Library | Building America Solution Center

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 - 27 of 27

2003 International Wildland Urban Interface Code - IWUIC

Author(s)

International Code Council

Organization(s)

ICC

Publication Date

December, 2005

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...

OSHA Fact Sheet: Grounding Requirements for Portable Generators

Author(s)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Organization(s)

OSHA

Publication Date

October, 2005

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

Field Performance of Unvented Cathedralized (UC) Attics in the USA, PA-0502

Author(s)

Rudd Armin

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

October, 2005

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

OSHA Fact Sheet: Using Portable Generators Safely

Author(s)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Organization(s)

OSHA

Publication Date

September, 2005

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

Earthquake Hazard Mitigation for Nonstructural Elements Field Manual, FEMA 74-FM

Author(s)

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Organization(s)

FEMA

Publication Date

September, 2005

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

Third Street

Author(s)

Gifford Henry

Organization(s)

Home Energy Magazine

Publication Date

September, 2005

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

Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Ivan in Alabama and Florida Observations Recommendations and Technical Guidance, FEMA 489

Author(s)

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Organization(s)

FEMA

Publication Date

August, 2005

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

Radiant Barriers: A Question and Answer Primer

Author(s)

Melody Ingrid,

Fairey Philip W,

Beal David

Organization(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Publication Date

June, 2005

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

Hygrothermal Performance Study: A Field Study Comparison of the Energy and Moisture Performance Characteristics of Ventilated Versus Sealed Crawl Spaces in the South

Author(s)

Davis Bruce,

Dastur Cyrus,

Warren William E

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

Advanced Energy,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

June, 2005

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

DOE Steep Slope Calculator

Author(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

ORNL,

DOE

Publication Date

June, 2005

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

Impact Resistance of Brick Veneer Structures to Hurricane Debris

Author(s)

Bennett Richard M,

Borchelt Gregg J,

Bryja Jim,

Kjorlien Bill

Organization(s)

Canada Masonry Design Centre,

CMDC

Publication Date

June, 2005

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

Affordable Passive Solar Planbook for North Carolina

Author(s)

Appalachian State University

Organization(s)

AEC,

App State

Publication Date

June, 2005

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

Reducing Damage from Localized Flooding - A Guide for Communities, FEMA 511

Author(s)

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Organization(s)

FEMA

Publication Date

June, 2005

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

The Facts about Clothes Dryer Exhaust Systems

Author(s)

Cranor John

Organization(s)

American Society of Home Inspectors,

ASHI

Publication Date

April, 2005

Article outlining the importance of keeping dryer exhaust ducts clean.

Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Charley in Florida Observations Recommendations and Technical Guidance, FEMA 488

Author(s)

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Organization(s)

FEMA

Publication Date

April, 2005

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

Hot Water Runs Cold

Author(s)

Hoeschele Marc

Organization(s)

Home Energy Magazine

Publication Date

March, 2005

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

Literature Review of the Impact and Need for Attic Ventilation in Florida Homes

Author(s)

Parker Danny S

Organization(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Publication Date

March, 2005

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

Effect of Residential Ventilation Techniques for Hot and Humid Climates on Indoor Concentrations and Emission Rates of Volatile Organic Compounds

Author(s)

Hodgson Alfred T,

Moyer Neil,

Beal David

Organization(s)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,

LBNL,

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Publication Date

February, 2005

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.

Closed Crawlspaces Do Double Duty

Author(s)

Dastur Cyrus,

Davis Bruce

Organization(s)

Home Energy Magazine

Publication Date

January, 2005

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

Closed Crawl Spaces - An Introduction to Design, Construction and Performance

Author(s)

Dastur Cyrus,

Davis Bruce,

Warren William E

Organization(s)

Advanced Energy

Publication Date

January, 2005

Guide about designing and installing closed crawlspaces in the Southeast.

Decks - Fire Safe or Not?

Author(s)

Stephen L. Quarles

Organization(s)

University of California

Publication Date

January, 2005

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

Builder's Guide to Hot-Humid Climates

Author(s)

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2005

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.

Choosing Between Oriented Strandboard and Plywood

Author(s)

Fisette Paul

Organization(s)

University of Massachusetts,

UMASS

Publication Date

January, 2005

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

Rainwater Management Performance of Newly Constructed Building Enclosures During August and September 2004, RR-0503

Author(s)

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2005

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

Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing

Author(s)

National Environmental Balancing Bureau

Organization(s)

NEBB

Publication Date

January, 2005

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

How You can Strengthen Your Home for the Next Big Earthquake in the Los Angeles Area

Author(s)

City of Los Angeles,

Department of Building and Safety

Organization(s)

City of Los Angeles

Publication Date

January, 2005

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

Ultra-Low Energy Residences

Author(s)

Christian Jeffrey E

Organization(s)

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE

Publication Date

January, 2005

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