Library

2009 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

2012 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

A colored map showing seismic zones across the United States, ranging from lowest to highest seismic hazards.

Report assessing and scoring code enforcement and administration and contractor licensing in the 18 states most vulnerable to catastrophic hurricanes along the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico.

Code set from IAPMO explaining plumbing standards. 2018 publication.

Document describing three methods for elevating a home out of the flood zone.

Technical manual from ACCA outlining correct methods for zoning of residential HVAC systems.

This Standard establishes the minimum requirements to evaluate a residence with regards to energy efficiency, water conservation, occupant comfort, and indoor air quality.

Fact sheet describing advanced framing techniques that reduce the amount of lumber used in constructing wood-framed houses while providing more space for wall insulation.

Article describing how an airtight home shell helps achieve a tight envelope that is energy efficient and cost effective.

Article describing air sealing and air barriers in buildings.

Standard establishing the minimum whole-building energy performance requirements for energy efficient residential buildings.

This report outlines research activities that are expected to facilitate the adoption of energy retrofits by remodeling contractors and roofing contractors using retrofit panels which applicable to many existing house designs in most climates and markets.

Report covering interior energy retrofits of masonry buildings.

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

Article describing the research into insulating vented versus unvented attics.

Information sheet from FEMA on preparation for extreme heat, including measures for keeping homes cool.

This Best Practices Manual is the product of Hammer & Hand’s ongoing work to document and internally codify our standard operating procedures for construction practice.

Report examining the cost differences between a typical home and a home constructed using wildfire-resistant materials and design features.

Document providing a resource to help builders large and small build high-quality, energy-efficient homes that achieve 30% energy savings in space conditioning and water heating in the marine climate.

Report provides a proposed set of guidelines for estimating the energy savings achieved by a package of retrofits or an extensive rehabilitation of an existing home.

Report summarizing research results for the 30% energy savings level and demonstrates that lead builders can successfully provide 30% homes in the Marine Climate Region on a cost-neutral basis.

Report summarizing research results for the 30% energy savings level and demonstrates that lead builders can successfully provide 30% homes in the Hot-Dry / Mixed-Dry Climate Region on a cost-neutral basis.

Report providing a summary of key lessons learned from the first ten years of the Building America program and also included a summary of the future challenges that must be met to reach the programs long term performance goals.

An online learning management resource for the construction community.

Information sheet with information about insulating and ventilating attics.

You can save energy and maintain a comfortable swimming pool temperature by using a smaller, higher efficiency pump and by operating it less.

Paper describing the effects of tree canopies on residential climates indicating tree cover to be beneficial to climate conditions

Article describing the use of whole-house fans to provide cooling in the region surrounding Sacramento, CA.

Tool developed by LBNL to calculate potential savings from increasing wall and roof solar reflectance.

Report describing the monitored long-term performance of two solar domestic water heating systems in northern climates.

Article describing the importance of air sealing, insulation, and roof ventilation in reducing the likelihood of ice dam formation on roofs in cold snowy climates.

Report explaining the principles of seismic design to architects.

Information sheet with safety tips for home owners on proper maintenance of clothes dryers.

A quick guide from the California Division of the State Architect (DSA) explaining the three types of gas shutoff devices to stop the flow of natural gas into buildings in the event of an earthquake or rupture of the gas line.

Document explaining requirements and recommendations for defensible space, with a focus on sloped vegetation.

Report describing guidance for selecting an electric vehicle charger

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

Handbook to help property owners understand the rules, procedures, standards, and criteria that apply to the environmental resource permit (ERP) program under Part IV of Chapter 373 of the Florida Statutes.

A publication developed by the U.S. Forest Service for its employees and other federal agency staff describing erosion control methods.

This report evaluates the performance of variable-capacity comfort systems, with a focus on inverter-driven, variable-capacity systems, as well as proposed system enhancements.

Guidebook meant to provide public officials with information on excessive heat event.

Article containing background knowledge on expansion tanks.

Article explaining common myths about expansion tanks and proper facts.

Report that demonstrates the durability, constructability, and cost-effectiveness of the extended plate and beam (EP&B) wall system for new construction housing projects in compliance with the International Energy Conservation Code, addressing moisture risk management and high-performance envelope...

Document discussing methods to bioengineer stabilization of shorelines using living and non-living plant materials in combination, known as the “Living Shorelines” concept.

Report outlining how Smart ventilation controls (SVC) balance energy consumption, comfort, and IAQ by optimizing mechanical ventilation operation to reduce the heating and/or cooling loads, improve management of indoor moisture, and maintain IAQ equivalence according to ASHRAE 62.2.

Report about field testing that characterizes the uniformity of room-to-room ventilation air distribution under various operating conditions by examining multi-zone tracer gas decay curves and calculating local age-of-air.

A guide to construction of wildfire resistant homes and communities.

Five step plan from the Tahoe Fire & Fuels team outlining how to create an effective defensible space for wildfire protection. Recommendations include siting for homes on slopes.