Reports

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Effect of Cladding Systems on Moisture Performance of Wood-Framed Walls in a Mixed-Humid Climate

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A 22-month field investigation of nine different north- and south-oriented wood-framed wall assemblies was conducted to determine the moisture performance of various wall construction types, most of which incorporated absorptive cladding. The study was conducted on the campus of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Home Innovation, in Upper Marlboro, MD, 20 miles east of Washington, DC, in a mixed humid climate. Moisture content of the sheathing and wall cavity temperatures were measured at various points in each wall section. The primary performance measure was moisture content of the wood-based structural sheathing.

Commercially Viable Energy Efficiency Solution Package: Mixed Humid Climate, Current Best Practice

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Under the Building America Program, production builder Winchester Homes Inc. (WHI)’s Camberley Homes subsidiary teamed with Home Innovation Research Labs through Home Innovation Research Labs Industry Partnership to design a new construction test home that uses 30% less energy than a comparable house that meets the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. With technical guidance from Home Innovation Research Labs, the builder selected technologies, design elements, and construction methods that minimize cost while achieving 30% energy savings. Ultimately this design is a commercially viable energy efficiency solution package for the mixed-humid climate addressing both energy efficiency and costs.

Domestic Hot Water System Piping Insulation: Analysis of Benefits and Cost

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Increasing the efficiency of water heating equipment is one means to achieve energy savings in the hot water system; however, the piping distribution system itself is now being scrutinized to determine opportunities for further hot water system savings. Often accepted approaches to energy savings in the hot water piping system are to reduce the length of piping to the outlets and to insulate the hot water pipes. Less regarded as an energy savings feature is the reduction in size of the hot water lines to outlets, which can reduce pipe losses, as other plumbing system performance issues such a pressure drop and fluid velocity must be considered. All of these approaches will result in lower piping system losses. The purpose of this study is to outline the mechanisms of energy savings in the piping distribution system and to estimate the range of energy savings resulting from pipe insulation based on simulated hot water use profiles.

Energy Performance Remodeling Case Study: Habitat for Humanity Montgomery County (HFH-MC), Maryland

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Habitat for Humanity Montgomery County (HFH-MC) worked in conjunction with Montgomery County to purchase foreclosed homes, remodel them, and ultimately deliver 12 fully renovated homes to clients. The goals of the project include affordability, enhancing safety, improving durability, lowering the energy cost, and adhering to schedule and budget. As part of this project, HFH-MC partnered with Home Innovation Research Labs through the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Building America Program. The intent of the partnership was to address energy efficient remodeling within the context of affordable homes.

IRC Wall Bracing: Combined Wind Uplift and Shear Load Path

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As part of a comprehensive update of the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) wall bracing provisions, a new requirement was introduced that braced wall panels must be presumed to resist combined (simultaneous) uplift and shear loads, unless an independent continuous uplift load path is provided using hurricane ties and metal straps. This change represents a significant shift in the prescriptive wall bracing provisions, with potential impacts on prescriptive braced wall amounts, performance of conventional braced wall methods, braced wall panel connection requirements, and development of alternative bracing solutions.

Radon-Resistant New Construction Practices in the Sale of New Homes

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The EPA is seeking to better understand successful radon-resistant new construction business and marketing practices among US homebuilders, with the goal of developing guidelines and strategies to assist other builders in conveying the value of radon reduction to prospective homebuyers.

Initial Study of the Moisture Performance of OSB-Sheathed Walls in Homes in Climate Zones 4 and 5

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This study is designed to document construction practices and obtain performance data for new houses framed in the fall of 2009 in the same geographical areas and by the same builders that experienced buckling of OSB wall sheathing in the winter of 2008-2009. The objective of the study is to attempt to isolate the variables or a combination of variables that are contributing to OSB wall sheathing buckling. In addition, moisture performance information is collected by sensors installed in wall cavities to better understand the in-service moisture conditions of OSB-sheathed walls during the first winter and spring following the construction process.

Quality Assurance Activities for New Homes

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This report is an interim report by Home Innovation Research Labs regarding their quality management activities for new high performance homes from January 2010 through June 2010. It is a summary and an overview of four full individual reports included in the Appendices. The report includes Home Innovation Research Labs’s current quality research products for new home construction.

Innovative Light Framed Wall Bracing Options

File Under: Structural Performance

Let-in bracing has been a viable option for bracing of conventional construction for many years. Recent testing conducted by Home Innovation Research Labs under conditions of both full and partial restraint reconfirmed that let-in bracing continues to be an acceptable method of bracing. The renewed interest in let-in bracing is triggered by the increasing demand from builders for cost-effective energy-efficient construction. Technological barriers to the use of let-in bracing include (1) the limitations on the flexibility of placing of doors and windows where a let-in brace is installed because of the requirements for a wide uninterrupted wall and (2) the need for notching of studs. In addition, the 2009 IRC bracing provisions increased the required amounts of diagonal bracing. For these reasons, the utility of traditional let-in braces and similar alternative bracing methods have become challenged and are in need of innovation to meet the demands of current code provisions.

Wind Load Design Considerations for Out-of-Plane Loading

File Under: Building Codes & Standards, Structural Performance

The residential building code provisions continue to evolve with new design and construction requirements introduced every code update cycle. These new requirements are typically the result of one of the following:

A product innovation that leads to a new method of construction that has not been previously included in the prescriptive building code requirements
A system innovation that leads to the use of existing materials in new applications or new configurations
A re-evaluation of conventional practices based on engineering or changed performance expectations