types, including cool roof technologies.

Concrete and Clay Roof Tile - Design Criteria Installation Manual for Cold and Snow Regions

2015

Gillan Leland E,

Anderson Terry

Tile Roofing Institute,

TRI,

Western States Roofing Contractors Association,

WSRCA

Manual assisting architects, engineers, owners and roofing contractors for designing, specifying and installing roof tiles in areas of snow and ice.

Concrete and Clay Roof Tile - Design Criteria Installation Manual for Moderate Climate Regions

2010

Tile Roofing Institute

TRI

Installation manual describing proper installation practices, industry standards and the code requirements of roofing tiles.

Concrete and Clay Tile - Installation Manual

2015

Tile Roofing Institute,

Western States Roofing Contractors Association

TRI,

WSRCA

Installation manual outlining proper installation practices, industry standards and the code requirements of roofing tiles.

Concrete Floor Problems, BSI-003

2008

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Information guide describing issues with concrete floors, in multiple climate zones.