Library

2003 edition of the code establishing regulations to safeguard life and property from the intrusion of wildland fire and to prevent structure fires from spreading to wildland fuels; regulates defensible space and provides ignition-resistant construction requirements to protect against fire exposure...

Article describing ways builders can improve the hurricane resistance of the homes they construct, especially 1) strengthening the continuous load path, 2) upgrading the building envelope, and 3) improving the roof system performance.

Report describing a project whose goal was to determine the prevalence of residential comfort system faults with a focus on air conditioners and heat pumps, and on key faults that can occur during installation: (1) incorrect refrigerant charge level (undercharge or overcharge); (2) indoor coil...

Report (1) compares existing measurement methods, based on field testing in a wide range of buildings, (2) presents the development of two new methods to directly measure exterior and interior leakage of an attached unit, and compares to existing methods; and (3) experimentally evaluates the...

Study from Appalachian State University on passive solar design to take advantage of local climate zones for energy conservation.

The Builder's Guide provides the building industry with the latest and best practical information on how to apply building science principles to structures as systems in hot-humid climate regions.

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 cold and very cold climates.

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 hot-dry and mixed-dry climates.

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 mixed-humid climate.

Document testing feasibility of constructing a new single-family home engineered to reduce the home's energy loads to an absolute minimum so that most needs could be met by solar systems.

Information sheet discussing how OSB will define the future of the structural sheathing market. OSB will define the future of the structural sheathing market. - See more at: http://bct.eco.umass.edu/publications/by-title/choosing-between-oriented-strandboard-and-plywood/#sthash.RilEtDpl.dpuf

Guide about designing and installing closed crawlspaces in the Southeast.

Article describing how closed crawlspaces can do "double duty" by controlling moisture and providing energy savings.

Article from Stephen L. Quarles on fire resistant decking design and materials recommendations.

Simple web-based tool allowing homeowners to calculate the potential savings from installing a cool roof.

FEMA guide containing recommendations on how to implement cost-effective measures that can help to reduce the potential hazards associated with earthquakes.

A report describing six mechanical ventilation strategies that were evaluated for their ability to control indoor humidity levels over 14-day periods with simulated occupancy.

Journal article reporting on field experience of unvented cathedralized (UC) attics in several environments in the United States.

Fact sheet describing actions homeowners can take to safely cleanup their homes after a flood with links to additional resources from the EPA.

Report detailing the monitored and modeled performance of a solar home outside of Washington DC.

Article describing the factors that can lead to inefficient hot water distribution systems in homes.

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

Report outlining results from a 2005 hygrothermal pilot study in the South.

An impact test report from projectile missile tests against brick veneer, verifying that brick veneers perform well to resisting hurricane force wind driven debris.

Report providing information about techniques and approaches to improve the efficiency of recessed lighting.

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

PDF literature review of the impact and need for attic ventilation in Florida homes.

FEMA mitigation assessment team report following Hurricane Charley in Florida including observations, recommendations, and technical guidance for retrofitting hurricane-damaged homes.

FEMA mitigation assessment team report following Hurricane Ivan in Florida and Alabama including observations, recommendations, and technical guidance.

A fact sheet educating the public on how to appropriately ground portable generators and the hazards associated with their use.

A fact sheet educating the public on the potential hazards and safe use of portable generators.

Website with answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about attic radiant barriers.

Report covering the performance of residential buildings during three hurricanes impacting Florida in 2004.

Document with important building science considerations, designed for members of the residential construction and remodeling industries, as well as owners and managers who work in affordable housing.

Report from FEMA on how to reduce damage from localized flooding including planning, drainage, building codes and retrofits, and regulations.

Research study identifying the best performing, most energy-efficient and cost- effective techniques to provide controlled mechanical ventilation and humidity control in hot- humid climates with thermally efficient building envelopes.

Document reviewing current and potential ventilation technologies for residential buildings with particular emphasis on North American climates and construction.

Webpage describing the standards, seminars, exams, etc regarding testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB).

Article outlining the importance of keeping dryer exhaust ducts clean.

Article describing how an affordable multifamily building achieved energy savings for the same cost as code-minimum construction.

Report documenting the Transformative Efficiency and Automation in Modular Homes (TEAMH) project, which evaluates the integration of advanced building envelope technologies and automation-assisted modular construction to improve residential energy performance and construction efficiency.

Case study about affordable housing in a mixed, humid climate.

This report describes how twenty homes were tested and monitored in the Zone 2 climate of Houston, Texas, U.S.A., to evaluate the humidity control performance and operating cost of six different integrated dehumidification and ventilation systems that could be applied by production homebuilders.

Report and case study describing a retrofit project for single family homes in the Pacific Northwest.