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Library

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 - 50 of 61

FireWise Construction: Site Design & Building Materials

Author(s)
Bueche David,
Foley Tim
Organization(s)
Colorado State Forest Service,
CSFS
Publication Date
Wildfire construction guidelines from the Colorado State Forest Service focusing on site design and building materials to mitigate damage to homes in wildfire-prone areas.

Tankless Water Heating Gas Piping Facts

Author(s)
Rheem
Organization(s)
Rheem
Publication Date
Information for properly sizing gas lines for use with tankless water heaters and other gas appliances.

Pest Prevention by Design: Authoritative Guidelines for Designing Pests out of Structures

Author(s)
Geiger Chris A,
Cox Caroline
Organization(s)
San Francisco Department of the Environment,
SF Environment,
Center for Environmental Health,
CEH,
International Code Council,
ICC
Publication Date
Report providing detailed steps for builders, architects, and property managers to take for integrated pest management for control of a variety of pests including insects, rodents, and birds.

Fixing Wet Basements and Crawlspaces

Author(s)
Todd Jason
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Publication Date
Article describing methods to manage moisture, rainwater, and vapor in basements and crawlspaces.

RESNET Insulation Grading Criteria

Author(s)
Cottrell Charles
Organization(s)
Residential Energy Services Network,
RESNET,
North American Insulation Manufacturers Association,
NAIMA
Publication Date
Presentation describing RESNET grading criteria for insulation installation.

Air-Seal Windows and Doors

Author(s)
Sloggatt Mike
Organization(s)
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Publication Date
Article describing how to stop air leaks around the windows and doors of a home.

A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Guide providing information for homeowners and renters on how to clean up residential mold problems and how to prevent mold growth.

Mold

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Online course describing mold and mold remediation for environmental and public health professionals.

Residential Fan Efficiency - Code Notes

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
IECC code note explaining new fan efficacy requirements, along with how to determine which fans are affected by the new fan requirements.

How to Insulate a Basement Wall

Author(s)
Holladay Martin
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor,
GBA
Publication Date
Blog entry describing methods for insulating basement walls on the interior or exterior.

Assessment of Literature Related to Combustion Appliance Venting Systems

Author(s)
Less Brennan,
Wray Craig P,
Stratton Chris J,
Singer Brett C,
Rapp Vi H
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
The exhaust from residential combustion appliances contains air pollutants and high levels of moisture that must be conveyed to the outdoors to maintain acceptable indoor quality.

Energy Savers: Geothermal Heat Pumps

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Online reference containing general information about geothermal heat pumps.

EPA Region 8 Drinking Water Unit Tech Tips

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Broschure detailing water control strategies for building openings (e.g., vents and drainpipes).

Florida High Wind Concrete and Clay Tile Installation Manual, 5th Edition

Author(s)
Tile Roofing Institute
Organization(s)
TRI,
Florida Roofing Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association Inc.,
FRSA
Publication Date
Manual for proper installation practices, industry standards and the code requirements of roofing tiles for the Florida market.

Retrofit Improvements - Fuel Tank Anchoring

Author(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Organization(s)
HIRL
Publication Date
A guide on how to anchor fuel tanks to avoid damage from flooding and seismic events to the home by using straps and solid concrete slabs.

Slab Happy, BSI-059

Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
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.

2008 Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters, ICC NSAA 500

Author(s)
International Code Council,
National Storm Shelter Association
Organization(s)
ICC,
NSSA
Publication Date
Guide providing minimum design and construction requirements for storm shelters that provide a safe refuge from storms that produce high winds, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

2009 International Existing Building Code - IEBC

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2009 edition of code establishing a baseline for existing building retrofits to reach appropriate safety levels under new construction requirements covered in other ICC codes.

2009 International Fire Code - IFC

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2009 edition of code establishing regulations involving life and property safety from fires and explosion hazards, including emergency planning, fire department access and water supply, automatic sprinkler systems, fire alarms, and hazardous materials planning and storage.

Field Energy Performance of an Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) Wall

Author(s)
Maref Wahid,
Armstrong Marianne Margaret,
Saber Hamed,
Ganapathy G,
Nicholis M,
Swinton Michael C,
Rousseau M
Organization(s)
National Research Council Canada,
NRC,
ResearchGate
Publication Date
Research study evaluating the dynamic heat transmission characteristics through two identical Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) wall assemblies in Ottawa, Canada.

Foam Shrinks, and Other Lessons, PA-1201

Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Journal article describing lessons learned from updating a 16-year-old deep-energy retrofit.

NABCEP Photovoltaic (PV) Installer Resource Guide

Author(s)
Brooks William,
Dunlop James P
Organization(s)
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners,
NABCEP
Publication Date
This Photovoltaic (PV) Installer Resource Guide is an informational resource covering basic requirements for PV installations intended for individuals pursuing the Photovoltaic Installer Certification credential offered by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).

The Effects of Windborne Debris on Saferoom Wall Panels and Fenestration Systems

Author(s)
Peters Stephen T,
Robertson Ian N
Organization(s)
University of Hawaii College of Engineering
Publication Date
Projectile missile testing of various wall panel configuration to understand how the different wall constructions would perform when struck with wind driven debris from a hurricane.

Retrofit Improvements - Elevate & Secure Water Heater

Author(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Organization(s)
HIRL
Publication Date
A retrofit sheet providing information on elevating and securing water heaters to protect against damage during a flood.

Retrofit Improvements - Anchorage of Appliances

Author(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Organization(s)
HIRL
Publication Date
A quick-reference guide advising homeowners on how to anchor home appliances and protect from seismic damages.

Retrofit Improvements - Self-Locking Cabinets, Drawers, & Doors

Author(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Organization(s)
HIRL
Publication Date
A brochure educating homeowners on how to install self-locking devices on cabinets, drawers and doors, including child-proof latches and drawer locks.

Renewable Energy Annual

Author(s)
Energy Information Administration
Organization(s)
EIA
Publication Date
Data tables on U.S. renewable energy consumption and general trends in the market for renewable energy.

Home Power

Author(s)
Sanchez
Organization(s)
Home Power
Publication Date
Web article about solar site assessment.

A Practical Guide to Cool Roofs and Cool Pavements

Author(s)
Global Cool Cities Alliance,
R20 Regions of Climate Action
Organization(s)
GCCA,
R20
Publication Date
Guide developed to help contractors, building operators, and city officials successfully adopt cool roof and pavement technology.

Concrete Homes

Author(s)
Portland Cement Association
Organization(s)
PCA
Publication Date
Information sheet discussing the properties and benefits of insulating concrete forms.

Directory of Certified Product Performance

Author(s)
Air-Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute
Organization(s)
AHRI
Publication Date
Online database with efficiency information about residential HVAC systems and commercial refrigeration equipment.

Changes to the Wind Speed Maps and Wind Design – 2010 Florida Building Code

Author(s)
Building a Safer Florida Inc.
Organization(s)
Florida Building Code,
FBC,
International Code Council,
ICI,
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety,
IBHS
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing changes made to the 2010 Florida Building Code with regards to wind design loads and requirements.