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<TITLE>Re: [GSBN] Bale density</TITLE>
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<FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'>Thanks very much Herbert. Are your numbers dry density (with the weight of moisture subtracted) or actual density (as weighed)?<BR>
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On 2/17/13 9:55 AM, "asbn" <<a href="asbn@baubiologie.at">asbn@baubiologie.at</a>> wrote:<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'>I our old tests in Austria by Technical University of Vienna/GrAT the minimum weight for ideal thermal performance is 85kg/m3<BR>
Since 2008 we have a new buildings-strawbale, which was tested </SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial">ETA-10/0032 </FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">with a minimum weight of 95kg/m3<BR>
Germany starts with a minimum weight of 90kg/m3<BR>
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here are the links to our tests in Austria:<BR>
Wärmedämmleitwert-Überprüfung <<a href="http://www.baubiologie.at/download/zertifikate/lambda.html">http://www.baubiologie.at/download/zertifikate/lambda.html</a>> (first test 2002)<BR>
<a href="http://www.waldland.at/de/waldviertler_flachshaus/strohdaemmung/produktspezifikation/">http://www.waldland.at/de/waldviertler_flachshaus/strohdaemmung/produktspezifikation/</a><BR>
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tests in Germany by FASBA:<BR>
<a href="http://www.baubiologie.at/download/Pb-lambda1.pdf">http://www.baubiologie.at/download/Pb-lambda1.pdf</a><BR>
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I all the tests we used wheat-straw<BR>
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We use the certified (building)bales for non-loadbearing walls as well as for (a few) loadbearing walls<BR>
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regards<BR>
Herbert Gruber<BR>
-----------------<BR>
asbn - austrian strawbale network<BR>
3720 Ravelsbach, Baierdorf 6<BR>
Tel. 02958-83640<BR>
<a href="asbn@baubiologie.at">asbn@baubiologie.at</a><BR>
www.baubiologie.at <<a href="http://www.baubiologie.at">http://www.baubiologie.at</a>> <BR>
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Am 17.02.2013 um 18:00 schrieb martin hammer:<BR>
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</FONT></SPAN><BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'><FONT FACE="Arial"> Bale density <BR>
</FONT></SPAN><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE="2"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:9pt'>Hello all,<BR>
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Anyone care to weigh in (pun intended) on the minimum bale density for straw bale walls?<BR>
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This is in the context of the most recent straw bale code proposal for the International Residential Code.<BR>
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Things to consider:<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><UL><LI><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE="2"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:9pt'>I’m interested in the minimum acceptable density, not the optimum
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><LI><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE="2"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:9pt'>Densities from tested assemblies are especially useful (especially structural tests) (please mention the test if this is the case)
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><LI><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE="2"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:9pt'>Include type of straw with your number(s) if relevant
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><LI><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE="2"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:9pt'>Dry densities are preferred (bale weight / bale volume, minus % moisture content), but wet densities are ok if you also give the approximate moisture content.
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><LI><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE="2"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:9pt'>Lb/sq.ft. or kg/m3 are ok.
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><LI><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE="2"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:9pt'>Whether the minimum acceptable density should be different for structural (load-bearing or shear wall) and nonload-bearing applications
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><LI><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE="2"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:9pt'> <BR>
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></UL><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE="2"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:9pt'><BR>
(Note: I’m aware that cutting the bale ties before plastering is a practice some employ, at least for nonload-bearing walls.)<BR>
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Thanks!<BR>
<BR>
Martin Hammer<BR>
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