Organization(s)
Fox Blocks
Publication Date
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 140
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Website describing best practices for minimizing exposure to lead while doing repairs and renovations in homes built in 1978 or earlier.
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
Website providing information about building plans for the ENERGY STAR thermal bypass checklist.
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Description
Specification covering the standard requirements for application of full thickness Portland cement-based plaster for exterior (stucco) and interior work. This standard was produced in the year 2023, and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. There are also other versions of...
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Description
Specification covering the standard requirements for application of full thickness Portland cement-based plaster for exterior (stucco) and interior work. This standard was produced in the year 2022, and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. There are also other versions of...
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Article explaining what a continuous load path is and the key connection points that make it up.
Organization(s)
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
LBNL webpage introducing heat island effect and cool materials concepts, and providing links to LBNL pages explaining cool pavements, cool roofs, and cool walls.
Organization(s)
CRRC
Publication Date
Description
Searchable database of wall cladding and coating products that have undergone solar reflectance and thermal emittance testing.
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Description
A specification covering the application of Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) that act as permanent formwork for cast-in-place reinforced concrete beams & walls which was published in the year 2022 and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link.
Organization(s)
Vinyl Siding Institute
Publication Date
Description
Publication with installation guidance for vinyl siding.
Organization(s)
The Constructor
Publication Date
Description
Article describing the process of constructing concrete walls
Organization(s)
First in Architecture
Publication Date
Description
Article describing rammed earth construction
Organization(s)
University of Minnesota,
UMN,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE,
NothernSTAR
Publication Date
Description
Technical report describing the SPS (Structural Panel System), an innovative implementation of the "perfect wall" concept, situating environmental control layers on the exterior side of structural components for improved constructability, cost-effectiveness, and performance, validated through the...
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
List of recommendations from IBHS on how to protect homes from ice dam formation.
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
Description
Table in the IRC describing bracing requirements for specified wind speeds and building story locations.
Organization(s)
City of Portland,
State of Oregon
Publication Date
Description
Website providing resources for seismic retrofits for builders and homeowners as well as city permit requirements from the City of Portland OR.
Organization(s)
ICC Evaluation Service
Publication Date
Description
ICC-ES Evaluation Report reviewing proprietary steel shear wall panels developed by Simpson Strong-Tie Company to resist vertical and lateral loads in walls resulting from wind or earthquakes.
Organization(s)
LASFM
Publication Date
Description
Site showing flame spread ratings and definitions for common building materials.
Organization(s)
NCMA
Publication Date
Description
Article providing guidance for installing manufactured stone veneer, including information on rainscreens.
Organization(s)
International Masonry Institute
Publication Date
Description
Webpage featuring hundreds of illustrations of masonry construction details for brick, congrete, stone, tile, stucco, etc.
Organization(s)
SIPA
Publication Date
Description
Test results used by multiple structural insulated panel manufacturers confirming a one-hour fire rating for specific SIP assemblies.
Organization(s)
Applied Building Technology Group,
ABTG
Publication Date
Description
Article describing vapor retarder requirements in the International Residential Code and International Building Code 2021.
Organization(s)
Odice
Publication Date
Description
An example of a commercially available thermally expansive fire stopping product for controlling the spread of fires in a rainscreen cavity.
Organization(s)
Home Construction and Improvement
Publication Date
Description
A article about the best practice method of installing fiber cement siding, to install flashing at the butt joints of the siding boards, rather than face caulking the butt joints afterwards.
Organization(s)
Vinyl Siding Institute,
PEPA
Publication Date
Description
A guide for users and energy raters of insulated siding as home insulation.
Organization(s)
Knauf
Publication Date
Description
Website providing information about Knauf Insulation.
Organization(s)
Siding Cost Guide
Publication Date
Description
A starting point for ballparking and comparing the cost of different siding materials and a brief overview of the pros and cons of different siding materials.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report covering insulating crawlspaces.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report detailing a three-winter study on unvented roof assemblies in a cold climate, assessing insulation material, ridge diffusion vent presence, vapor control membranes, relative humidity, and interstitial airflow. Results indicate that utilizing air-permeable fibrous fill insulations in unvented...
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report detailing a three-winter study on unvented roof assemblies in a cold climate, assessing insulation material, ridge diffusion vent presence, vapor control membranes, relative humidity, and interstitial airflow; results indicate that utilizing air-permeable fibrous fill insulations in unvented...
Organization(s)
LSU AgCenter
Publication Date
Description
Webpage from LSU AgCenter answering frequently asked questions after gutting a flooded home, including mitigation strategies for future floods.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Checklist for verifying FORTIFIED levels and documentation needed.
Organization(s)
BSSC,
NIBS,
FEMA,
NEHRP
Publication Date
Description
Document containing a series of resource papers that describe earthquake design components, including shear walls, resiliency, ground motion, and story drift and deflection, among others.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
University of Central Florida,
UCF
Publication Date
Description
Study investigating measured cooling energy savings from the installation of wall finishes with higher solar reflectance.
Organization(s)
FLASH
Publication Date
Description
Report providing architects, designers, and homeowners with information to make house plans useful for constructing a more wind resilient structure.
Organization(s)
HIRL
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)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Guide provides homeowners ways to prepare for an earthquake and protect a home against earthquake damage.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Technical bulletin describing National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements for flood openings in foundation walls and walls of enclosures below elevated buildings.
Organization(s)
CEA
Publication Date
Description
Article from California Earthquake Authority on the benefits of retrofitting homes to withstand earthquake forces, with a focus on foundations, walls, and chimneys.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
FEMA Mitigation Assessment Team Report describing damages from Hurricane Michael in Florida in Oct. 2018 and recommendations for future hurricane preparedness.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report covering the rainwater performance of building assemblies.
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Description
Standard that covers the minimum performance and acceptance criteria for an air barrier (AB) material or system for framed walls of low-rise buildings with the service life of the building wall in mind. This link directs to a preview of the current version of the standard, published in the year 2019...
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Description
Specification describing criteria for manufactured polymeric materials used to provide a rainscreen function, a means for the drainage of liquid moisture and the ventilation of vapor moisture that enters an above-grade exterior wall assembly which was published in the year 2019, and is available for...
Organization(s)
American Plywood Association,
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.
Organization(s)
MS Manufacturing Corporation
Publication Date
Description
Installation manual for installing metal panel siding.
Organization(s)
EXtension Home Energy - Cooperative Extension
Publication Date
Description
Article from The Home Energy Community of Practice on designing energy efficient homes in hot climate zones, including home orientation, window location, and roof design considerations.
Organization(s)
Colorado State University,
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
USDA
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing air-sealing concerns and remedies, including HRV/ERV installation, caulking, spray foam, and weatherstrip installation.
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission,
CEC,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL,
University of Southern California,
USC,
University of California San Diego,
UC San Diego
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Large scale simulation study investigating the effects of cool roofs and walls on buildings of various vintages across the U.S., with special attention given to California.
Organization(s)
ORNL,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Web based tool providing decision-making guidance for selecting wall assembly components.