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<TITLE>Re: [GSBN] Strawbale Classroom in Cork Ireland (Fire Resistance) (+SB code)</TITLE>
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<FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'>Tom -<BR>
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First a note re: the second EBNet link Derek listed. This is the repository page for all supporting documentation for the proposed Strawbale Construction chapter of the International Building Code. It includes the 2006 ASTM fire tests reports and the fire test video. It also includes the other documents that support the proposed SB code, as well as the proposed chapter and appendix as published by ICC on March 13. (note, ICC did not include a few final revisions I requested, for example potentially allowing baled materials other than the 5 cereal straws. But I will pursue including them in the longer review process.)<BR>
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In addition to the excellent 2006 fire tests conducted by D. Eisenberg, B. King, and B. Obregon of this list, there is the excellent 2004 German fire test by FASBA and Dirk Scharmer (of this list). Here is a summary of this test by Dietmar Lorenz (of Dan Smith’s office) from the Fall 2006 Last Straw:<BR>
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“A major step toward Code recognition was accomplished in February 2006 with the General Approval (“Allgemeine bauaufsichtliche Zulassung” or AbZ) of “Construction Straw Bales” as insulating infill within certain wall assemblies. As part of the application the Fachverband Strohballenbau had to show compliance with the following criteria:<BR>
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1. Flammability:<BR>
In a standardized test straw passed as “Normalentflammbar B2”, i.e. it is not considered an easily flammable material, but of normal or regular risk regarding combustion and flame spread.<BR>
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2. Fire Resistance:<BR>
An unplastered 18" wide bale wall was tested to achieve 30-minute fire resistance (F-30), and 90-minute fire resistance (F-90) with 3 cm of earth plaster on each side. A minimum of F-30 is required, except in single-family residences with at least 5m of separation from adjacent structures. Fire resistance is technically not part of the AbZ, but included as a general prerequisite.”<BR>
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You can go to www.fasba.de (click on English) and you can find a link to the fire test (in German) and see a poster on SB Fire Resistance that gives a good summary.<BR>
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Martin<BR>
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On 3/15/12 10:33 AM, "Derek Roff" <<a href="derek@unm.edu">derek@unm.edu</a>> wrote:<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'>Seeing the videos of fire tests may be useful in convincing the council, in appealing to the "seeing is believing" tendency of our brains. Catherine Wanek documented the New Mexico fire test in the 90's, and could probably send you a copy of the video. Bruce King has a 10-minute video on his website of the fire test done a few years ago in Texas. <BR>
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<a href="http://www.ecobuildnetwork.org/resources/straw-bale-fire-test-video">http://www.ecobuildnetwork.org/resources/straw-bale-fire-test-video</a><BR>
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There are many other useful documents on Bruce's site, including PDFs of the ASTM testing reports for the one-hour and two-hour fire tests. Scroll down to Fire Resistance on this page:<BR>
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<a href="http://www.ecobuildnetwork.org/strawbale-construction-code-supporting-documentation">http://www.ecobuildnetwork.org/strawbale-construction-code-supporting-documentation</a><BR>
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Good luck,<BR>
Derelict<BR>
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Derek Roff<BR>
<a href="derek@unm.edu">derek@unm.edu</a><BR>
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On Mar 13, 2012, at 4:03 AM, Tom Woolley wrote:<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'>Dear friends<BR>
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here is the old chestnut about strawbale and fire!<BR>
I would be most grateful if anyone willing to help with this could email Alan Wiseman directly<BR>
I am sure that Alan is aware that properly plastered strawbale walls are not a fire risk, <BR>
however he needs some official looking documents to give to his local authority to convince them to issue a fire certificate<BR>
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The situation in Ireland is different from the UK ...<BR>
we were able to convince building control in Northern Ireland that we complied with one of the US Building Codes and that was sufficient to get approval!<BR>
Irish Regs<BR>
<a href="http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/BuildingStandards/">http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/BuildingStandards/</a><BR>
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many thanks to anyone who can assist<BR>
<BR>
Tom Woolley<BR>
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Begin forwarded message:<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Helvetica, Verdana, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><B>From: </B>alan wiseman <<a href="wisemandesigns@gmail.com">wisemandesigns@gmail.com</a></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Helvetica, Verdana, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'>><BR>
</SPAN><FONT SIZE="4"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><B>Date: </B>13 March 2012 09:46:47 GMT<BR>
<B>To: </B><<a href="tom.woolley@btconnect.com">tom.woolley@btconnect.com</a></SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'>><BR>
</SPAN><FONT SIZE="4"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><B>Subject: Strawbale Classroom<BR>
</B></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'><BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'><FONT FACE="Lucida Grande">Dear Tom,<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"> <BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Lucida Grande">I have received planning permission for a strawbale classroom .This is located in a built up area, next to a large block creche on one side and 2m away from a dwelling on the other side, a couples of miles from Cork city. But now comes the awkward part. As it is a commercial building we need to get a Fire Certificate This will be difficult as there is no precedent here in Ireland for this (there are plenty of structures, mainly dwellings, as you are aware, but none commercial that needed a Fire Safety Certificate).<BR>
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I am aware of commercial structures in the UK that have been built with strawbales.I would like to find out how they managed to persuade the fire department. I have test results from North America but precedents in Europe, particularly in the UK would better strengthen our case. I am hoping you might have some insight or indeed contact on this. Any help is greatly appreciated.<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"> <BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"> </FONT><FONT FACE="Lucida Grande">Thanking you.<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"> <BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Lucida Grande">Kind regards,<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"> <BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Lucida Grande"><BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"> </FONT><FONT FACE="Lucida Grande">Alan.</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"> <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'> <BR>
13 Amberley Lawn<BR>
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Grange<BR>
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Cork<BR>
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Tel: 021 489 99 79<BR>
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Mob: 086 877 6564<BR>
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www.wisemandesigns.net <<a href="http://www.wisemandesigns.net/">http://www.wisemandesigns.net/</a>> <BR>
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</SPAN><FONT SIZE="2"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:9pt'>Tom Woolley<BR>
<BR>
Rachel Bevan Architects<BR>
80 Church Road<BR>
Crossgar<BR>
Downpatrick<BR>
BT30 9HR<BR>
<a href="tom.woolley@btconnect.com">tom.woolley@btconnect.com</a><BR>
028 44 830988<BR>
www.bevanarchitects.com <<a href="http://www.bevanarchitects.com/">http://www.bevanarchitects.com/</a>> <BR>
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