Guides A-Z | Building America Solution Center

HVAC Ducts Shall Not Be Run within Exterior Walls

Guide describing the use of building cavities as supply or return ducts.

Increase Seismic Resistance and Thermal Performance of Basement, Crawl Space, and Crawl Space with Cripple Wall Foundations

Guide describing different options for providing seismic and thermal resistance for homes with basement foundations, crawlspace foundations, or crawlspace foundations with a "cripple" wall.

Indoor Sprinklers for Fire Protection

Guide describing the design and installation of indoor automatic fire sprinklers in residential settings.

Install Top Plates or Blocking at the Top of Walls Adjoining Unconditioned Spaces

Guide describing how to correctly air-seal a wall with missing top plates or open wall cavities.

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs)

Guide describing how to install insulated concrete forms to block excessive heat loss and gain though structural framing.

Insulating Plumbing Pipes

Guide describing insulation of piping in exterior walls.

Insulation Below Attic Platforms

Guide describing how to install insulation below attic platforms

Insulation Installation Achieves RESNET Grade 1

Guide describing RESNET Grade 1 level installation of insulation in walls, attics, and floors.

Integrated Collector Storage

Measure guide describing basic steps for designing an integrated collector storage (ICS) or thermosyphon hot water system.

Integrated Heating and Hot Water with Tankless Gas or Electric Water Heating

Guide describing installation procedures for combined space and water heating systems.

Intermittent Supply/Exhaust Fan Ratings

Guide describing how to choose ENERGY STAR fans.

Inverter, Meter, and Shut-Off Mounting Surface for Solar PV Systems

Measure guide describing the need to install a mounting surface for equipment related to a future solar photovoltaic installation, and how to prepare a space for the installation.

Jump Ducts

Guide describing how to install jump ducts in bedroom walls to balance air pressures between rooms, enabling constant air flow for conditioning and freshness even when room doors are closed.

Kitchen Exhaust Fans

Guide describing how to install efficient kitchen exhaust systems.

Kitchen Faucets

Guide describing how to install WaterSense® labeled kitchen faucets and accessories.

Lateral Bracing in Gable End Walls

Guide describing how to brace gable end walls to resist wind pressures.

Leaks in Water-Using Fixtures

Guide describing testing of water-using fixtures, equipment, and appliances to ensure there are no leaks.

Low-E Exterior Storm Windows

Guide describing how to install low-e exterior storm windows.

Low-Slope ("Flat") Roofs

A guide describing how to install low-sloped ("flat") roofs with insulation above the roof deck that resist wind pressures during high-wind events.

Managing Indoor Humidity and Ventilation in Cold Weather

Guide describing steps to take to minimize indoor humidity in preparation for cold winter weather.

Managing Snow Loads on Roofs and Decks

Guide describing how to construct homes and decks to manage heavy snow loads in winter weather.

Measuring Mechanical Ventilation Airflow

Guide describing mechanical ventilation tools and methods required for accurate airflow measurement.

Mechanical Ventilation for Attached Garage

Guide describing how to install an exhaust fan in an attached garage to pull fumes out of the garage and to depressurize the garage with reference to the home.

Metal Roofs

Guide discussing disaster resistance related to metal roofing when installing roofing on new construction or when repairing or replacing roofing on existing homes.

Micro-Irrigation Systems

Guide describing the use of micro-irrigation systems to reduce water usage in residential landscaping.

Moisture-, Impact-, Fire-, and Pest-Resistant Exterior Siding

Guide describing how to select the siding materials best suited to withstand hazards the home is likely to face within its lifetime.

Mounting Surface for Pumps

This measure guide describes the need to install a mounting surface for equipment related to a future solar hot water installation.

Mulching

Guide describing how to properly apply mulch to landscaping.

Multi-Family Water Metering

Guide describing water metering in multi-family buildings.

No Ducts or Air Handlers Located in Garage

Guide describing how to design HVAC systems to be located within the conditioned space of the home, either in a utility closet or in an air sealed conditioned attic, basement, or crawl space.

No Excessive Coiled or Looped Flex Ducts

Guide outlining how to correctly install flex ducts without excessive coils or loops.

No Kinks or Sharp Bends in Flex Duct Installation

Guide outlining how to correctly install flex ducts without kinks or sharp bends.

No Vapor Retarders on Interior Side of Air-Permeable Foundation Insulation

Vapor retarder plastic should not be installed over fibrous insulation on basement or crawlspace walls unless rigid foam or spray foam is installed directly against the concrete, behind the blanket insulation.

No Visible Signs of Water Damage or Mold on Materials

Guide describing how to correctly choose building materials.

Obvious Ventilation Controls

Guide describing how to install obvious ventilation controls.

Oil-Fired Boilers

Guide describing oil-fired boilers and hot water heat distribution systems used for home heating.

Outdoor Air Intake Damper Controlled

No outdoor air intakes connected to return side of the HVAC system, unless controls are installed to operate intermittently & automatically based on a timer and to restrict intake when not in use (e.g., motorized damper)

Outdoor HVAC Equipment Elevated and Secured for Resistance to Floods, Earthquakes, and High Winds

A guide describing how to elevate and secure HVAC equipment for protection against floods, earthquakes, and high winds.

Passive and Low-Energy Cooling

Guide describing various ways of implementing passive and low-energy cooling techniques for a house.

Patio Slabs, Porch Slabs, Walkways, and Driveways Slope Away from House

Guide describing how to correctly slope solid surfaces outside a home so rainwater flows away from the home.

Pest Control Overview Guide

Information guide providing an overview of pest-resistant construction practices and guides in the Building America Solution Center for home builders.

Pest-Resistant Ground Cover at Foundation Perimeter

Guide describing methods for installing pest-resistant ground cover around foundations to resist borrowing rodents and other pests.

Porches, Carports, and Deck Attachments

Guide describing how to provide a continuous load path with appropriate connectors to improve the wind resistance of attached porches, carports, and decks during high-wind events.

Proper Clothes Dryer Venting

Guide describing how to correctly vent a clothes dryer.

Proper Installation of Furnace and Air-Handler Filters

Guide describing proper installation of high-MERV furnace and air-handler filters.

PV Battery Storage for Power Outages

Guide describing home stationary battery storage and associated electric panel and equipment needed to safely supply electricity during a blackout.

Radon Fan

Guide describing how to install a radon mitigation fan with various types of house foundations.

Reduce Pest Intrusion

Guide describing ways builders can block off entry points and otherwise make homes inhospitable to all manner of pests.

Refrigerators

Guide describing how to install energy efficient refrigerators in new and exisitng homes.

Removing Construction Debris from Ducts

Guide describing removal of construction debris from flex ducts and protection of ducts and HVAC equipment during construction to keep them free of dust and debris.