[GSBN] data loggers

Tue Dec 9 06:49:12 UTC 2014

Thanks Jim. 

Will be interested to see the published research, but in the meantime your
anecdotal info is enlightening and appreciated. This lends further credence
to what many of us have heard regarding lime retarding mold growth.

It sounds like after the moisture level in the wet bales dropped to an
acceptable level, you removed the plaster in those areas and actually saw
(and maybe smelled) the straw? Six months is a long time at such high
moisture content without any degradation. Are the bales wheat straw? Please
thank the client for their decision to leave a couple wet bales in the wall
(!).

Martin

On 12/8/14 8:23 AM, "Jim Carfrae" <jim.carfrae at plymouth.ac.uk> wrote:

> Hi Martin
> I am hoping to publish the research, which means that I'm afraid that can't
> share any details until after publication.
> 
> There was nothing too surprising in the research, apart from one section of
> wall that got drenched by rain before rendering. The client decided not to
> replace the bales, and I recorded moisture content of over 36% in a couple of
> the bales (the limit of the probe).
> The rendering went ahead soon after that and I continued to monitor the wall.
> I was surprised that the elevated moisture stayed for over 6 months, but has
> dried back now. Despite being at levels well over the accepted maximum for
> such a long time, the straw shows no signs of degradation. This accords with
> other buildings that I've investigated  generally the lime render seems to
> retard mould growth, and this combined with the lack of oxygen is what saves
> the straw (I think!)
> 
> Regards
> 
> Jim
> 
> Dr Jim Carfrae
> Environmental Building Group
> Room 302 Roland Levinsky Building
> School of Architecture, Design and the Environment
> Plymouth University
> Drake Circus PL4 8AA
> UK
> 07880551922
> 
> 
> From: martin hammer <mfhammer at pacbell.net<mailto:mfhammer at pacbell.net>>
> Reply-To: Global Straw Building Network
> <GSBN at sustainablesources.com<mailto:GSBN at sustainablesources.com>>
> Date: Monday, 8 December 2014 15:48
> To: GSBN <GSBN at SustainableSources.com<mailto:GSBN at SustainableSources.com>>
> Subject: Re: [GSBN] data loggers
> 
> Hi Jim,
> 
> Are you able to share that data/research with the group? Or is that
> premature.
> 
> Martin
> 
> 
> On 12/8/14 6:18 AM, "Jim Carfrae"
> <jim.carfrae at plymouth.ac.uk<mailto:jim.carfrae at plymouth.ac.uk>> wrote:
> 
> Hi Enga
> I have been doing similar research, but using probes rather than data loggers.
> I have recently completed a years monitoring of the construction phase of a
> new straw bale building in the UK, from measuring the bales in the field,
> through to completion and first six months occupation.
> It might be interesting to compare data when your research is complete  Where
> is your building?
> Regards
> Jim
> Dr Jim Carfrae
> Environmental Building Group
> Room 302 Roland Levinsky Building
> School of Architecture, Design and the Environment
> Plymouth University
> Drake Circus PL4 8AA
> UK
> 07880551922
> From: Enga Lokey 
> <enga at thelokeys.net<mailto:enga at thelokeys.net><mailto:enga at thelokeys.net>>
> Reply-To: Global Straw Building Network
> <GSBN at sustainablesources.com<mailto:GSBN at sustainablesources.com><mailto:GSBN at s
> ustainablesources.com>>
> Date: Monday, 8 December 2014 12:49
> To: Global Straw Building Network
> <GSBN at sustainablesources.com<mailto:GSBN at sustainablesources.com><mailto:GSBN at s
> ustainablesources.com>>
> Subject: [GSBN] data loggers
> Hello All,
> Wanted to check in with any of you that have experience with data loggers in
> ongoing monitoring of temperature and humidity. Ideally, I will be imbedding
> dataloggers/sensors in the walls of a strawbale structure as it is built and
> then be able to monitor temperature and moisture movement within the wall from
> the plastering process through several years of use. If anyone is familiar
> with specific brands or types of equipment that either works particularly well
> or should be avoided, I would appreciate hearing about it. Economy will
> unfortunately be a factor as funding for these monitors seems to be getting
> more limited each day.
> Thanks for any and all input.
> Enga
> enga at thelokeys.net<mailto:enga at thelokeys.net><mailto:enga at thelokeys.net>
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