Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 1 - 49 of 49 results:

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.

Builder's Guide to Hot-Dry & Mixed-Dry Climates

2004

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Choosing Thermostatic Radiator Valves

2004

Gifford Henry

American Boiler Manufacturers Association

Part 2 of an article discussing how to maximize two-pipe steam systems for resident space heating.

Conditioned Crawl Space Construction, Performance and Codes, BA-0401

2004

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Report outlining how conditioned crawlspaces perform better than vented crawlspaces in terms of safety, health, comfort, durability and energy consumption.

Designing for Earthquakes - A Manual for Architects, FEMA P-454

2006

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Report explaining the principles of seismic design to architects.

Erosion Control Treatment Selection Guide

2006

U.S. Department of Agriculture

USDA,

USDA Forest Service

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

Excessive Heat Events Guidebook

2006

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

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

Field Manual: Safety Evaluation of Buildings after Windstorms and Floods, ATC-45

2004

Applied Technology Council

ATC

Report providing guidelines and procedures to determine whether damaged or potentially damaged buildings are safe for use after wind storms or floods, or if entry should be restricted or prohibited.

Flood and Hurricane Resistant Buildings, BSD-111

2006

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Guide from Building Science Corporation on how to construct a flood and hurricane resistant home.

Foil Bubble Pack: Subslab Insulation?

2004

Fulger Don

Home Energy

Article describing the effective R-values of various subslab insulation products, including foil bubble pack.

Fold-Form

2006

Owens Corning Insulation

Information sheet with manufacturer specifications about insulated concrete forms.

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.

Garage Performance Testing

2004

Health Canada,

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

CMHC,

Environment Canada

Results from a research program testing airtightness, implications of air leakage and contaminant reduction over the garage-to-house interface.

Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses

2006

Building Component Safety Information

BCSI,

Wood Truss Council of America,

WTCA,

Truss Plate Institute,

TPI

IRC guide referencing wood truss bracing best practices and requirements.

Homebuilders' Guide to Earthquake Resistant Design and Construction, FEMA 232

2006

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Report presenting seismic design and construction guidance for one- and two-family houses for homebuilders, knowledgeable homeowners, and other non-engineers.

How to Build a Zero Electric Utility Cost House

2006

Christian Jeffrey E

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy,

ACEEE

Report presenting construction methods, building products, appliances and equipment of four single-family houses that achieve dramatic energy reductions and approach “net zero energy” use.

Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast: Mitigation Assessment Team Report, Building Performance Observations Recommendations and Technical Guidance, FEMA 549

2006

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Guide discussing observations, recommendations, and technical guidance as a result of Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Mitigation Retrofits for Existing Site-Built Single-Family Residential Structures

2006

Florida Building Code

Code describing the requirements for existing site-built single-family homes to receive roof-to-wall retrofits when re-roofing.

HVAC in Multifamily Buildings

2006

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation

Paper providing a comprehensive overview of HVAC system design considerations and challenges specific to multifamily residential buildings, focusing on optimizing performance and addressing common issues.

HVAC System Pressure Relief

2006

Raymer Paul H,

Moyer Neil

Tamarack Technologies,

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Correcting pressure imbalances in your HVAC system can result in a healthier, more efficient home.

Ice Dams, BSD-135

2006

Straube John

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article outlining the casuses and solutions for ice dam problems.

Improving Attic Thermal Performance

2004

Parker Danny S

Home Energy Magazine

Article describing the effect metal roofs have on thermal performance in hot-humid climates.

Increasing the Durability of Building Constructions, BSD-144

2006

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSD

Report discussing the importance of durability and energy efficiency in building construction.

Installing Seismic Restraints for Duct and Pipe, FEMA P-414

2004

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

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

Modeling and Test-and-Rate Methods for Innovative Thermosiphon Solar Water Heaters

2006

Burch Jay,

et al.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

University of Colorado,

CU,

University of Colorado-Boulder,

CU Boulder

This paper discusses model validation using data from three thermosiphon systems.

Performance Standard for Wood-Based Structural-Use Panels, Voluntary Product Standard PS 2-04

2004

National Institute of Standards and Technology

NIST

Standards for requirements, performance, construction, workmanship and others for structural-use panels.

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.

PVC - Friction Loss in Fittings and Equivalent Length

2004

Engineering Toolbox

Table calculating friction losses of PVC pipe fittings.

PVC Pipes Schedule 40 - Friction Loss and Flow Velocities

2004

Engineering Toolbox

Table calculating friction losses for PVC pipe by length.

Rain Control in Buildings, BSD-013

2006

Straube John

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

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.

Revised Builder’s Guide to Frost Protected Shallow Foundations

2004

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,

Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing,

National Association of Home Builders

HUD,

PATH,

NAHB Research Center

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.

Seismic Safety: Gas Shutoff Devices, SB-1898

2004

California Legislative Information

Description of California Senate Bill SB 1898, which requires the sale of new seismic gas shutoff devices sold in California to be certified by the State Architect.

Small House with Construction Cost of $100K, Total Energy Cost of $0.88 a Day

2006

Christian Jeffrey E,

et al.

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE

Paper describing the development and testing of an affordable net-zero energy house in Lenoir City, Tennessee.

Solar Water and Pool Heating Manual - Design and Installation & Repair and Maintenance

2006

Florida Solar Energy Center

FSEC

A research paper exploring the design, installation, repair and maintenance of solar water and pool heating technologies.

Stucco that Works

2006

DeKorne Clayton

Journal of Light Construction,

JLC

Information sheet describing correct application of stucco.

Subterranean Termites – Their Prevention and Control in Buildings

2006

Peterson Chris,

et al.

U.S. Department of Agriculture,

USDA,

USDA Forest Service

A report describing methods for constructing homes and treating soils to reduce the risk of termites in buildings.

Techniques for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings, FEMA 547

2006

Rutherford & Chekene Consulting Engineers

Federal Emergency Management Agency,

FEMA,

National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program,

NEHRP

Report providing a selected compilation of seismic rehabilitation techniques and guidance on which techniques are commonly used to mitigate specific seismic deficiencies in various model building types.

Thermal Mass in Building Design

2006

Baggs David,

Mortensen Neal

Australian Council of Building Design Professions Ltd,

BDP

Design guide providing technical information regarding building with thermal mass.

Toward Simple, Affordable Zero Energy Houses

2004

Christian Jeffrey E,

Beal David,

Kerrigan Philip

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC,

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Paper describing testing for the first of a series of six near net-zero-energy test houses, using the results to work towards the construction of a true net-zero-energy house.

Trombe Walls in Low-Energy Buildings: Practical Experiences

2004

Pless Shanti,

Torcellini Paul

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Technical conference paper discussing real world experience with Trombe walls.

Understanding Air Barriers, BSD-104

2006

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Information sheet providing definitions, applications, and techniques for applying air barriers.

Understanding Attic Ventilation, BSD-102

2006

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

BSD-102 report providing guidance about whether to construct a vented or unvented attic based on hygro-thermal zone.

Understanding Basements, BSD-103

2006

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Information sheet with methods for constructing or retrofitting basements to reduce moisture issues.

Understanding Drainage Planes, BSD-105

2006

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Guide providing information about controlling rainwater through use of drainage planes.

Understanding Vapor Barriers, BSD-106

2006

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Information sheet describing the function of a vapor barrier, and methods to retard the migration of water vapor.

Urban Forestry Manual

2006

U.S. Forest Service

USFA

Manual describing scientific, technical, and practical information needed to work with communities on urban forestry, including a section on trees and construction.

Weep Holes in Brick and Stone Veneer

2004

Don Jackson

Journal of Light Construction,

JLC

An article written by Don Jackson of The Journal of Light Construction on how to detail brick veneer siding wall.

Whole House Fans

2004

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

PG&E,

California Public Utilities Commission

Technical fact sheet describing proper operation, sizing, and installation of whole-house fans.

Window Systems

2006

University of Florida IFAS Extension

University of Florida IFAS Extension,

University of Florida

Fact sheet describing impact-resistant window systems with specifics on Florida’s building codes.