<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-AU link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Feile<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>This question has been raised many times – and it seems to get down to the actual weight of the rendered bales – and the type of ceiling structure to support the insulation. Is it worth the amount of timber??<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Tests for fire on rendered straw bales was conducted in Germany some time ago – sorry can’t remember the author – but someone will have the details. The walls got a 90 minute fire rating!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Using plasterboard/clayboard seems OK provide you get total seal proof joints and the boards comply with the Code for fire rating. As for the loadbearing of the bales – I’d be sceptical.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hope this helps – and I’m wondering whether a light weight insulation batt isn’t being considered?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Bohdan Dorniak architect<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Treasurer AUSBALE <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> GSBN-bounces@sustainablesources.com [mailto:GSBN-bounces@sustainablesources.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Danny Buck<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, 4 February 2014 2:39 AM<br><b>To:</b> Feile Butler; Global Straw Building Network<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [GSBN] Straw Bale Insulated Ceiling<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Our experience here in New Mexico was that the roof structure gave us a lot of voids between bales that were very challenging to pack. If it is a true attic with a flat open surface to work off of, that would be different.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>The surface of the bale that is accessible to air (oxygen) is best sealed with a plaster. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Danny Buck<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Daniel Buck Construction, Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 4.0pt;margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>----- Original Message ----- <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <a href="mailto:feile@mudandwood.com" title="mailto:feile@mudandwood.com">Feile Butler</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>To:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <a href="mailto:GSBN@sustainablesources.com" title="mailto:GSBN@sustainablesources.com">Global Straw Building Network</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Sent:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> Monday, February 03, 2014 2:57 AM<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Subject:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> [GSBN] Straw Bale Insulated Ceiling<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Hi All</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>I have clients who are considering insulating above the ceiling with straw bales. They have a large attic which could easily accommodate the bales and plenty of outbuildings, so they don't need the attic for storage.</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>I have never detailed a straw bale ceiling before, but would like to explore the idea. </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>One of my main concerns is fire. Is it enough to encapsulate the bales within plasterboard/clayboard on both sides (top and bottom)? If we want to deck out the floor above the bales, would it be enough to coat them in a lime or earth plaster before building up the floor above them? Is there any data out there about the behaviour of straw bales in ceilings that I can show the building control officer, particularly with regard to fire?</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Any advice on or experience of straw bale insulated ceilings would be very welcome.</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Thanks</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>File Butler</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='punctuation-wrap:simple'><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>MRIAI B.Arch Dip. Arch Conservation Grade III</span></strong><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='punctuation-wrap:simple'><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:#990000'>Mud and Wood</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='punctuation-wrap:simple'><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Grange Beg, Skreen, Co. Sligo, Ireland</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='punctuation-wrap:simple'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='punctuation-wrap:simple'><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='punctuation-wrap:simple'><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='punctuation-wrap:simple'><strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>T: +353 (0) 71 930 0488</span></strong><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='punctuation-wrap:simple'><strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>M: +353 (0) 86 806 8382</span></strong><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='punctuation-wrap:simple'><strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>E : </span></strong><span lang=EN-IE style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><strong><u><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0066CC'>feile@mudandwood.com</span></u></strong></span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='punctuation-wrap:simple'><strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>W:</span></strong><strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0066CC'><span class=MsoHyperlink>www.mudandwood.com</span></span></strong><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>_______________________________________________<br>GSBN mailing list<br><a href="mailto:GSBN@sustainablesources.com">GSBN@sustainablesources.com</a><br><a href="http://sustainablesources.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/GSBN">http://sustainablesources.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/GSBN</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></blockquote></div></div></body></html>