Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 1 - 50 of 56 results:

2008 Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters, ICC NSAA 500

2012

International Code Council,

National Storm Shelter Association

ICC,

NSSA

Guide providing minimum design and construction requirements for storm shelters that provide a safe refuge from storms that produce high winds, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

2015 International Building Code - IBC a Compilation of Wind Resistant Provisions

2021

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Report summarizing the wind-resistant provisions of the 2015 edition of the International Building Code.

A Bridge Too Far, BSI-005

2008

Lstiburek Joseph

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article describing thermal bridging, construction practices that encourage thermal bridging, and solutions.

About Attic Ventilation

2022

ENERGY STAR

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

EPA,

ENERGY STAR

Energy Star web page providing guidance on attic ventilation.

AIA Disaster Assistance Handbook, Third Edition

2017

American Institute of Architects

AIA

Report describing the experience gained from AIA’s Disaster Assistance Program with first-hand accounts of disaster response and recovery, case studies and other best practices, including approaches to designing buildings to be more adaptable to uncertainty.

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.

ASHRAE -Thermal Performance of Building Envelope Details for Mid- and High-Rise Buildings (1365-RP)

2011

Hershfield Morrison

ASHRAE,

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers

Technical report describing the thermal performance of 40 common building envelope details for mid- and high-rise buildings, including analyses to optimize energy efficiency and reduce thermal bridging.

Assessing the Impact of Thickness of the Performance of Stucco Cladding

2004

Brown William C,

Dietrich Mike,

Latimer Mark

American Society of Heating,

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE

A report that evaluates the force it takes to crack stucco of various thicknesses.

Avoiding Wet Roofs - Part I

2018

Yost Peter

Journal of Light Construction,

JLC

Article describing the building science implications of insulating vented or unvented attics.

Avoiding Wet Roofs - Part II

2018

Yost Peter

Journal of Light Construction,

JLC

Article describing the research into insulating vented versus unvented attics.

Building Envelope Thermal Bridging Guide

2021

Hershfield Morrison

B.C. Hydro

Guide describing methodologies for assessing and mitigating thermal bridging in building envelopes, featuring detailed performance data, interface solutions, and assembly-specific strategies for energy-efficient construction.

Concrete Homes

2012

Portland Cement Association

PCA

Information sheet discussing the properties and benefits of insulating concrete forms.

Cool Hand Luke Meets Attics, BSI-077

2015

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article describing the difference between conditioned or unvented attics and unconditioned or vented attics.

Design Guide For Improving Hospital Safety In Earthquakes Floods and High Winds: Providing Protection To People And Buildings, FEMA 577

2007

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

FEMA risk management series guide on hospital safety and resilience to natural disasters.

Developing Pre-Disaster Resilience Based on Public and Private Incentivization

2015

Multihazard Mitigation Council and Council on Finance,

Insurance and Real Estate

National Institute of Building Sciences,

NIBS

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

Double Wall: Staggered or In-Line Studs?

2009

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

Steven Winter Associates

CARB,

SWA

Information sheet providing information about investigating the thermal effect of staggering the inner and outer wall studs on double walls in new construction.

Fastening Furring Strips to a Foam-Sheathed Wall

2010

Holladay Martin

Green Building Advisor,

GBA

Information sheet about what length screws should be used, and how closely to space the screws when fastening furring strips to a foam-sheathed wall.

Field Performance of Unvented Cathedralized (UC) Attics in the USA, PA-0502

2005

Rudd Armin

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Journal article reporting on field experience of unvented cathedralized (UC) attics in several environments in the United States.

Food and Water in an Emergency, FEMA 477

2006

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA,

American Red Cross

A fact sheet on how to prepare for a natural disaster by storing food and water through an emergency food supply.

Grim Lessons from Tornado Alley

2019

Thompson Boyce

Federal Emergency Management Agency,

FEMA

Website article touring areas hit hardest by tornadoes to see how they are building differently to protect against the next big twister.

Guide to Attaching Exterior Wall Coverings through Foam Sheathing to Wood or Steel Wall Framing

2010

Foam Sheathing Coalition

FSC

Document that gives a step-by-step approach for designing attachments for cladding materials through foam sheathing.

Hurricane Shutter Types

2023

Hurricane Research Division,

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA

NOAA webpage providing images and short descriptions of different types of hurricane shutters.

Impact Resistance of Brick Veneer Structures to Hurricane Debris

2005

Bennett Richard M,

et al.

Canada Masonry Design Centre,

CMDC

An impact test report from projectile missile tests against brick veneer, verifying that brick veneers perform well to resisting hurricane force wind driven debris.

Mass Save Deep Energy Retrofit Builder Guide, GM-1302

2013

Neuhauser Ken,

Gates Cathy,

Pettit Betsy

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Guidebook providing useful examples of high performance retrofit techniques for the building enclosure of wood frame residential construction in a cold and somewhat wet climate.

Mitigation Ideas: A Resource for Reducing Risk to Natural Hazards

2013

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

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.

Natural Hazards

2020

U.S. Geological Survey

USGS

Website containing USGS-related publications related to natural hazards.

Opportunities for Energy Conservation and Improved Comfort From Wind Washing Retrofits in Two-Story Homes - Part I

2010

Withers Charles R,

Cummings James B

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Report highlighting the evaluation methods used and extent of wind washing found in a study analyzing wind washing in thirty-two two-story homes.

OSHA Fact Sheet: Using Portable Generators Safely

2005

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA

A fact sheet educating the public on the potential hazards and safe use of portable generators.

Ping Pong Water and The Chemical Engineer, BSI-016

2016

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article outlining moisture accumulation in open cell spray polyurethane foam.

Predicted Versus Actual Savings for a Low-Rise Multifamily Retrofit in Boulder, Colorado

2013

Arena Lois,

Williamson Jim

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Report documenting actual energy savings of a retrofit project in Boulder, CO.

Prepare Your Home Ahead of Severe Thunderstorms

2020

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

Website providing guidance on how to reduce the risk of damage to a home from hail.

Preparedness Webinars

2022

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Database describing FEMA preparedness webinars including natural hazard preparedness.

Preparing for Disaster, FEMA P-475

2004

Federal Emergency Management Agency,

American Red Cross

FEMA,

American Red Cross

Fact sheet describing how to prepare for a natural disaster and assemble a disaster supply kit.

Ready.gov: Build A Kit

2020

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

USDHS

A fact sheet providing tips on how to assemble a kit of food, water and other disaster supplies in the event of an emergency.

Resistance of Exterior Walls to High Velocity Projectiles

2001

Kashuba Scott D,

Kuzik Mark D,

Hatzinikolas Michael A

Canadian Masonry Research Institute,

CMPA

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

Retrofit Improvements - Bracing of Roof Projections

2012

Home Innovation Research Labs

HIRL

Fact sheet describing how to install bracing to retrofit roof dormers for increased wind resistance.

Roof Venting in a Wet Climate

2011

Fisette Paul

Journal of Light Construction,

JLC

Q&A article discussing how to address moisture issues in an attic in a wet and humid coastal climate.

Safe Room Funding

2020

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

FEMA information on safe room funding to regional governments.

Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes - Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms, Fourth Edition, FEMA P-361

2021

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Report covering the planning, design, construction, and operation of residential and community safe rooms. Written for architects, engineers, building officials, local officials and emergency managers, and prospective safe room owners and operators.

Suggested Emergency Food Supplies

2022

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

USDHS

Article describing suggested food supplies, sanitation, safety, and cooking for during and after an emergency.

Taking Shelter from the Storm - Building or Installing a Safe Room For Your Home Includes Design Plans, FEMA P-320

2021

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Report presenting safe room designs and showing the homeowner and builder/contractor or local design professional how to construct a safe room for a home or small business.

The Effects of Windborne Debris on Saferoom Wall Panels and Fenestration Systems

2012

Peters Stephen T,

Robertson Ian N

University of Hawaii College of Engineering

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.

The New American Home 2009: Las Vegas, Nevada; Building Technologies Program (Brochure)

2008

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

NREL

Case study of new home construction in the hot-dry and mixed-dry climate zones.

The Scary Crawlspace

2011

Hales David

Home Energy Magazine

Article describing the risks associated with vented and unvented crawlspaces in different climate zones.

Thermal Bridges Redux, BSI-062

2015

Lstiburek Joseph

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article describing thermal bridging, construction practices that encourage thermal bridging, and solving thermal bridging through continuous exterior insulation.

Thermal Mass and Its Effect on the Whole Building Energy Performance, Part I and II

2001

Kosny Jan

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Report sumarizing a workshop to initiate a professional discussion about eventual benefits of the application of massive technologies in US buildings.

Thermally Broken Balconies

2022

Haberli Marc,

Collins Cillian

Perkins & Will

Technical report describing the impact of thermal bridging in balcony connections, presenting alternative design strategies, performance analyses, and case studies to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in building envelopes.

U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit Case Studies

2020

U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

NOAA

Website providing guidance for people to find and use tools, information, and subject matter expertise to build climate resilience.

Unvented Roof Assemblies for All Climates, BSD-149

2007

Schumacher Christopher

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Report reviewing unvented roof assemblies, such as conditioned attics and unvented cathedral ceilings that are becoming common in North American construction.

Unvented Roof Summary, RR-0301

2003

Ueno Kohta

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Document summarizing the various papers on unvented conditioned cathedralized attics found on BSC's website.