ToolBase Services is the housing industry's resource for technical information
on building products, materials, new technologies, business management, and
housing systems. The NAHB Research Center provides
the services, with funding from the Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through
The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) program, and
other industry sponsors.
ToolBase Resources
ToolBase Resources combines product descriptions, design & construction
guides, best practices, performance reports, case studies, and other resources
in way that builders and remodelers will find useful.
The Technology Inventory
Because of the huge number of housing technologies and the diversity of
builders, even the best technologies do not always make a big splash when they
enter the market. PATH (The Partnership for
Advancing Technology in Housing) created the Technology Inventory
to accelerate the awareness and acceptance process.
PATH's Technology Inventory lists over 170 new technologies that demonstrate
great potential for improving housing performance, but that have not been
widely used or accepted. It provides builders a reliable source of information
on new products or processes. It lists details on each technology and contact
information for the manufacturers. PATH also uses this list to pick
technologies for use in Field Evaluations.
Field Evaluations
PATH promotes the general use of new housing technologies through evaluation
projects and demonstration programs with builders remodelers and manufacturers
across the country.
Field Evaluations are used to introduce PATH technologies into the home building
industry. The NAHB Research Center and Steve Winter Design work with builders
and remodelers to incorporate technologies in their designs for monitoring and
evaluation of cost and performance. Data gathered in the field fills in the
information voids on technologies, and provides valuable feedback to product
manufacturers and homebuilders.
Tech Sets
PATH Tech Sets are a resource to help you implement innovations in manageable,
systems-based packages. Developed by the NAHB
Research Center through PATH and released quarterly, these Tech Sets
take the guesswork out of choosing cost-effective technologies. They show you
how the recommended technologies can be used together to receive benefits that
are greater than the sum of the parts: the key to a systems based approach.
Newsletters
ToolBase provides two useful sources of topical stories.
ToolBase News is a bi-monthly technical newsletter that covers the latest
research, trends, and other industry happenings. The newsletter provides
practical information that building professionals can use immediately in their
businesses. It is available free through local and state home builder
associations.
ToolBase/PATH E-News, a bi-weekly electronic newsletter, provides a news link
between research centers, laboratories, universities, manufacturers, and
builders to keep you updated on the latest trends, technologies, and issues in
the construction industry, particularly those dealing with information
technology.