Library

Website providing the technical specifications and related documents for home builders, subcontractors, architects, and other housing professionals interested in certifying a home to the EPA's Indoor airPLUS program requirements.

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

Article describing excess flow valves installed on gas lines to shut-off natural gas flow to a home in the event that a gas line is severed due to an earthquake, natural disaster, earthquake, etc.

Article from Samuel L. Manzello and Sayaka Suzuki on tests undertaken to find the ideal amount of board spacing to resist deck ignition during fires.

Webpage detailing how to purchase and install the correct shut-off valve for homes in California, including differences between earthquake and excess flow valves and how to install each.

Site showing flame spread ratings and definitions for common building materials.

Article from Building Science Corporation explaining 'wash and wear buildings' that are designed to be flooded and washed out afterwards.

This document covers how broken windows can allow wind and rain inside the house and even lead to roof failure.

Article explaining installing cavity insulation.

Article describing what evaporative coolers are, how they work, different types, performance, where they are appropriate, and how to install and maintain them.

Report showing installers how to attach ducts, pipes, and associated equipment to buildings to minimize earthquake damage.

Report with guidance for installing windows with foam sheathing on wood-frame walls.

A guide for users and energy raters of insulated siding as home insulation.

Article describing how insulated siding can save homeowners energy by providing continuous exterior insulation.

Article describing the insurance savings of a home with a hip roof versus a gable roof from the perspective of an insurance advisor.

Article describing how the configuration of surrounding buildings affects the wind loads on a hip roof in a low-rise building.

Article outlining the use of spray polyurethane foam in residential buildings.

Report about promoting energy efficiency for Hilton Head Island.

Website providing a probabilistic map of the expected number of damaging earthquakes around the U.S.

Report covering reservoir claddings, back ventilation and vapor throttles.

Report discussing how to create livable space in the attic that meets IRC code requirements by either creating a ventilated roof assembly, or and unvented attic assembly.

Webpage describing benefits of adding battery storage to homes and an estimation tool.

Document from IBHS explaining how to inspect homes for earthquake preparedness and retrofit solutions for homes that have suffered structural damage as a result of earthquakes.

Report describing ways to retrofit a home to make it more hurricane resistant.

Article describing dozens of ideas on how to retrofit a home so it is more earthquake ready.

The purpose for this document is to provide basic guidance on the use of proven installation techniques that can be used by installers to help ensure correct “dense pack” application of JM Spider® in drill & fill applications.

Article describing walls and moisture development on them.

Guide describing tools for island and hurricane-prone communities on redevelopment and rehabilitation of homes to prepare for future natural disasters.

Web page describing how to identify heat-related illness and how to prevent it.

Article from University of Arizona on keeping homes cool during extreme heat, both personal and system changes.

Webpage describing how to conserve heat or find alternative heat sources during a power outage to keep one room warm.

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

Article showing steps for kick out flashing at roof-wall intersection.

Website providing information about Knauf Insulation.

Website describing the wildland-urban interface code and providing links to resources.

Paper describing vegetation impacts on cooling load for buildings.

2017 version of a standard covering requirements for single- and dual-pane windows, glazed side-hinged door systems, sliding doors, tubular daylighting devices, and unit skylights developed jointly by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), the Canadian Standards Association...

Website describing best practices for minimizing exposure to lead while doing repairs and renovations in homes built in 1978 or earlier.

Guidance from EPA, HUD, NIH, and OSHA on worker and employer interactions with lead contaminants.

Website explaining the LEED v4.1 program and providing a portal for those who want to investigate or start a LEED project.

Test results used by multiple structural insulated panel manufacturers confirming a one-hour fire rating for specific SIP assemblies.

A publication describing how to protect coastal investments by adapting to natural processes and protecting coastal environments and shorelines.

Guide for homeowners describing actions they can take to modify their home and the surrounding site to create a survivable space to reduce the amount of damage a home would likely experience during a wildfire.

Article describing lessons for builders and changes to local building code in Colorado Springs in response to regional wildfires.

Factsheet describing the concept of load paths and the important connections in a wind uplift load path; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”

Guide describing sound mitigation measures to lower building natural disaster vulnerability to assist local officials and community decision makers in coastal areas.

Report on the impact of air sealing between the foundation and the living space on radon transport reduction across the foundation and living space floor assembly at fifteen home.

News article describing the state of the residential battery storage market.