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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.

TechNote - Whole-House Mechanical Ventilation Code: Safety and Performance Considerations For Low-Rise Residential Buildings

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Whole-house mechanical ventilation is the intentional exchange of indoor air with fresh outdoor air at a controlled rate using fans. The purpose of whole-house mechanical ventilation is to improve indoor air quality.

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Hotspot Implementation Guide & Tools

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The intent of the Hotspot Implementation Guide and Tools is to provide a resource for builders and their trade contractors to allow them to take on a self-contained quality management process that is not dependent on having a formal quality management system in place.

Economics of Quality

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To ensure that the homes are built as designed to achieve optimal energy savings, a builder's quality control and assurance processes are necessary. There are economic costs to a builder for quality management including the costs for prevention, appraisal, and the cost of failure that can directly affect the economics of energy efficiency upgrades in a high performance home. An effective quality management system should create efficiencies and related savings that are greater than the investments in the quality activities required to achieve the savings. However, the costs of quality are difficult to measure due to the fact that the performance metrics have not been fully defined and are often not effectively utilized by builders.

Cost Optimized 50% IECC Prescriptive Analysis

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The objective of this analysis is to quantify the incremental construction cost and energy cost savings associated with constructing a house 50% more energy efficient than a 2006 IECC baseline (50% Savings). A methodology established by Home Innovation Research Labs, formerly the NAHB Research Center, was used to determine the incremental energy cost savings. Two 50% Savings cost optimization analyses were performed; the first used current Federal minimum equipment efficiencies and the second included efficiency optimization of the space heating, space cooling and water heating equipment.

TechSpec: The Closed Crawlspace - Making the Transition

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The modern closed crawlspace is dry, energy efficient, functional, and practical to build. This TechSpec presents an overview of benefits, code considerations, best practices, and solutions for closed crawlspaces. This information is intended to help home builders transition from a slab-on-grade or conventional vented crawlspace, or to improve existing design and construction practices. This TechSpec is consistent with the provisions of the 2012 International Residential Code (IRC), and is focused on warm and mixed-humid climate regions in the southeast (Climate Zones 3A and 4A). Some common local construction practices are also addressed.