Building Science Resource Library
The Building Science Resource Library contains all of FEMA’s hazard-specific guidance that focuses on creating hazard-resistant communities.
You can search for a document by its title, or filter the collection to browse by:
- Topic: High winds, flood, earthquake, etc.
- Document Type: Brochure, report, fact sheet, infographic, etc.
- Audience: Building professionals & engineers, individuals & homeowners, teachers & kids, etc.
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The purpose of this advisory is to inform essential facility owners, operators, and planners of ways to improve the tornado performance of their existing or new essential facilities and how to reduce loss of functionality of the facility during and after a tornado.
This instructional guidance is for design professionals and building officials to help them determine when a building or other structure is required to be designed to minimum tornado loads and how to calculate design tornado forces. This guide is in accordance with the updated requirements of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) / Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) standard ASCE 7-22, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures.
A look at the current state of earthquake insurance in the United States, the infographic provides general information on the cost and availability of earthquake insurance while also depicting what it will usually cover.
This overview highlights a few of the key significant changes to the wind loading design provisions contained in ASCE 7-22, as compared to the previous version (ASCE 7-16), that will affect building design.
The launch of the National Initiative to Advance Building Codes and implementation of the FEMA Building Codes Strategy have created an opportunity to discuss building codes and their importance for creating a more resilient nation. In this episode, we will discuss “resilience” through the lens of building codes and the potential impact of the National Initiative and the FEMA Building Codes Strategy.
The Playbook is intended for officials interested in increasing community resilience and reducing loss from natural hazards by adopting the latest editions of model building codes. The Playbook provides general steps to help navigate the code adoption process and informs about FEMA grants available to support building code adoption and enforcement activities.
Flyer outlining eligible building code activities that occur up to 180 days after a major disaster declaration can be reimbursed through Public Assistance.
“How the Three Little Pigs Could Have Saved Their Homes” is a short story and accompanying activity sheet intended to inform and engage children about building codes. The front side is a story following the typical structure of the Three Little Pigs, and the backside has a spot the difference activity, maze, and word search.
The Bulletins are changing to update and streamline their content and presentation. These changes are captured in this fact sheet.