Reports

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Estimated Costs of the 2012 IRC Code Changes

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) provided a list of code changes approved for the 2012 International Residential Code (2012 IRC). Home Innovation Research Labs (Home Innovation) estimated the expected cost impact of these code changes on construction practices and materials for a number of reference houses sited in various cities nationwide. Cost estimates are aggregated in ranges of high to low based on various methods or components that might be used to comply with the code.

Moisture Performance of Walls in Energy Efficient Homes

File Under: Moisture Management

Recent changes in the minimum energy code (2012/2015 IECC) significantly increased wall insulation levels and reduced wall air leakage targets for light-frame wood walls, relative to the 2006 and 2009 IECC. The long-term moisture performance of these new wall systems is not well understood with regard to vapor drive, condensation risk, and drying capability. With moisture performance increasingly becoming a design consideration in the selection of wall systems, home builders and designers need practical guidance for construction of walls that ensure durability of residential buildings.

TechNote - Window and Door Flashing: Code Requirements and Best Practices

File Under: Air Sealing & Building Envelope

This TechNote provides an overview of building code requirements and best practices for flashing at window and door frames. The focus is on common flashing applications for new construction. Although each window/door manufacturer may have its own set of flashing instructions, the strategies and general principles apply to the vast majority of flashing situations.

Estimated Costs of the 2009 IRC Code Changes

File Under: Building Codes & Standards

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) provided a list of code changes approved for the 2009 International Residential Code (2009 IRC). Home Innovation Research Labs (Home Innovation) estimated the expected cost impact of these code changes on construction practices and materials for a number of reference houses sited in various cities nationwide. Cost estimates are aggregated in ranges of high to low based on various methods or components that might be used to comply with the code.

Estimated Costs of the 2015 IRC Code Changes

File Under: Building Codes & Standards

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) provided a list of 47 code changes to the 2012 International Residential Code (2012 IRC), which were approved for incorporation into the 2015 IRC. NAHB then asked Home Innovation Research Labs to conduct an analysis to estimate the expected cost impact of these code changes on construction practices and materials. A number of the selected code changes were found to be inconsequential (e.g., no cost increase or savings) and are therefore not reflected in this report. Reported as cost variance to the builder, the results are aggregated in cost estimate ranges to estimate a cumulative cost impact on an average house in selected climate zones.

Greenbelt Homes Energy Retrofit Pilot Project: Final Technical Report

File Under: Energy Efficiency & High-Performance Building

This completely cooperative-funded project presents a unique opportunity to evaluate and prioritize the wide range of benefits of high-performance retrofits based on the consumer’s experience with, and acceptance of, the retrofit measures implemented during the pilot project. Addressing the complex interactions between benefits, trade-offs, construction methods, project management implications, realistic upfront costs, financing, and other considerations, serves as a case study for energy retrofit projects to include high-performance technologies based on the long-term value to the homeowner.

TechNote - Floors above Crawl Spaces: Reducing the Risk of Moisture Accumulation within Wood Floor Assemblies

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Floors above vented and open crawl spaces in hot-humid climates are susceptible to moisture accumulation that could lead to mold, mildew, and decay within the floor assembly, even where crawl spaces are constructed in accordance with building codes.

Cost and Stringency Comparison of 2012 National Green Building Standard® ICC 700-2012, LEED-H 2008, and LEED v4 for Homes Design and Construction

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The ICC 700 National Green Building Standard® (NGBS) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED) are the leading national residential green building protocols in the United States. Both target essentially identical areas of sustainability aimed at preserving natural resources, conserving energy and water, and promoting better indoor air quality and a healthier environment.

Army Family Housing Planning

File Under: Building Codes & Standards

Military installations should provide sustainable, efficient, harmonious, secure, and visually compatible physical environments conducive to attracting and retaining skilled and motivated personnel. The impression an installation makes on the Soldiers, Civilians and Families who live and work there has an impact on quality of life as well as mission readiness. Housing is a critical component of installations. This project offers guidance to anyone involved in the Army’s Family Housing inspections or the installation Master Planning processes.

Design Guide: Residential PEX Water Supply Plumbing Systems (Second Edition)

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In light of the popularity and practicality of the first edition of the PEX Design Guide in 2008, PPI and Home Innovation Research Labs published and released this second edition in November 2013. This edition includes many updates to reflect the increased usage of PEX systems in a variety of residential applications like water reuse and retrofit applications. New information has been added to almost every chapter including: standards updates in Chapter 3; updates to all applicable national plumbing, mechanical, and building codes in Chapter 4 including new green construction codes; updates to fitting systems in Chapter 5; and new design information on fixture flow rates and water hammer in Chapter 8. There have been many changes to national green building standards over the past few years. Many of those changes are captured throughout the document. In addition to the many updates, we are pleased to note the participation of third party certification bodies in the creation of this guide. It is believed that this new level of cooperation will make this guide easier to use and provide more value to installers and inspectors alike.