Building Science
Who We Are
The Building Science Branch is a technical services bureau made up of highly skilled subject matter experts. The branch develops and produces technical guidance and tools focused on fostering a disaster resilient built environment. Located within the FEMA Mitigation Directorate's Risk Reduction Division, the Building Science Branch supports the directorate's mission to reduce risk to life and property by providing state of the art technical hazard mitigation solutions for buildings.
What We Do
The Building Science branch develops mitigation guidance that focuses on creating disaster-resilient communities. Mitigation efforts provide value to the American people by creating safer communities and reducing loss of life and property. Our mitigation activities include:
- Technical services bureau for Mitigation and FEMA
- Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) Program
- The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP)
- Developing publications, guidance materials, tools, technical bulletins, and recovery advisories that incorporate the most up-to-date building codes, floodproofing requirements, seismic design standards, and wind-bracing requirements for new construction or repairing existing buildings.
- Supporting the development and adoption of model building codes and standards
- All hazards mitigation, the Risk Management Series (RMS)
- Providing technical support for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
- Providing technical support to public and private sector stakeholders.
- Producing state of the art guidance on the construction of community and residential tornado safe rooms to help protect people in their homes, public buildings, and schools in hurricane- and tornado-prone areas.
- Pursuing outreach strategies for communicating Building Science issues to a wide array of stakeholders.
Building Science Resources
- Catalog of FEMA Flood and Wind Publications, and Training Courses
- Catalog of FEMA Earthquake Publications
- Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) reports
- Safe Room Resources
- NFIP Technical Bulletins
- The FEMA How-To Series: Protect Your Home or Business
- Risk Management Series (RMS): Mitigating Manmade Disasters
- Rebuild Smarter and Stronger: Information and Guidance on Building Safer
Questions? Contact the Building Science Helpline at (866) 927-2104 or email FEMA-Buildingsciencehelp@dhs.gov.
Last Modified: Friday, 03-Apr-2009 12:31:20 EDT