Skip to main content

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 151 - 200 of 220

Author(s)
International Masonry Institute
Organization(s)
International Masonry Institute
Publication Date
Description
Webpage featuring hundreds of illustrations of masonry construction details for brick, congrete, stone, tile, stucco, etc.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing the flood-resistant provisions of the 2021 International Codes and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 24-14, Flood Resistant Design and Construction, that are “higher standards” and that are more specific than the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements.
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article Describing methods for thermally isolating multifamily parking garages.
Author(s)
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Organization(s)
State of California,
Cal Fire
Publication Date
Description
Webpage offering recommendations to homeowners and contractors for retrofitting a home to make it more resistant to wildfires.
Author(s)
Puttagunta Srikanth,
Aldrich Robb,
Cleary Barnett
Organization(s)
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Technical report describing the research and development of the Ventilation-Integrated Comfort System (VICS) which is a specifically designed, energy-efficient solution that seamlessly integrates with low-capacity, ducted heating, and cooling systems, offering controllable, balanced energy recovery...
Author(s)
Pacific Gas & Electric
Organization(s)
PG&E
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing when and how to safely turn off the natural gas to the home during an emergency.
Author(s)
Canada Government of Northwest Territories Department of Environment and Climate Change
Organization(s)
GNWT ECC
Publication Date
Description
Website describing how wildfires spread and how fuels, weather, and topography influence fires.
Author(s)
Southern California Gas Company
Organization(s)
SoCalGas
Publication Date
Description
Webpage detailing how to purchase and install the correct shut-off valve for homes in California, including differences between earthquake and excess flow valves and how to install each.
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing defensible space and wildfire risk reduction steps that homeowners can take to make their homes safer during a wildfire.
Author(s)
City of Malibu
Organization(s)
City of Malibu
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet for natural gas customers describing city’s seismic gas shut-off valve requirements.
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
A webpage providing guidance on increasing the wildfire resistance of a home.
Author(s)
National Wildfire Coordinating Group
Organization(s)
NWCG
Publication Date
Description
Online course describing the behavior of wildfires for firefighters.
Author(s)
City of Gresham,
State of Oregon
Organization(s)
City of Gresham,
State of Oregon
Publication Date
Description
A guideline containing fire sprinkler insulation requirements from the Prescott, Arizona Fire Department.
Author(s)
Construction Instruction Experience Center
Organization(s)
CIEC
Publication Date
Description
Website providing building science based guidance and training for residential construction.
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article describing the principle of capillarity in construction materials.
Author(s)
Miller Lucas
Organization(s)
Mayfield Renewables
Publication Date
Description
Website article describing the advantages and disadvantages of AC and DC battery energy storage systems and inverters for solar power systems.
Author(s)
Cold Climate Housing Research Center
Organization(s)
CCHRC
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing how different amounts and types of snow loads affect the structural integrity of roofs and homes.
Author(s)
Bhandari Mahabir,
Kunwar Niraj,
Gehl Anthony,
Curcija Charlie
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
DOE-sponsored report describing a study investigating the energy savings potential of cellular shades in homes.
Author(s)
Hains Bryant,
Abi Saab Rawad,
Giddings Tylesha,
Magande Hugh,
Grygier Jenna,
Liang Donghai,
Gao Han,
Sarnat Jeremy,
Horner Elliott
Organization(s)
Southface
Publication Date
Description
Technical report on a field validation study that utilizes low-cost indoor air quality sensors to assess a smart ventilation system's effectiveness in maintaining acceptable indoor humidity in low-load homes in humid environments, revealing that while the smart ventilation algorithm demonstrated...
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing residential tornado safe room doors.
Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
Description
2018 edition of code establishing a baseline for existing building retrofits to reach appropriate safety levels under new construction requirements covered in other ICC codes.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet discussing designs for prefabricated safe rooms built to ICC 500 standards mentioned in FEMA P-361.
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
Articles, research, case studies, and more outlining considerations for planning and installation of a fire-protection system.
Author(s)
Schakowsky Janice
Organization(s)
U.S. House of Representatives
Publication Date
Description
Bill requiring the Consumer Product Safety Commission to revise the safety standards for freestanding clothing storage units such as a dressers, bureaus, or chests of drawers to include testing related to tip overs and new warning requirements for all such products entering the U.S. market; passed...
Author(s)
O'Connor Brian
Organization(s)
National Fire Protection Association,
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
Article describing building smoke control systems.
Author(s)
Crandell Jay H
Organization(s)
Applied Building Technology Group,
ABTG
Publication Date
Description
Article describing vapor retarder requirements in the International Residential Code and International Building Code 2021.
Author(s)
Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Report covering reducing risk from flooding.
Author(s)
US Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
EPA,
WaterSense
Publication Date
Description
Document on the EPA WaterSense webpage describing the technical evaluation process used by EPA WaterSense to authorize home certification organizations to certify homes through the WaterSense program.
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
EPA,
WaterSense
Publication Date
Description
Resource that provides a directory of individuals that have successfully completed all requirements of at least one WaterSense Approved Certification Method (WACM) through a Home Certification Organization (HCO).
Author(s)
Cal Fire Office of the State Fire Marshal
Organization(s)
CAL FIRE OSFM
Publication Date
Description
California Office of the State Fire Marshal's homepage for the Building Materials Listing Program, providing builders, contractors, architects, and others with access to a database of fire alarm systems and fire-resistant construction materials including roof coverings, wall, ceiling, and floor...
Author(s)
Cal Fire Office of the State Fire Marshal
Organization(s)
Cal Fire,
CAL FIRE OSFM
Publication Date
Description
California Office of the State Fire Marshal's compiled and searchable list of different building materials and their test results for fire resistance.
Author(s)
Knowles III Hal S,
Ruppert Kathleen C,
Lenfesty Karla A,
Halderman Barbara
Organization(s)
University of Florida IFAS Extension
Publication Date
Description
This document covers how broken windows can allow wind and rain inside the house and even lead to roof failure.
Author(s)
City of Plymouth,
State of Minnesota
Organization(s)
City of Plymouth,
State of Minnesota
Publication Date
Description
City of Plymouth webpage providing information on the Plymouth Community Center Project.
Author(s)
U.S. Fire Administration
Organization(s)
U.S. Fire Administration
Publication Date
Description
A webpage that provides wildfire preparedness and safety pictographs.
Author(s)
Milne Murray
Organization(s)
Society of Building Science Educators,
SBSE,
University of California Los Angeles,
UCLA
Publication Date
Description
Climate Consultant is a software tool for helping architects, builders, contractor, homeowners, and students to understand their local climate.
Author(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers
Organization(s)
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Description
Guidebook covering basic principles and data used in the HVAC&R industry. This is the 2021 edition of the handbook, which can be purchased physically or digitally at the reference link in versions using either I-P units of measurement or SI units of measurement.
Author(s)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Organization(s)
ASME
Publication Date
Description
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 2021 and is available to order at the referenced link.