BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

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

Guide

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

Water Managed Existing Sill Beams and Sill Plates

Guide

Guide describing how to insulate the sill beam or sill plate on the exterior side in a way that allows drying to the exterior, as part of an exterior wall upgrade.

Spray foam extends down the foundation wall to the slab, which has been retrofitted by adding dimple plastic drainage mat and rigid foam insulation.

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Rigid insulation and water control layers are installed on the exterior of a flat foundation wall; spray foam insulates the rim joist

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This exterior wall retrofit permits drying to the exterior of a sill plate installed on an untreated irregular foundation wall

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This exterior wall retrofit permits drying to the exterior of a sill plate installed on an untreated flat foundation wall

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FORTIFIED Home Corrosion-Resistant Fasteners - New Documentation Requirements

Reference

Checklist highlighting the requirement for metal structural connections and materials fasteners used to retrofit or construct FORTIFIED buildings less than 3,000 ft from saltwater to be suitably protected from corrosion.

Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Charley in Florida Observations Recommendations and Technical Guidance, FEMA 488

Reference

FEMA mitigation assessment team report following Hurricane Charley in Florida including observations, recommendations, and technical guidance for retrofitting hurricane-damaged homes.

Protect Your Home from High Wind and Earthquakes

Video

Video showing how to protect your home against both earthquakes and high winds and how similar design strategies can work for both events per FLASH Strong Homes guidelines.

Spray foam extends down the inside of the foundation wall to the uninsulated slab; because the wall lacked exterior perimeter drainage, the slab was cut and an interior footing drain was installed.

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Wind Retrofit Guide for Residential Buildings, FEMA P-804

Reference

Report providing guidance on how to improve the wind resistance of existing residential buildings in Mississippi and across the Gulf Coast.

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

Guide

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

Revised Builder’s Guide to Frost Protected Shallow Foundations

Reference

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.

UMN NorthernSTAR: DOE Building America: Exterior Foundation Insulation

Video

Video describing an “excavationless” retrofit technique developed by the University of Minnesota to install exterior insulation around the foundation of an existing home by using high-pressure water to cut a trench through the dirt along the edge of a concrete foundation, remove the mud with a...

Floodproofing Non-Residential Buildings, FEMA P-936

Reference

Report describing dry floodproofing technologies for non-residential buildings, including information about regulatory requirements, design considerations, and descriptions of floodproofing methods and equipment.

2015 NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures, Volume 1: Part 1 Provisions, Part 2 Commentary, FEMA P-1050-1

Reference

Guide providing engineering seismic design and building practices based on post-earthquake research.

What Type of Connection is Critical in Creating a Continuous Path Differing Loads?

Video

Video demonstrating how all connections are critical in creating a continuous path for loads acting on a building (from the exhibition Designing for Disaster at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.© National Building Museum (2014))

Foundation Heat Exchangers for Residential Ground Source Heat Pump Systems - Numerical Modeling and Experimental Validation

Reference

Article describing a numerical model that can be used to size foundation heat exchanger (FHX) systems.

Spray foam insulation extends down the foundation wall to the slab, which has been retrofitted by cutting the slab to install drainage mat against the wall and a new perimeter footing drain, along with rigid foam plastic above the slab.

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Turned down concrete slab - 1 inch rigid insulation

CAD File

FORTIFIED Animation: Hurricane - Continuous Load Path

Video

Video showing key connection joints for a properly installed continuous load path per IBHS FORTIFIED Home specifications.

Damp-Proof Exterior Surface of Below-Grade Walls

Guide

Guide describing how to apply water management strategies to below-grade walls.

Turned down concrete slab - 3/4 inch rigid insulation

CAD File

Turned down concrete slab - 1 1/2 inch rigid insulation

CAD File

Hurricanes, Earthquakes & Tornados - Design of Wood-frame Structures for Extreme Forces

Video

Video presentation describing wood framing design to withstand extreme forces from severe weather.

After the Storm: Building for High Wind Resistance

Video

Video presentation describing the importance of a continuous load path and how good design and construction practices can improve storm resistance per APA guidelines.

The Importance of a Continuous Load Path

Video

Video illustrating the importance of a properly installed continuous load path in homes for the home's structural integrity including where and how to properly install bracing measures per IBHS FORTIFIED Home specifications.

Feasibility of Foundation Heat Exchangers for Residential Ground Source Heat Pump Systems in the United States

Reference

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.

Why We Need to Know More About Basement Moisture

Reference

Conference paper presented at the 8th International Conference on Thermal Performance of Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings describing moisture from basements and crawlspaces as a source of indoor humidity and providing recommendations for finishing below-grade spaces to limit potential indoor...

FEMA Comparison of Select NFIP & Building Code Requirements for Special Flood Hazard Areas

Reference

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...