BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

FORTIFIED Home Choosing the Right Tape

Reference

Checklist providing recommendations for the right tape in order to reduce the risk of leaks during storms with wind-driven rain.

FORTIFIED Home Inside FORTIFIED

Reference

Website providing resources for roofers to construct high-wind, hurricane, and hail-resistant roofs from IBHS Fortified program.

Slab Happy, BSI-059

Reference

How hard can it be to insulate a flat sheet of concrete? I mean you only have three choices – on the top, on the bottom, or on the edge. OK, you might have some combination of the three as well.

A Cup of Joe: Below Grade Water Control | Building Science Deconstructed

Video

Video from Dorken Systems Inc. of industry expert Joe Lstiburek explaining wet and dry floodproofing for homes, specifically below-grade water control.

FEMA Foundation and Anchoring Criteria for Safe Rooms

Reference

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

FEMA Flood Hazard Elevation and Siting Criteria for Residential Safe Rooms

Reference

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

Protecting Decks from Wildfires: Attached Deck (long version)

Video

Video from FIRESafe Marin explaining how decks can be a major weak point for embers to ignite. Proper construction and materials shown in the video reduce the risk of ignition.

Advanced Framing Construction Guide

Reference

Guide describing advanced framing, a system of construction framing techniques designed to optimize material usage and increase energy efficiency.

2019 California Residential Code, Title 24, Part 2.5 with July 2021 Supplement

Reference

2019 version of the California Residential Code.

Evaluation of Passive Vents in New-Construction Multifamily Buildings

Reference

Case study on exhaust ventilation and corresponding outdoor air intake strategies implemented in high-performance new-construction multifamily buildings.

Wind Safety of the Building Envelope

Reference

Article discussing structural and nonstructural building components and illustrates a variety of wind-induced damages, including wind-driven rain infiltration.

High-R Roofs Case Study Analysis, BA-1006

Reference

Report that considers a number of promising wall systems that can meet the requirement for better thermal control.

FORTIFIED Home New Roof Requirements Overview: High Wind

Reference

Checklist providing good and bad methods of fortifying the roof, especially in high wind situations.

Solar Water and Pool Heating Manual - Design and Installation & Repair and Maintenance

Reference

A research paper exploring the design, installation, repair and maintenance of solar water and pool heating technologies.

Structural Engineers Association of California Wind Design for Solar Arrays

Reference

The 2017 publication update to the SEAOC Wind Committee and SEAOC Solar Photovoltaic Systems Sub-Committee's 2012 report.

Design and Construction of Interior Duct System

Reference

This study focuses on the design, construction, and performance of the interior chase approach as implemented by five different builders in Texas, North Carolina, and Florida.

Disaster Resiliency and NFPA Codes and Standards Webinar

Video

Webinar reviewing a newly published guide of fire codes from the National Fire Protection Association.

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

Reference

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

FEMA Community Tornado Safe Room Doors: Installation and Maintenance

Reference

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

Residential Ducts in Conditioned Space / High Performance Attics

Reference

Report proposes high performance duct measures for inclusion in California Title 24 building energy efficiency standards for 2016.

Coronavirus & Systemic Changes in the Housing Industry

Presentation

Webinar from Sara Gutterman of Green Builder Media explaining the long-term changes expected to come from the Coronavirus pandemic as they relate to building science and consumer behaviors, including indoor air quality. Free EEBA login required.

WaterSense Labeled Homes: The Basics

Reference

Website providing a description of the WaterSense labeled homes program and a checklist of mandatory requirements for homes to be labeled under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) WaterSense program, Version 2.0.

2012 International Mechanical Code - IMC

Reference

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.

Careful landscaping can preserve roof-top solar exposure and provide shading to help control solar gain through windows.

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FORTIFIED Home Re-Roofing Checklist - Hurricane

Reference

Checklist providing information about the specific requirements of FORTIFIED Roof™ design and construction standard for re-roofing specific for hurricane resistance.

NFPA 70: National Electric Code

Reference

This standard provides a benchmark for safe electrical design, installation, and inspection to protect people and property from electrical hazards and has been adopted in all 50 states.

WaterSense New Home Specification - Guide for Hot Water Delivery Systems

Reference

Guide designed to help builders better understand and meet the hot water delivery system criteria as specified in EPA's WaterSense New Home Specification.

Solar Water Heating - Specification, Checklist and Guide

Reference

Specifications to assist builders in designing and constructing homes equipped with a set of features that make the installation of solar energy systems after the completion of the home’s construction easier and less expensive.