BASC Search

Article describing the effective R-values of various subslab insulation products, including foil bubble pack.

Report describing approaches to insulating basements in homes built to meet Energy Star levels of performance of heat loss reduction.

Document providing information on basement insulation, air sealing and water management retrofits.

Article describing methods for designing and constructing multifamily buildings with insulating concrete forms (ICFs).

Report assessing slab-on-grade foundation insulation energy savings.

Measure Guideline research report providing simple, long term, and durable solutions when using tapes and flashing membranes in conjunction with the exterior face of rigid polymeric foam sheathing to create the drainage plane of a wall system.

Information sheet about insulating slabs.

Case study describing foundation wall moisture studies at a research facility in Minnesota run by Building America team NorthernSTAR.

Case study describing novel technique for installing exterior spray foam on foundation walls that uses high-pressure water sprayer and a “hydro vac” to remove dirt along the foundation wall.

Brochure describing insulation approaches for homes with slab-on-grade floors.

Report covering insulating crawlspaces.

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.

Handbook providing guidance on the design and construction of foundations for homes, including insulation, air sealing, and water management details for basements, crawlspaces, and slabs.

Presentation describing the challenges of insulating an existing basement, presented to the Building America residential energy-efficiency stakeholder meeting.

Video describing how a frost-protected shallow foundation (FPSF) is constructed and including use of a stay-in-place EPS (expanded polystyrene) footing form that provides insulation and simplifies the installation of frost-protected monolithic concrete slab foundations.

Video describing how a frost-protected shallow foundation (FPSF) is constructed and including use of a stay-in-place EPS (expanded polystyrene) footing form that provides insulation and simplifies the installation of frost-protected monolithic concrete slab foundations.

Website describing the U.S. Department of Energy's residential buildings program.

Information guide describing issues with concrete floors, in multiple climate zones.

Article describing frost-protected shallow foundations with construction drawing details.

Guides describing frost-protected shallow foundations as an alternative method for building an energy-efficient foundation for a house in a cold climate that uses less concrete and saves on labor.

Article describing what the building codes say about frost-protected shallow foundations as a cost-saving alternative to conventional concrete foundations.

Article describing the control layers (air, thermal, and vapor barriers) needed to build homes successfully in very cold locations.

Article describing correct ways to eliminate water damage by incorporating a sacrificial layer to foundation walls and footings.

Report describing how to construct a frost protected shallow foundation (FPSF) as a practical alternative to a deeper, more-costly foundation in cold regions with seasonal ground freezing and the potential for frost heave.

Report providing extensive guidance on controlling moisture in building envelopes through proper selection and installation on air, water, thermal, and vapor barriers.