[GSBN] Advise Large strawbale structures

[Bob Theis]

Andy,

My first reaction is to consider going to jumbo bales; decreasing  
your height to thickness ratio should allow you to avoid so much  
bracing. And we just happen to have a seasoned jumbo bale winery  
builder on the listserve!

Bob
On Dec 4, 2009, at 1:42 AM, Andy Horn wrote:

> Hi
> I have been approached to offer advise to an engineer wanting to  
> build a
> most sizable wine cellar with straw bale.
>
> I was wondering of those of you out there who have been involved in  
> the
> building of large SB structures, whether there was any specific  
> advise you
> could offer or know where to research more detail of the best was  
> to handle
> really large structures.
>
> The engineer and his farmer brother have unfortunately already  
> built a set
> of standard warehouse steel portal frames without consideration for  
> how a
> straw bale structure may work with it. The thing is 52 meters (170  
> foot)
> wide at the gables (with 2 gables next to each other with a valley  
> gutter in
> the middle) and 39 meters (130 foot) wide. Steel I sections are set  
> at 6,0
> meter (approx 20 foot) centres.
>
>
> The side eave walls (39 metres length) are 5 meters high
> The double gable ends (52 meters length) go up to approx 9 - 10 meters
> high!!!
>
> I normally create a ring beam at eave height/every floor .(highest  
> structure
> i have done before is a modest 70 sq meter double storey house), so  
> was
> thinking ...this would mean using a ring beam/box beam/double  
> horizontal
> pole every 3,0 meters high. With vertical timber ladders and timber  
> posts
> every 3 bale courses...i.e. at 2,7 m intervals. Then using my  
> normal method
> of infilling with dipped bales and pinning and tying them to the  
> timber
> frame. The bales go in laid on edge, pre-dipped and partially dried  
> on their
> plaster edges and I pin horizontally by cutting a groove in the top  
> of the
> bale courses...Not sure if - even though will be using an infill  
> method - we
> should try strapping first ring beam at 3,0m height to the  
> foundation and
> the higher ring beams to ring beam below it?? Or just fit between  
> and pin
> bales to frames.
>
> Any guidance or pointers to useful sources would be greatly  
> appreciated
> Many thanks
> Andy Horn
>
> ECO DESIGN ARCHITECTS
> 79 Roeland St. Cape Town
> www.ecodesignarchitects.co.za
>
>
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