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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-AU link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Pete,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> and GBSN users,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Yes spread of flame over loose straw, and the straw sticking our of bales is know as a high flammability Index. Once strings start to break / burn more fuel has access to air and burns very well. While our ( Ausble ) fire test was on rendered bales , testing staff ( also knows a licensed pyromaniacs) just wanted to see how well they burn. I think the official response was ,Yes, very well indeed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our experience with fire on un-rendered strawbales. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A 2 million dollar project, single story, we felt it wise to bale and then render it in sections at a time, partly to reduce the vast amount of rendering to be undertaken in one hit.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Partly because we could bale and render one section while other construction work proceeded in other sections of the large single story building. ( would create some work flow efficiency)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is believed a piece of loose straw blew from the construction area out to a petrol powered air compressor ( 6 meters away ) caught alight and blew back onto the bales being used for construction. All while we where there , and where in fact rendering the first stage of bale walls.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The single coat of render to the bale walls closest to the fire outbreak did significantly reduce the spread of fire ( along with minimal fire suppression work …. A garden hose) to other wall sections.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In the main we lost a wall 6m long x 3m high, but did cause significant damage to other structural elements of the building..<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Happy ending, insurance paid for all repairs, house finished owners love it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Since June 2017 and the Grenfell tower fire Insurers and underwriters world wide have been showing great interest in “Cladding arrangements and materials being used” and risk reduction.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Late 2017 we had our insurance was ( verbally) cancelled by our insurer because we built “straw houses”. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This raised many issues , Our Builders licence is endorsed for strawbale construction, but any builder could undertake to build a strawbale house. Was Strawbale becoming a prescribed risk ( like asbestos removal , or demolition work over 10 meters high).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many emails / phone calls later our insurance was reinstated with:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Us having to provide “ <b>A fire risk management strategy</b>” protocol.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A written document setting out what we will do and have on site to reduce the risk of fire and to suppress fire in the event one started.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And a hefty $10,000 fire excess in the event of a fire related claim.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And a hefty increase in premiums. ( the excess is acceptable on large projects , but we often only install the bales and render on jobs of $20,000 to $40,000 as a subcontractor )<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our Risk reduction protocols were to include;<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NO smoking on site, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>No angle grinders or fuel powered equipment within 10m of bales or straw, and no welding on site once bales were delivered.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Site fencing to exclude all unauthorised intruders.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Provision of multiple fire extinguishers on site.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Provision of 1000 litres of fire fighting water and a fuel driven fire pump and fire hoses on site.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Uninstalled bale storage area<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Loose straw clean up and disposal<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fire brigade phone numbers on display<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>While none of the above is excessive , it becomes difficult when we are only a subcontractor , and the Principal builder does not have the same insurance conditions . So on a country property is there going to be site fencing provided , and the builder usually allows smoking anywhere on the site, along with plumbers welding and angle grinders in use by other trades.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Site theft, how many fire extinguishers can be stolen from a building site, as they are useless if locked in a cage or chained to a post.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>On smaller sites where will we put our fire fighting pump and water tank. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thankfully talk of applying fire suppressing agents to all the bales did not get raised in any of the insurance conversations.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>( fire treatments like those used on Theatre stage curtains seemed most likely to be in contention. As could be sprayed on the surface only, and had good documented performance)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thankfully we can comply with most of the above , now have a different insurance agent ( same underwriter ..go figure) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Not so high premiums, and an acceptable but double our standard excess for fire claims.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Advice,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>See if they will accept fire management/ prevention protocols,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Yes this will incur some cost.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ascertain cost of rendering as you go, ( sorry someone has to pay)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Investigate fire suppression agents ( great on a sustainable , environmentally friendly building site ) Sorry again some one will have to pay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hopefully this has been of some help.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Regards lance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Lance Kairl<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>G Thomas & L Kairl Builders<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>PO Box 810<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>GOOLWA, SA 5214<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Ph: 8555 4223<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><a href="http://www.houseofbales.com.au/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.houseofbales.com.au</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'> Gsbn <gsbn-bounces@sustainablesources.com> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Pete Walker<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, 3 August 2018 11:45 PM<br><b>To:</b> gsbn@sustainablesources.com<br><b>Subject:</b> [GSBN] Fire resistance of unrendered straw bales<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB>Hi<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB>I am writing on behalf of a leading straw bale builder in UK who has run into concerns from a fire safety consultant concerning exposed straw bales during construction. The consultant is happy to accept the fire performance of load bearing straw bale walls once rendered, but is concerned that the exposed (unrendered) straw bales present too high a fire load risk during construction. To limit this risk the consultant is requiring that the 2 and 3 storey bale walls are rendered in stages as the construction progresses (in sections of around 250 bales per time), rather than all in one go after completion of all the bale walls (around 750 bales in total), as is more usual practice. This will cause significant programming issues for the project. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB>Therefore, I am writing to enquire:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ol style='margin-top:0cm' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0cm;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><span lang=EN-GB>Has anyone else had similar experiences? If so, how did it work out?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0cm;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><span lang=EN-GB>Has anyone had experience of straw bale buildings catching fire during construction? If so, how did it work out?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0cm;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><span lang=EN-GB>What other fire protection measures have you experienced? Are your walls/bale stockpiles covered by a fire protection layer during construction, before rendering?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0cm;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><span lang=EN-GB>Does anyone have data/information on fire performance of unrendered straw bale walls?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0cm;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><span lang=EN-GB>Any other words of advice?<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB>many thanks and best wishes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB>Pete Walker<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div id="DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><br />
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