Library

Expert meeting report recommending approaches to humidity control in high performance homes.

Report presenting the process of a residential retrofit project for houses in the states of Florida and Alabama, including findings at the time of reporting and highlights of the first home to meet the target HERS Index of 70.

Report that demonstrates the durability, constructability, and cost-effectiveness of the extended plate and beam (EP&B) wall system for new construction housing projects in compliance with the International Energy Conservation Code, addressing moisture risk management and high-performance envelope...

Report on high-R wall design called extended plate and beam that uses foam sheathing insulation with wall framing.

Fact sheet describing the Extended Plate Wall (EPW) a system that incorporates a 2-inch layer of foam plastic insulative sheathing within the framing for top and bottom plates, streamlining air sealing, window and door installation, weather resistive barrier application, and cladding attachment for...

Homepage for Extension Foundation, a partner of the Cooperative Extension System, whose goal is providing an interactive learning environment delivering the best, most researched knowledge from the best land-grant university minds across America.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is interested in finding cost-effective solutions for deep energy retrofits (DERs) related to exterior wall insulation in a cold climate, with targets of 50% peak load reduction and 50% space conditioning energy savings.

Research study developing baseline engineering analysis to support the installation of thick layers of exterior insulation (2 in. to 8 in.) on existing masonry walls and wood framed walls.

Webpage from Ready.gov explaining what qualifies as 'extreme heat', how to be safe during an extreme heat event, and how to prepare for extreme heat in homes

Article from Building Science Corporation on construction techniques for extreme heat conditions in Dubai and Las Vegas.

Technical report detailing the vulnerabilities of the U.S. electric grid to weather-related failures.

Technical report describing the impact of orientation on thermal comfort.

Webpage with statistics on recent U.S. wildfires.

Fact sheet describing indoor air quality (IAQ), including information on common sources of indoor air pollutants and best practices for improving IAQ.

Webpage developed by OSHA to provide workers and employers useful, up-to-date information on fall protection.

DOE webpage that gives and overview of fans for cooling.

FSEC PDF guide on effective fan types and placement in the Southeast.

Webpage from LSU AgCenter answering frequently asked questions after gutting a flooded home, including mitigation strategies for future floods.

Information sheet about what length screws should be used, and how closely to space the screws when fastening furring strips to a foam-sheathed wall.

An example of a commercially available thermally expansive fire stopping product for controlling the spread of fires in a rainscreen cavity.

Handbook describing the permitting process regulating the transfer of stormwater from private property owners to the State of Florida Department of Transportation stormwater drainage systems.

Study characterizing how foundation heat exchangers (FHXs) used in residential ground source heat pump systems represent a potential cost savings due to their lesser first cost over other types of heat exchangers.

An engineering design guide for hydronic heat loops, discussing the features and advantages of condensing boilers.

Newsletter reviewing federal disaster policy, the research basis for resilience, and three models of building resilient communities.

Website of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

Factsheet for home and business owners describing ways to anchor fuel tanks to avoid displacement in floods.

Short guide from FEMA describing how to anchor tall bookcases and file cabinets during seismic events.

Website providing a compilation of guidance, case studies, tools, and training to assist local communities as they are in the midst of managing recovery post-disaster.

Fact sheet describing how to prepare for hurricane season and mitigate damage from floods and high winds.

A recovery advisory guide presenting important recommendations to reduce wind and water infiltration damage to new and existing residential buildings.

Document discussing methods to bioengineer stabilization of shorelines using living and non-living plant materials in combination, known as the “Living Shorelines” concept.

Summary document describing flood resistant building materials and some tips for building flood resistant walls.

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.

FEMA document defining key coastal and flood hazard terms.

Document describing commonly used terms in the context of levees and what they mean.

Guide providing homeowners tips on how to secure bookcases and other heavy furniture with brackets and child-proof drawer and cabinet locks.

Fact sheet discussing safe room and storm shelter door assemblies along with ICC® 500 compliance.

Documents describing the similarities and differences between the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) minimum requirements and the requirements of the International Codes® (I-Codes®) and ASCE 24, Flood Resistant Design and Construction, a standard referenced by the I-Codes., and illustrating...

Article explaining what a continuous load path is and the key connection points that make it up.

Fact sheet describing the report FEMA P-804 Wind Retrofit Guide for Residential Buildings (2010) with a link to this report and gives an overview of FEMA funds for wind retrofit projects.

Website providing links to scalable guidance and tools about the importance of earthquake mitiation to the private sector, its owners, managers, and employees.

Document explores alternatives to riprap on banks and waterways to mitigate bankside erosion in the Pacific Northwest.

Technical bulletin describing a set of standards for building materials able to withstand flood waters as needed with wet floodproofing.

Online geospatial map with interactive viewer showing flood risk areas and base flood elevations

Guide discussing the siting of residential and community safe rooms at appropriate elevations and locations.

Website describing the national flood insurance program and how to purchase flood insurance.

A address searchable geographic information system for visualizing the flood hazard of an address and its surrounding area.

Website describing and providing links to FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center, which home owners and builders can use to determine the flood risk of their location.

Documents describing Flood Resistant Provisions of the international codes (including the international building, residential, exiting building, mechanical, plumbing, fuel gas, fire, swimming pool and spa, private sewage disposal, and code council performance codes) and summaries of changes from the...

Fact sheet discussing designs for prefabricated safe rooms built to ICC 500 standards mentioned in FEMA P-361.