[GSBN] French SB code and Status of Straw Bale Construction and codes

[martin hammer]

Hello Luc,

Congratulations.  I know it was a huge effort by you, Andre de Bouter and
others.  Great work!

I¹ll give you my address off list.  Thanks very much.

Martin




On 11/10/11 3:28 AM, "Luc Floissac" <luc.floissac at wanadoo.fr> wrote:

>  Everyone,
>  
>  thanks Martin for the informations concerning ICC.
>  
>  In France the SB code is approuved since june 2011.
>  This code is available here:
> http://www.compaillons.eu/boutique/reglesprofessionnellesdelaconstructionpaill
> e 
>  
>  This SB code covers:
>      - SB infil
>      - SB plaster with earth / lime / cement
>  
>  Martin, Could you give me your adress in order to send you this code ?
>  
>  Regards.
>  
>  Luc Floissac 
>  
>  
>  Le 10/11/2011 01:10, martin hammer a écrit :
>>  Status of Straw Bale Construction and codes Everyone,
>>  
>>  Bad news and good news regarding the proposed Strawbale Construction section
>> of the International Green Construction Code (IGCC).  The bad news is very
>> bad.  Strawbale Construction was eliminated from the IGCC and it was not even
>> heard at the Final Action Hearings that concluded Sunday.
>>  
>>  Without going into the complex circumstances and procedure, three weeks ago
>> a proponent of a related Code Change Proposal withdrew it, which caused the
>> section to be eliminated.  The proponent was a Building Official who is
>> significantly less biased and more interested in public welfare than the many
>> industry representatives involved, who as a rule are interested in protecting
>> their territory.  This building official was the only person in a position to
>> do what he did.  He maintains it was his decision, but also acknowledged the
>> influence of other opponents (industry representatives).  I was unknowingly
>> exposed to this action, which amounted to (or felt like) a stab in the back.
>>  
>>  The most legitimate criticism by opponents was that the IGCC process did not
>> include committee members qualified to judge the structural aspects of the
>> proposed SB code.  Although there is truth to this, I argued (among other
>> things) that the code was created by licensed design professionals and
>> academics experienced in design, construction and testing of strawbale
>> buildings (including many from the GSBN who were kind enough to write letters
>> of support).  This includes Mark Aschheim (CE professor Santa Clara
>> University) who wrote detailed analysis and rationale for the seismic
>> provisions.  
>>  
>>  At the other end of the spectrum were absurd comments, such as strawbale
>> construction was ³not a green subject².  Or that there is no uniformity from
>> one bale to the next.  The latter comment coming from a representative of the
>> American Wood Council, which promotes a material (wood) where each piece is
>> unique.  Comments such as these speak of ignorance at best, or more likely
>> obstructionism.
>>  
>>  So what could possibly be the good news?  I have refocused my energy on
>> proposing strawbale construction for inclusion in the International Building
>> Code (IBC).  Proposals are due Jan 3, 2012.  The IBC is where strawbale
>> construction ultimately belongs (the IGCC would have been a nice step, but
>> with limited effect).  Once in the IBC (and probably the International
>> Residential Code), it would as a matter of course become part of the building
>> code of virtually every jurisdiction in the US.
>>  
>>  Almost every opponent of SB Construction in the IGCC stated it ³doesn¹t
>> belong in the IGCC, it belongs in the IBC².  I¹ve written an e-mail
>> ³anticipating their support in principle² as I notified them of my IBC
>> intention.  The International Code Council, the body that facilitates and
>> oversees the writing and publication of the I-Codes, has been very helpful
>> throughout, and as one staff architect recently stated - ³As long as you
>> persevere we will be backing you.²
>>  
>>  The IGCC effort was not wasted.  The language as it stands is much more
>> ³code ready² than it was at the beginning of the process 2 years ago.  I now
>> have written objections from opponents, many of which I have addressed (the
>> legitimate ones) and made changes resulting in a better code.  It is on many
>> more people¹s radar (mostly in a good way).  The structural provisions are
>> undergoing further review by a task force organized by Mark Aschheim and are
>> being placed on the plate of the Building Seismic Safety Commission, an
>> important commission that advises the ICC.
>>  
>>  With my intention to submit this to the ICC on 12/24/11 (my internal
>> deadline), I offer to send the current version to those interested in making
>> comments.
>>  
>>  At least three people from this list were kind enough to make donations to
>> CASBA to help cover expenses for the IGCC effort.  I here offer to return
>> those donations (contact me or Maurice Bennett), but will also suggest that
>> they instead be used toward expenses of the even more important IBC effort.
>> The first Hearings will occur in Dallas at the end of April.
>>  
>>  That¹s all for now on the code front.  I will either succeed with this
>> before I die (with significant help from my SB friends), or have the straw
>> bale code engraved on my tombstone.   But I now have a new plan and renewed
>> optimism about straw bale in the IBC.  Onward.
>>  
>>  Martin Hammer
>>  
>>  PS ­ A note of thanks to David Eisenberg for his continued support.
>>   
>>   
>>  
>> _______________________________________________
>> GSBN mailing list
>> GSBN at sustainablesources.com
>> http://sustainablesources.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/GSBN
>>  
>  
>  
> 
> _______________________________________________
> GSBN mailing list
> GSBN at sustainablesources.com
> http://sustainablesources.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/GSBN

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.sustainablesources.com/pipermail/gsbn/attachments/20111110/607bab08/attachment.htm>