Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet summarizing the changes to the flood provisions in the 2012 I-Codes that appear in the 2015 edition.
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 - 50 of 165
Organization(s)
ICC,
FBC
Publication Date
Description
Florida building code including all the amendments and additions by Florida for the wind-borne debris regions and the high-velocity hurricane zone.
Organization(s)
Sierra Club
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Energy Star web page providing guidance on attic ventilation.
Organization(s)
ASC
Publication Date
Description
Article discussing air and moisture leakage solutions and warranties.
Organization(s)
APA
Publication Date
Description
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.
Application of Spray Foam Insulation Under Plywood and Oriented Strand Board Roof Sheathing, BA-1312
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report covering moisture and leakage issues associated with spray foam insulation application to the underside of roof sheathing.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
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.”
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report about a project that examines implementation of advanced retrofit measures in the context of a large-scale weatherization program and the archetypal Chicago, Illinois, brick bungalow.
Organization(s)
University of Alaska
Publication Date
Description
Document describing approaches to energy efficiency and moisture considerations for roofs in northern climates.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing how to prepare for hurricane season and mitigate damage from floods and high winds.
Organization(s)
The Weatherization Training Center at Penn College
Publication Date
Description
Technical article describing issues and moisture concerns related to weatherization efforts.
Organization(s)
Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance
Publication Date
Description
SPFA website signup page to access SPFA documents.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
A recovery advisory guide presenting important recommendations to reduce wind and water infiltration damage to new and existing residential buildings.
Organization(s)
Hammer & Hand
Publication Date
Description
This Best Practices Manual is the product of Hammer & Hand’s ongoing work to document and internally codify our standard operating procedures for construction practice.
Organization(s)
APA
Publication Date
Description
Report providing water management details for roof assemblies.
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
A guidebook helping builders design and construct homes that are among the most energy efficient available, while addressing issues such as building durability, indoor air quality, and occupant health, safety, and comfort. Measures described in this guide can help builders in the hot-humid climate...
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Report providing builders in the hot-dry and mixed-dry climates with guidance for building homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report comparing a variety of roof insulating strategies to present their advantages and disadvantages according to several comparison criteria.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Document containing recommendations on how to brace roofs and gable end walls based on lessons learned from analyzing the destruction from hurricane Andrew.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet with details on a building enclosure designed for Albuquerque, NM, as an example for building enclosures built for hot-dry and mixed-dry climates.
Organization(s)
National Roofing Contractors Association
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
SFGate
Publication Date
Description
News article from SFGate explaining and giving figures on how chimney failure is the most common type of damage to homes during an earthquake.
Organization(s)
Tile Roofing Institute
Publication Date
Description
Manual assisting architects, engineers, owners and roofing contractors for designing, specifying and installing roof tiles in areas of snow and ice.
Organization(s)
Tile Roofing Institute
Publication Date
Description
Installation manual describing proper installation practices, industry standards and the code requirements of roofing tiles.
Organization(s)
Tile Roofing Institute,
Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA)
Publication Date
Description
Installation manual outlining proper installation practices, industry standards and the code requirements of roofing tiles.
Organization(s)
Zero Energy Project
Publication Date
Description
Guidance from Zero Energy Project on construction techniques for warmer climates, such as home orientation, and insulation requirements.
Organization(s)
NorthernSTAR,
University of Minnesota,
NSTAR
Publication Date
Description
Report exploring alternative methods to find long-term solutions to energy loss in 1 ½-story homes to save energy, improve comfort, prevent frost buildup on the underside of the roof deck, and reduce the risk of ice dam formation/reformation.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article describing strategies for reducing the risk of ice dam formation on roofs in winter.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Description
Article describing the importance of air sealing, insulation, and roof ventilation in reducing the likelihood of ice dam formation on roofs in cold snowy climates.
Organization(s)
University of Minnesota
Publication Date
Description
Webpage explaining what causes the formation of ice dams on roofs and steps to take to prevent them.
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
Article from Green Building Advisor on strategies to take when building homes to reduce the need for air conditioning, including insulation, windows, site selection, and roofing.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
A guide on the use of rain barrels for greater water efficiency and use in gardens and lawns.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
A research paper exploring the installation and mounting of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops and the challenges faced by system designers and installers.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
A PDF containing the SERC Solar PV System Field-Inspection Checklist.
Organization(s)
International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering
Publication Date
Description
Computer simulations comparing International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering wind pressure differences between a gable-ended roof versus a hip roof versus a pyramidal-shaped roof.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing ways to install sheathing over existing 1x roof decking.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report presenting information that aids qualified architects and engineers in the identification of the best available refuge areas in existing buildings for sheltering in place during a tornado.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report containing 37 fact sheets that provide technical guidance and recommendations concerning the construction of coastal residential buildings.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report providing a collection of fact sheets describing guidance for constructing homes in wildfire zones.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report providing guidance on how to improve the wind resistance of existing residential buildings in Mississippi and across the Gulf Coast.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report informing building stakeholders about the risks a snow event poses to their buildings, preventative measures to take before the snow season, and actions that should be taken before, during, and after a snow event.
Organization(s)
Advanced Residential Integrated Energy Solutions Collaborative,
ARIES
Publication Date
Description
Report of a field evaluation of four novel roof designs to see how each design would reduce space-conditioned energy use so that the knowledge gained could be applied to the design of new manufactured homes.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Journal article reporting on field experience of unvented cathedralized (UC) attics in several environments in the United States.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Description
Report describing research about a test implementation of an unvented tile roof assembly in a hot-humid climate.
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing flashing of roof penetrations to make a home more resistant to high winds, hurricanes, and rainwater intrusion.
Organization(s)
Tile Roofing Institute
Publication Date
Description
Manual for proper installation practices, industry standards and the code requirements of roofing tiles for the Florida market.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Guide describing how and where to install flashings in order to weatherproof a roof.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Guide describing the requirements by FORTIFIED Home™ for improving the home's resistance to high wind and hail.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
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.