12/12/2014

STRAW

+
STRAW BALING MACHINE

= STRAW BALE

Straw as a building material

STRAW: The dry stems (the part between the root stem and the ear) of threshed
grain (wheat, barley, oats, millet) or fibrous plants (flax, hemp, rice). Most
suitable for the production of bales for building is wheat, spelt and rye. Barley
and oats are less stable.
STRAW is not HAY. Consists cellulose, lignin, silica. Silica content extremely
slows down rotting of straw. It is similar to wood in cellulose content, and is
therefore not digestible by animals. Only 15% of the straw is used for
agricultural purposes or as bedding for animals. The remainder is considered a
waste, and is usually burned producing CO2.
Possesses a waxy, water- repellent skin. Straw has therefore been used to thatch
roofs for centuries.
It has been used as an aggregate in loam increases thermal insulation and
reduces cracks.

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Straw as a building material

STRAWBALE:
SMALL SIZE BALE DIMENSIONS: 32 - 35cm X 50cm X 50 - 120cm
DENSITY: 90 to 120 kg/cu.m (lower density not suitable as building material)
MID SIZE BALE DIMENSIONS: 50 cm X 80cm X 70 - 240cm
JUMBO SIZE BALE DIMENSIONS: 70cm X 120 cm X 100 300cm
DENSITY: 180 200 kg/ cu.m
The medium and jumbo size bales are used for load- bearing structures. They
have very large wall thickness difficult to handle and may require lifting
devices.

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Straw as a building material

Points to remember:
The MOISTURE CONTENT of the straw needs to be LESS THAN 15% to be used as
building material.
Weeds are less stable and will decay faster when damp. Hence WEEDS MUST BE
ABSENT in the bale.
Bales must have ACCURATE DIMENSIONS.
Bales should be STORED IN A DRY ENVIRONMENT and should not touch moist
ground directly and must be protected from rain. Damp bales must be spaced to
allow quicker drying, and prevent damage by micro- organisms.
Stored bales SHOULD SHOW NO SIGNS OF DECAY/ MOULD.
The tying strings should be tight POLYPROPYLENE is suitable.

ADVANTAGES
STRAW is a RENEWABLE BUILDING MATERIAL.
It is RECYCLABLE and hence disposal is not a problem. In fact, it can easily be
separated from other materials upon demolition and may be used as mulch in
the garden or in agriculture for de-compacting soil.
Relatively LESS ENERGY IS REQUIRED FOR THE PRODUCTION of straw bales
14 MJ/ cu.m of energy.
TRANSPORTATION of straw bales is fairly LESS ENERGY- INTENSIVE.
Straw is a SUSTAINABLE building material, which has minimal negative impact
on the environment even less than timber
FIRE RATING of F90 allows straw bale structures to be used in single and double
storey structures.
Strawbale structures have a LONG LIFE- SPAN as shown by existing structures.
Suitable for DO-IT-YOURSELF CONSTRUCTION = BUILDING COST SAVINGS

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Straw as a building material

Common Concerns:
FIRE: Loose straw easily catches fire.
But straw bale walls that are plastered on both sides achieve a fire rating of 90
mins.
MICE: Mice do not feed on straw. Moreover, the 90kg/ cu.m density strongly resists
rodents. Cavities in the bales may be problematic. Plastering strawbales further
discourage rodents.
TERMITES: Termites dont feast on straw. Though some species might be able to
digest straw, they seem to rather prefer wood.
MOULD: Mould cannot develop on dry straw (moisture content less than 15%). This
can further be ensured by the installation of a vapor barrier. However, a thick
layer of plaster can moisten the straw and prevent the drying out of straw.
Hence the next layer of plaster should be applied only after the earlier one dries.
Also, organic aggregates in plaster that slow the drying process should be less.

PHYSICAL ASPECTS
HEAT STORAGE & CONDUCTIVITY:
Straw bales have LOW THERMAL MASS, and therefore have POOR HEAT
STORAGE CAPACITY. Temperature balance is however improved by
plastering material such as 3 6 cm thick EARTH PLASTERING with a high
content of sand and fine gravel (of higher density = 1900-2100 kg/ cu.m).
THERMAL INSULATION:
Strawbale provides EXCELLENT THERMAL INSULATION. The insulation depends
on the density of the bales, the position of the stalks (better insulation is
provided if the stalk is perpendicular to the heat transition), and the humidity
content of the straw.

As an agricultural co-product, inconsistent properties (eg dimensions,

density and moisture content) can be problematic during construction

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PHYSICAL ASPECTS
MOISTURE PROTECTION:
Exterior walls have to be protected against
humidity/ water from all sides. The
following methods can be used to achieve
this:
Splash guard:
Walls must have a splash guard up to a
height of at least 30 cm. Ideally the first
layer of straw bales should start above
this height.
The risk of splash water can be reduced
significantly by a gravel or crush stone
bed or a dense low vegetation at the
perimeter. Hard floors in front of the wall
will have the reverse effect.

PHYSICAL ASPECTS
Weather protection:
A straw bale wall has to be protected from rain, hail and wind. This can be
achieved by deep overhangs & a weather- proof plaster coat.
Fire protection:
A non- load bearing straw bale wall with interior & exterior lime plastering
has a F90 fire rating. Fire resistance can be attributed to the plaster
itself as well as to the high compression of the bales not leaving enough
oxygen for the combustion of straw.
Sound Insulation:
Sound insulation of straw bales with double- sided plastering is higher than
single- layered elements of the same weight. This can be attributed to a
certain vibration of straw bales.

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STRAW BALE WALLS

STRAW BALE WALLS

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STRAW BALE WALLS

There are 2 basic types of
strawbale construction:
LOADBEARING and
NON-LOADBEARING (or infill).
LOADBEARING CONSTRUCTION,
utilizes straw bales as large bricks
that support all of the building loads.
NON-LOADBEARING
CONSTRUCTION utilizes an
independent structural system with
straw bales filling in between.

PLASTERING STRAW BALE WALLS

Interior render:
Plastering HARDENS AND SMOOTHES THE BALE SURFACE and PROVIDES
AIR- TIGHTNESS AND FIRE PROTECTION.
Suitable materials for plastering: Earth, stucco, lime, cement and lime-cement
Clay plaster:
Absorbs more moisture than other materials.
Usually, plaster is applied in three layers:
Undercoat smoothes the bale surface and immerses sticking- out stalks (it is best
sprayed using a high- pressure pump). High clay content ensures strong
adhesion to the straw stalks.
Second coat leaner mix (with added sand & fine aggregate) to reduce cracking in
the drying process. Addition of dust or straw chaff is preferable.
Finishing coat with coarse sand aggregate
A lime top coat may be added to improve the strength of the clay plaster with a
chicken mesh as underlay.

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PLASTERING STRAW BALE WALLS

Cement plaster is fairly brittle compared to clay plaster, and has a tendency to
develop cracks as a result of movements of the sub- structure, wind loads etc.
Reinforcement with glass fibre or metal meshes is advisable.
Exterior plaster:
Should prevent moisture from entering the straw bales. It should also be vapour
permeable to allow condensate to diffuse to the outside.
This makes CLAY PLASTER most suitable for exterior use if suitably protected from
rain. A paint coat could also increase water resistance. However, paint coats like
linseed oil and varnish act as a vapor barrier and may lead to collection of
condensation water within the bales.
A LIME PLASTER OVERCOAT on clay plaster is preferred over an cement overcoat.
Cement-based surface finishes are NOT recommended for use on strawbale walls IN
WET OR HUMID CLIMATES. Cements are BRITTLE and eventually form cracks
that allow water to penetrate. Also, cements are NOT BREATHABLE, and do not
allow this moisture to transpire back out at the same rate.

PLASTERING STRAW BALE WALLS

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STRAW BALE WALLS