[GSBN] Update, question re: proposed SB code (hay bales)

[Joyce Coppinger]

> Yes, it¹s said that some of builders of the ³historic² bale buildings in
> Nebraska used hay - most probably would have been prairie meadow hay,
> presumably not alfalfa hay. And prairie meadow hay as I understand it could be
> any combination of grasses or ³herbaceous plants² available at the time,
> perhaps different than what¹s growing in the meadows these days. I¹ve read or
> have been told that wetland reeds and perhaps even cattails might have been
> used as well.
> 
> We used timothy grass and a combination of wheat and timothy grass bales for a
> project here in Nebraska. The timothy grass compressed well and the bales were
> very dense. Don¹t know how they are faring now but could check on it.
> 
> Joyce
> Nebraska Straw Bale Lady
> 
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> After resubmitting the proposed SB code to the International Code Council last
> week, I received their comments and will submit final revisions on Monday.
> 
> Thank you to those who gave input re: clay plaster in the proposed SB section
> of the International Building Code.  There was a mix of opinion, sometimes in
> direct conflict.  I used some of the suggested changes.  I generally loosened
> the language (we¹ll see how much vagueness is accepted without challenge) and
> eliminated any required percentage of clay.  I still welcome clay plaster
> input from those who expressed initial interest, but whose busy lives probably
> got in the way (but asap please).  Particular thanks to Graeme North who gave
> input on the entire proposed code (as he did in a past iteration).
> 
> One other question for input:
> 
> Prohibit use of baled hay?  (That¹s what the proposed code currently says.)
> 
> This is the conventional wisdom, but weren¹t some of the first buildings in
> Nebraska built with hay bales (some still standing?), or has anyone
> successfully used hay bales (or bales with other non-straw ³grasses²)?
> Yesterday I had a discussion with a California rice farmer who bales straw and
> alfalfa hay.  He says that apart from the notion that hay is more subject to
> degradation, hay is 2 to 3 times as expensive so is much less likely to be
> used as a building material.  Regarding the notorious proclivity for stacks of
> hay bales to spontaneously combust, in addition to witnessing that, he has
> twice seen a stack of rice straw bales spontaneously combust.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Martin (what the hay) Hammer
> 
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