[GSBN] Use of and protection - steel columns in bale walls

[Jeff Ruppert]

In terms of a moisture and condensation issue, I have to agree with Paul 
Olivier about his comment on climate.  I would be more concerned with it 
in a wetter climate than a dry one.  Texas can get pretty humid though. 

My question to Derek is, were the walls you dismantled being torn apart 
due to moisture issues?  The reason I am asking is that all the walls I 
have dug into have been due to moisture intrusion.  I have seen rebar 
imbalers rusted out within a couple years because they were soaking 
inside a wet bale.  How many buildings do we tear apart for other 
reasons than moisture?  What would a non-wetted wall with steel columns 
look like?

My next thoughts are about how a similar material to straw acts when in 
contact with steel.  The closest material would logically have to be 
wood.  I have not heard of widespread rot issues from wood being in 
contact with steel.  Does anyone have different observations about this?

My experience with steel posts in walls has led me to believe that the 
expansion of the steel across it's cross-section is much less of an 
issue than along it's length.  As the frame heats up columns and beams 
grow in length quite a bit compared to their depth or width, placing 
stress on the plaster (if the plaster is attached to the frame).  If I 
were to do other steel buildings I would not attach the plaster to any 
steel elements.  We used wood nailers fastened (with power-actuated 
fasteners) to the steel columns.  Our mesh was attached to those 
nailers.  As the frame expands and shrinks throughout the year, it 
appears to place alot of stress on the exterior plaster.  The frame is 
set to the exterior.  I believe if the frame was on the interior this 
action would be eliminated.  The steel members were wide-flange 
moment-frame sized, not light framing like studs. 

We did not design the building described above and the frame and 
foundation already existed when were began our work.  In retrospect I 
would have suggested not using bales due to the fact that we could not 
alter the configuration to accommodate a better system.

Jeff