Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 1 - 50 of 68 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.

2014 Florida Building Code - Energy Conservation, Fifth Edition

2014

International Code Council

ICC

Code describing energy codes for energy-conserving and compliant designs in Florida.

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 Thermally Broken Steel Connection

2017

West Chris

Journal of Light Construction,

JLC

Article describing methods for thermally isolating a garage in a Passive House-certified multifamily building.

ABTCO Estimating and Installation Guide

2016

ABTCO Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding estimating and installation guide for vinyl siding products.

ACCA - Radiant & Hydronics

2020

Air Conditioning Contractors of America

ACCA

Radiant, hydronics, geothermal -- they are a vital part of modern comfort and energy solutions. ACCA helps hydronics contractors operate at peak performance.

Advanced Framing Construction Guide

2014

APA - The Engineered Wood Association

American Plywood Association,

APA

Guide describing advanced framing, a system of construction framing techniques designed to optimize material usage and increase energy efficiency.

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.

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.

BSI-124: Parking Garages

2021

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article Describing methods for thermally isolating multifamily parking garages.

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.

Building Plans for Advanced Framing

2013

Green Building Advisor

Website providing CAD files and drawings of advanced framing details.

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.

Construction Instruction

2021

Construction Instruction Experience Center

CIEC

Website providing building science based guidance and training for residential construction.

Controlling Cold-Weather Condensation Using Insulation, BSD-163

2011

Straube John

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article describing research encouraging use of exterior insulation to warm interior sheathing surfaces in walls and roof assemblies to reduce the likelihood of condensation during cold weather

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.

Don't Be Dense - Cellulose and Dense-Pack Insulation, BSI-043

2010

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Information about dense pack, cellulose insulation.

Effect of Cladding Systems on Moisture Performance of Wood Frame Walls in a Mixed-Humid Climate

2010

Drumheller S Craig,

Carll Charles G

National Association of Home Builders,

NAHB,

U.S. Department of Agriculture,

USDA

The objective of this research was to quantify the field performance of wood-frame walls clad with a variety of common claddings in a mixed-humid climate.

EIFS - Problems and Solutions, BSD-146

2007

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Report on problems and solutions with EIFS stucco wall cladding systems.

Energy Flow Across Enclosures, BSI-028

2009

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Discussion of structural thermal resistance.

Energy Saver

2018

U.S. Department of Energy

DOE

Website from the U.S. Department of Energy providing consumers with information on saving energy and using renewable energy technologies.

ETW: Building Profile: New - Albuquerque New Mexico

2009

Building Science Corporation

BSC

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.

ETW: Wall - ICF Wall Construction

2014

Building Science Corporation

BSC

Information sheet that summarizes Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction including advantages and disadvantages of this construction strategy.

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.

Low-e Storm Windows: Market Assessment and Pathways to Market Transformation

2013

Cort Katherine A

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Technical report assessing the market for Low-e storm windows based on market data, case studies, and recent experience with weatherization deployment programs.

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.

Mastic Home Exteriors Installation Guide

2015

Ply Gem Siding Group

Siding installation guide for Ply Gem Siding Group products.

Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Ike in Texas and Louisiana, FEMA P-757

2009

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

FEMA report describing findings from an investigation of Hurricane Ike in Texas and Louisiana and residential construction recommendations based on those findings.

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.

Moving Ducts Inside: Big Builders, Scientists Find Common Ground

2008

Lubliner Michael,

et al.

WSU Extension Energy Program,

Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development

Conference paper making the case that moving ducts to conditioned space saves energy, is practical for production builders (when accompanied by careful pre-planning), and creates significant andmarketable energy savings for homebuyers.

Natural Hazards

2020

U.S. Geological Survey

USGS

Website containing USGS-related publications related to natural hazards.

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.

Plaster and Drywall Assemblies Manual

2014

Fowler Mark,

Stanley Bryan,

Coats Darin

Technical Services Information Bureau,

Walls & Ceilings

Manual describing design, detailing, material selection and troubleshooting for plaster, IEFs, and drywall, with information on continuous insulation, air barriers, rain screens, and ratings for fire and sound.

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.

Retrofit Improvements - Improve Window & Door Flashing/Sealing

2012

Home Innovation Research Labs

HIRL

Fact sheet describing methods for flashing and air-sealing windows and doors.

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.

Sidewall Blowing Tips and Tricks

2003

Wisconsin Focus on Energy

High-density sidewall cavity insulation can be a major comfort and savings boost. It saves energy by slowing both conductive and convective losses, but only if the right things are done and done right. This always requires site-specific thinking.

Solar-Reflective "Cool" Walls: Benefits, Technologies, and Implementation

2019

Levinson Ronnen,

et al.

California Energy Commission,

CEC,

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,

LBNL,

University of Southern California,

USC,

University of California San Diego,

UC San Diego

California Energy Commission report presenting the concept of cool walls and providing guidelines for their building- and climate-appropriate use to conserve energy and reduce emissions.