Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 1 - 50 of 261 results:

2009 International Building Code - IBC

2017

International Code Council

ICC

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 International Fuel Gas Code - IFGC

2017

International Code Council

ICC

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

2009 International Plumbing Code - IPC

2018

International Code Council

ICC

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

2009 International Residential Code - IRC

2017

International Code Council

ICC

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.

2009 Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and Other Hazards, FEMA P-85

2019

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Fact sheet describing a report providing best practices for reducing damages from floods to manufactured homes.

2010 Wind Retrofit Guide for Residential Buildings, FEMA P-804

2019

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Fact sheet providing an overview of the FEMA document Wind Retrofit Guide for Residential Buildings.

2012 International Building Code - IBC

2019

International Code Council

ICC

2012 International Mechanical Code - IMC

2019

International Code Council

ICC

2012 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for mechanical systems, including heating, cooling, ventilation, exhaust, ducts, fireplaces, combustion and hydronic systems, using prescriptive and performance-related provisions.

2012 International Plumbing Code - IPC

2018

International Code Council

ICC

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

2012 International Residential Code - IRC

2019

International Code Council

ICC

2012 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.

2017 Florida Building Code – Building, Sixth Edition

2017

International Code Council,

Florida Building Commission

ICC,

FBC

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

2017 Protecting Building Utility Systems From Flood Damage, FEMA P-348

2019

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Fact sheet providing an overview of FEMA P-348, Protecting Building Utility Systems From Flood Damage.

2018 International Building Code - IBC a Compilation of Flood Resistant Provisions

2017

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

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.

2018 Long-term National Seismic Hazard Map

2018

U.S. Geological Survey,

Earthquake Hazards Program

USGS,

U.S. Department of the Interior,

USDI

A colored map showing seismic zones across the United States, ranging from lowest to highest seismic hazards.

2018 Rating the States - An Assessment of Residential Building Code and Enforcement Systems for Life Safety and Property Protection in Hurricane-Prone Regions

2018

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

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.

2018 Uniform Plumbing Code - UPC

2018

International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials

IAPMO

Code set from IAPMO explaining plumbing standards. 2018 publication.

2019 Fortified Home New Construction Hurricane Technical Summary

2019

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

Report summarizing the requirements for strenghtening and protecting the roof, openings in the house, and creating a continuous load path to strengthen walls and foundation per the IBHS Fortified Homes Hurricane Standard for New Homes.

2019 Standard for the Calculation and Labeling of the Energy Performance of Low-Rise Residential Buildings Using an Energy Rating Index, ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301

2019

Residential Energy Services Network,

International Code Council

ICC,

RESNET

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

5 Ways to Protect Your Home From Wildfires

2017

McGuigan Connor

Sierra Club

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.

7 Reasons to Mulch Your Garden As Soon As Possible

2017

One Green Planet

Article describing seven reasons to mulch gardens.

A Methodology for Calculating Cooling from Vegetation Evapotranspiration for use in Urban Space Microclimate Simulations

2017

Gkatsopoulos Panagiotis

National Technical University of Athens

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

A Plug-and-Play Duct System Evaluation

2017

Beach Robert,

et al.

Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,

IBACOS

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.

A Thermally Broken Steel Connection

2017

West Chris

Journal of Light Construction,

JLC

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

ABAA Section 072703: Sprayed Polyurethane Foam (Medium Density Closed Cell)

2019

Air Barrier Association of America

ABAA

Standard providing master specifications for closed cell, medium density spray polyurethane foam air barriers located in the non-accessible part of the wall.

ABAA Section 072713: Self-Adhered Sheet Membranes

2019

Air Barrier Association of America

ABAA

Standard providing information about self-adhered sheet air barriers located in the non-accessible part of the wall and materials to bridge and seal air leakage pathways and gaps.

ACCA Manual ZR – Residential Zoning Systems

2018

Air Conditioning Contractors of America

ACCA

Technical manual from ACCA outlining correct methods for zoning of residential HVAC systems.

ACCA Standard 12 - Home Evaluation and Performance Improvement

2018

Air Conditioning Contractors of America

ACCA

This Standard establishes the minimum requirements to evaluate a residence with regards to energy efficiency, water conservation, occupant comfort, and indoor air quality.

ACCA Standard 4 - Maintenance of Residential HVAC Systems

2019

Air Conditioning Contractors of America

ACCA

Standard providing nationally recognized, manufacturer-endorsed set of inspection tasks for HVAC maintenance.

AIA Disaster Assistance Handbook, Third Edition

2017

American Institute of Architects

AIA

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.

Air Sealing Colorado Homes – 10.634

2019

Weiner C.

Colorado State University,

U.S. Department of Agriculture,

USDA

Fact sheet describing air-sealing concerns and remedies, including HRV/ERV installation, caulking, spray foam, and weatherstrip installation.

Air Sealing That Works

2018

Bruton Jack,

Baczek Steven

Journal of Light Construction

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

APA Building for High Wind Resistance in Light-Frame Wood Construction

2019

APA - The Engineered Wood Association

American Plywood Association,

APA

A publication highlighting recommendations that contribute to improved overall performance in the structural shell and focus on good connection details to tie together exterior walls, roofs and floors.

Are We Sealing The Right Walls In Buildings?, BSI-108

2018

Lstiburek Joseph

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article describing air sealing and air barriers in buildings.

ASCE Ground Snow Loads

2017

Wilkerson

Medeek Design

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.

ASHRAE 90.2 - Energy-Efficient Design of Low-Rise Residential Buildings

2018

American National Standards Institute

ASHRAE,

ANSI

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

Assessing the Business Case for Hosting Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in New York State

2019

Nigro Nick,

et al.

Atlas Public Policy,

NYSERDA,

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Report describing the business case of hosting a Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging station in New York, including analysis of real-world data on equipment use, costs, revenue, and assumptions derived from industry reports and original research.

Attic Retrofits Using Nail-Base Insulated Panels

2018

Mallay David,

Kochkin Vladimir

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE,

Home Innovation Research Labs,

HIRL

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.

Avoiding Mass Failures, BSI-105

2018

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Report covering interior energy retrofits of masonry buildings.

Avoiding Wet Roofs - Part I

2018

Yost Peter

Journal of Light Construction,

JLC

Article describing the building science implications of insulating vented or unvented attics.

Avoiding Wet Roofs - Part II

2018

Yost Peter

Journal of Light Construction,

JLC

Article describing the research into insulating vented versus unvented attics.

Backup Power Options to Prepare for the Next Power Outage

2019

Suntegrity Solar

Webpage from Suntegrity Solar describing different backup power generator options to prepare for future power outages.

Be Prepared For Extreme Heat, FEMA V-1004

2018

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Information sheet from FEMA on preparation for extreme heat, including measures for keeping homes cool.

Best Practices Manual

2018

Hammer & Hand

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.

BPVC Code Cases: Boilers and Pressure Vessels, BPVC.CC.BPV-2017

2017

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASME

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.

BSC Information - Pan Flashing for Exterior Wall Openings for All Climates, Sheet 302

2017

Burkett Lena,

et al.

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE,

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs,

CRA,

Colorado Code Consulting,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

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.

Build A Better Home: Moisture-Resistant Roof Construction

2017

APA - The Engineered Wood Association

American Plywood Association,

APA

Report providing water management details for roof assemblies.

Building a Wildfire-Resistant Home: Codes and Costs

2018

Quarles Stephen L,

Pohl Kelly

Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire,

CPAW,

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety,

IBHS,

Headwaters Economics

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

Building America Building Science Advisor

2019

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

ORNL,

DOE

Web based tool providing decision-making guidance for selecting wall assembly components.

Building Thermal Performance, Extreme Heat, and Climate Change

2017

Nahlik Matthew J.,

et al.

American Society of Civil Engineers,

ASCE

Article published by American Society of Civil Engineers on different building types and their effectiveness resisting extreme heat from a building envelope perspective.

California Plumbing Code 2019

2019

California Plumbing Code

CPC

2019 version of California's plumbing code.