Organization(s)
PEX Universe
Publication Date
Description
A webpage discussing how water heater expansion tanks operate and how to repair them.
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 51 - 100 of 144
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Publication Date
Description
Article describing methods to manage moisture, rainwater, and vapor in basements and crawlspaces.
Organization(s)
UF
Publication Date
Description
Brochure-guide describing swales and their qualities, including objective, maintenance, and design considerations.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Website offering an online training that teaches disaster-resistant best practices for roofers.
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
University of Minnesota
Publication Date
Description
Handbook providing guidance on the design and construction of foundations for homes, including insulation, air sealing, and water management details for basements, crawlspaces, and slabs.
Organization(s)
Resilient Design Institute
Publication Date
Description
Website describing wet floodproofing measures to prevent against structural damage, internal damage and damage to electrical components.
Organization(s)
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Publication Date
Description
Report about indoor air quality related to indoor mold growth.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report covering control of hydrostatic pressure in wall assemblies.
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor,
GBA
Publication Date
Description
Blog entry describing methods for insulating basement walls on the interior or exterior.
Organization(s)
NOAA
Publication Date
Description
Case study describing Alachua County, Florida’s, green infrastructure strategy for land use development that incorporates rain gardens, ponds, swales, and native vegetation to manage stormwater.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Indoor airPLUS is a voluntary partnership and labeling program that helps new home builders improve the quality of indoor air by requiring construction practices and product specifications that minimize exposure to airborne pollutants and contaminants.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
PDF detailing the inspection and verification guidance for WaterSense labeled new homes including indoor and outdoor efficiency requirements, and homeowner and building management education.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Guide describing landscaping tips for healthy and regionally-based gardens, including maintenance, mulching, water efficiency, and plant resources.
Organization(s)
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Publication Date
Description
Article describing a technique for installing a skylight and avoiding potential water leaks with the use of a peel-and-stick (or self-adhesive) membrane under the flashing.
Organization(s)
WRI,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
USGS,
NOAA
Publication Date
Description
A publication describing how to protect coastal investments by adapting to natural processes and protecting coastal environments and shorelines.
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)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
Ply Gem Siding Group
Publication Date
Description
Siding installation guide for Ply Gem Siding Group products.
Organization(s)
MCA
Publication Date
Description
An installation training manual discussing the installation of metal roofing materials and related accessories, for both new construction and retrofit projects.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
A Recovery Advisory guide reccomending practices for designing and installing metal roof systems that will enhance wind resistance in high-wind regions (i.e., greater than 90-miles per hour [mph] gust design wind speed).
Organization(s)
U.S. Gypsum Company
Publication Date
Description
Brochure discussing specific practices for mitigating moisture and mold during the construction process.
Organization(s)
Western Wood Products Association,
WWPA
Publication Date
Description
Document describing common questions about moisture, mold, and wood.
Organization(s)
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Publication Date
Description
An article about double-hung windows.
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
An NFPA Standard that identifies a method for determining the minimum water supply necessary for structural fire-fighting purposes in areas where it has been determined that there is no water or inadequate water for fire fighting.
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
An NFPA standards document that provides minimum requirements for the design, construction, installation, and maintenance of tanks and accessory equipment that supply water for private fire protection.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Guide providing information on controlling attic ductwork sweating.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report covering wind loading on roofing assemblies.
Organization(s)
Swimmingpool.com
Publication Date
Description
Calculator to help in calculating pool volume.
Organization(s)
ASHI
Publication Date
Description
Article describing how to properly manage condensing HVAC equipment.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Website providing guidance on how to reduce the risk of damage to a home from hail.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report addressing flood, wind and seismic hazards and recommends several multi-hazard resistant foundation designs of manufactured homes.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing the special considerations that must be made when installing utility equipment, such as fuel, sewage, and water/sewage lines in a coastal home, and presenting recommendations for utility protection; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction...
Organization(s)
Engineering Toolbox
Publication Date
Description
Table calculating friction losses for PVC pipe by length.
Organization(s)
HIRL,
NAHB
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing design and construction practices to reduce the likelihood of water intrusion in walls and foundations in residential construction.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Document covering basic moisture control principles in the design of above-grade building enclosures; driving rain as a moisture load on walls; a classification system of the various rain control strategies available for walls; and good design practises for walls.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report covering the performance of residential buildings during three hurricanes impacting Florida in 2004.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report from FEMA on how to reduce damage from localized flooding including planning, drainage, building codes and retrofits, and regulations.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
An EPA guide describing the causes and impacts of summertime urban heat islands, promoting strategies for lowering temperatures in U.S. communities.
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)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Resource that differentiates products in the marketplace that meet WaterSense requirements.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Resource to help builders better understand the WaterSense requirements for labeled homes and assist them in meeting the criteria so they can receive the label for their new construction.
Organization(s)
HIRL
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet providing homeowners with an overview of approaches for flashing and sealing roof penetrations to help discussion with a roofing contractor.
Organization(s)
IBE
Publication Date
Description
Article from the Institute of Biological Engineering describing reverse osmosis water softeners.
Organization(s)
HUD,
PATH,
NAHB Research Center
Publication Date
Description
Report describing how to construct a frost protected shallow foundation (FPSF) as a practical alternative to a deeper, more-costly foundation in cold regions with seasonal ground freezing and the potential for frost heave.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report from FEMA describing techniques for floodproofing structures.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
A website providing information on how to properly size a water heater based on tank size, volume, peak hour demand and other factors.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
How hard can it be to insulate a flat sheet of concrete? I mean you only have three choices – on the top, on the bottom, or on the edge. OK, you might have some combination of the three as well.
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)
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
USDA,
University of Wisconsin
Publication Date
Description
Document providing information on correct storage techniques for lumber to manage moisture.