Library

2009 edition of code for commercial buildings that brings together all structural, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy and electrical provisions for all buildings except detached one- and two-family residences and townhouses up to three stories.

2009 edition of code establishing a baseline for the design and installation of fuel gas systems and gas fired appliances through performance requirements.

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

2009 edition of code for residential buildings that creates minimum regulations for one- and two-family dwellings of three stories or less, bringing together all building, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy and electrical provisions for one- and two-family residences.

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

Standard providing a methodology for calculating Energy Rating Index for code compliance.

2015 edition of code establishing a baseline for energy efficiency by setting performance standards for the building envelope (defined as the boundary that separates heated/cooled air from unconditioned, outside air), mechanical systems, lighting systems and service water heating systems in homes...

2015 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.

2015 edition of code establishing a baseline for the design and installation of fuel gas systems and gas fired appliances through performance requirements.

Florida building code including all the amendments and additions by Florida for the wind-borne debris regions and the high-velocity hurricane zone.

Document describing portions of the flood provisions from the 2018 editions of the IBC, IRC, IEBC, IMC, IPC, IFGC, IFC, ISPSC, IPSDC, and ICC Performance Code.

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.

Article from the Sierra Club explaining 5 steps to take to ensure your home's resistance to wildfires, including site maintenance and roof construction guidelines.

Article describing seven reasons to mulch gardens.

Report telling consumers the risks of radon, how radon gets into a home, and steps consumers can take to reduce radon exposure in their homes.

Guide for homeowners describing how to find and seal basement and attic air leaks, determine if attic insulation is adequate, make improvements safely, and reduce energy bills.

Paper describing a proposed method for quantifying tree and vegetation evapotranspiration effects on city climate

Report describing an air distribution system composed of a series of uniformly-sized ducts that terminate in rooms throughout the home and return to a central manifold, similar in fashion to a “home-run” cross-linked polyethylene plumbing system.

Article describing methods for thermally isolating a garage in a Passive House-certified multifamily building.

Standards book discussing the minimum standards of total system balance of HVAC systems.

Vinyl siding estimating and installation guide for vinyl siding products.

Standard outlining industry procedure for sizing residential duct systems.

Standard covering equipment sizing loads for single-family-detached homes, small multi-unit structures, condo­miniums, town houses and manufactured homes.

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.

Standard providing a universally accepted definition for quality installation for residential and commercial heating, ventilating, and air conditioning applications.

Document detailing the requirements, roles, and obligations for participants in an organized effort, ensuring that HVAC installations comply with the ANSI/ACCA 5 QI – 2010 (HVAC Quality Installation Specification) QI Standard.

Acceptance criteria providing guidelines for demonstrating compliance with codes referenced in the criteria related to barriers to water migration in thin-set installations of ceramic tile and stone flooring and shower sub-pan linings.

Article describing how to detail head flashing above a window.

Report on the design and evaluation of extended plate and beam.

Report describing the experience gained from AIA’s Disaster Assistance Program with first-hand accounts of disaster response and recovery, case studies and other best practices, including approaches to designing buildings to be more adaptable to uncertainty.

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

Updated detailed information about Formaldehyde.

Report describing a field investigation of failure rates of whole-house mechanical ventilation systems installed in Florida homes.

Article describing air sealing and air barriers in buildings.

Webpage providing mapping tool for obtaining ground snow load, based on ASCE 7-10, for any location in the contiguous United States, with the exception of locations requiring a case study due to extreme local variations in ground snow loads. Fee required for some data.

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

A basic guide walking through the various types of valves useful in mitigating the effects of earthquakes and other seismic events on natural gas pipelines for residential use.

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.

Code establishing the rules of safety relating only to pressure integrity for the design, fabrication, and inspection of boilers and pressure vessels during construction which was published in the year 2017 and is available to order at the referenced link.

Webinar answering code-related questions on duct leakage tests, moisture levels in attics and crawlspaces, combustion equipment in conditioned attics, ventilation in multifamily buildings, and continuous insulation in residential construction.

Report providing water management details for roof assemblies.

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