http://www.buildingscience.com daily 1 2010-03-25T22:56:21Z http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/gm-high-performing-precast-concrete-building-enclosures-rain-control High performance precast concrete enclosure walls stand apart from most "rainscreen" walls in several key respects: how they control rain penetration, how they provide airtightness, and their sequence of construction. This guide reviews the requirements for high performance enclosures as they apply to precast concrete, with special emphasis on the control of rainwater penetration. No publisher John Straube enclosure-Wall assembly guidance-Enclosure design principles rain control high performance doc-GuideManual 2013-05-09T18:07:10Z BSC File http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/gm-attic-air-sealing-guide Attics should be air sealed prior to adding insulation. Adding insulation alone does not save much energy and can lead to health and durability problems. The intent of this guide is to provide information for the preparation work necessary prior to adding attic insulation. No publisher Joseph Lstiburek doc-GuideManual resources-low-energy Building America Retrofit 2013-05-02T13:46:55Z BSC File http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/irc-faqs/irc-faq-conditioned-attics 2009 IRC High Performance Home Conditioned Attics FAQ Sheet No publisher Building Science Corporation doc-GuideManual condensation Building America climate-Building design and climate 2013-02-27T00:17:17Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/irc-faqs/irc-faq-wall-bracing-requirements-for-insulating-sheathing 2006 IRC High Performance Housing Wall Bracing Requirements for Insulating Sheathing FAQ Sheet No publisher Building Science Corporation enclosure-Wall assembly-sheathing guidance-Enclosure design principles doc-GuideManual climate-Building design and climate 2012-04-04T22:18:09Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/irc-faqs/irc-faq-insulating-sheathing-vapor-retarder-requirements 2006 IRC High Performance Housing Insulating Sheathing Vapor Retarder Requirements FAQ Sheet No publisher Building Science Corporation enclosure-Wall assembly-sheathing doc-GuideManual climate-Building design and climate 2013-02-27T00:35:11Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/irc-faqs/irc-faq-cladding-attachment-over-insulating-sheathing 2006 IRC High Performance Housing Cladding Attachment Over Insulating Sheathing FAQ Sheet No publisher Building Science Corporation enclosure-Wall assembly-sheathing doc-GuideManual climate-Building design and climate 2013-02-22T02:01:11Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/irc-faqs/irc-faq-basement-insulation 2006 IRC High Performance Housing Basement Insulation FAQ Sheet No publisher Building Science Corporation guidance-Below-grade enclosure doc-GuideManual climate-Building design and climate basement 2012-04-04T22:21:17Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/gm-building-america-quality-assurance-roadmap BSC’s Quality Assurance Roadmap outlines the approach to quality assurance in the construction process as recommended by Building Science Corporation for new residential construction. Seven process steps are described from the assessment of current construction practice, through design and documentation changes, to training and quality control for on-site personnel. This document is intended to be used in lieu of a formal QA process to support high performance construction in Building America Research Prototype houses. No publisher Alex Lukachko doc-GuideManual Building America 2013-05-12T02:17:35Z BSC File http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/information-sheets/gm-building-america-quality-control-checklist-appendix This appendix contains Building Science Information Sheets that provide more information for specific inspection points on the BSC Building America Quality Control Checklist. Each Information Sheet is a one or two page document that can easily be printed for use on site or attached to a trade scope of work or contract. No publisher Building Science Corporation doc-GuideManual Building America 2013-04-05T19:30:30Z BSC File http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/gm-building-america-quality-control-checklist The Building America Quality Control Checklist has been developed by Building Science Corporation as both a guide to assist in the transition to high performance home building, and as a simplified tool to be used as part of any builder's on-site quality control procedures. There are two parts to this document: the checklist and the resource appendix. No publisher Building Science Corporation doc-GuideManual Building America 2013-04-09T19:29:20Z BSC File http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/gm-residential-water-management-details Explanation of the concepts of drainage, wetting and drying potential using graphics in relationship to window installations and building envelope penetrations. Also, a special review of in-field installation practices. No publisher Building Science Corporation driving rain drying moisture-Drainage plane Building America moisture-Physics of Moisture Control drainage moisture-Drying doc-GuideManual climate-Building design and climate moisture-Driving rain 2013-04-03T03:11:02Z BSC File http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/gm-guide-insulating-sheathing Residential housing design continues to move towards the development of high performance sustainable building systems. To be sustainable, a building must not only be efficient and durable but also economically viable. From this, new methods of enclosure design have been examined that provide high thermal performance and long-term durability but also take opportunities to reduce material use (including waste), simplify or integrate systems and details, and potentially reduce overall initial costs of construction. No publisher Building Science Corporation advanced framing guidance-Enclosure design principles thermal-Insulation enclosure-Wall assembly-sheathing Building America doc-GuideManual climate-Building design and climate 2013-04-09T18:59:46Z BSC File http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/gm-read-this-before-you-move-in How you live in your home and how you clean and maintain your home affect the quality of air in your home. Keeping your home clean and dry makes it comfortable and healthy for you and unfriendly and unwelcoming to pests. No publisher Joseph Lstiburek doc-GuideManual Building America climate-Building design and climate resources-homeowner 2013-04-09T19:05:45Z BSC File http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/gm-system-sizing-pro A design process is laid out for sizing cooling and heating system capacity; for specifying the airflow and duct sizes to each conditioned space; and for specifying the free area needed to transfer air supplied to closed rooms back to the central return. The software program RHVAC (from EliteSoft) and additional calculations are used to establish this process. An actual builder's plan is used as an example of the design process. No publisher Armin Rudd subsystems-HVAC-controls subsystems-HVAC subsystems-HVAC-ducts energy air handling affordability airflow-HVAC interactions efficiency subsystems-HVAC-air handlers comp-mechanical subsystems-HVAC-sealants doc-GuideManual 2013-02-26T20:50:10Z BSC File http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/gm-read-this-before-you-turn-over-a-unit This pamphlet is designed for members of the residential construction and remodeling industries, as well as owners and managers who work in affordable housing. It presents building guidance for both new construction and rehabilitation, as well as practices that can be used by property maintenance personnel. No publisher Building Science Corporation guidance-Enclosure design principles resources-homeowner Building America doc-GuideManual climate-Building design and climate 2013-04-09T19:16:48Z BSC File