[GSBN] building in Haiti

Tue Mar 1 22:34:52 UTC 2011

Andy,

Bruce was not talking about a SB wall, but our BWB team is concerned about
that, and a few Haitians have questioned it.  I¹ve never heard anyone report
how easy or difficult it is to break through a plastered strawbale wall,
even if unreinforced clay plaster.  Our manually made Haiti bales are only
12² thick (like the Pakistani bales), with external bamboo pins, with clay
plaster and no mesh, but I suspect it is still no easy task to break through
that wall.  Probably even prevent penetration of a powder propelled
projectile.

Martin

On 3/1/11 12:10 PM, "Andy Horn" <andy at ecodesignarchitects.co.za> wrote:

> Apologies  you not talking about a straw bale wall.
> what I do know from the townships here in South Africa is that when we are
> talking safe we are talking bullet proof!!!
>  
> I was once shown effective township bullet proofing by an owner builder in the
> squatter townships. He had used timber off-cuts  still with their bark on 
> to clad the bottom half of his corrugated shack. He then proceeded to show me
> bullets still lodged in the bottom half of the dwelling as well as the gaping
> holes left by the bullets that had hit the unprotected top half of the
> structure. He said if ever they heard gun shots at night they would lye on the
> floor to stay protected.
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> Andy Horn
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> From: GSBN-bounces at greenbuilder.com [mailto:GSBN-bounces at greenbuilder.com] On
> Behalf Of Andy Horn
> Sent: 01 March 2011 09:44 PM
> To: '(private, with public archives) Global Straw Building Network'
> Subject: Re: [GSBN] building in Haiti
>  
> Hi Martin
> I agree it is more about securing the windows and doors.
>  
> Plaster aside, for anyone who has not yet tried  but getting through a wall
> of straw is no mean feat.
>  
> I once got called in to look at saving storm wrecked load bearing SB after the
> guys building had left for a long weekend without covering up ŠŠso I helped
> with cutting out chunks of un-plastered wall, so as to retrofit in sets of
> load bearing timber posts. Armed with a chainsaw you would be surprised at
> just how difficult it was.
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> Andy Horn
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> From: GSBN-bounces at greenbuilder.com [mailto:GSBN-bounces at greenbuilder.com] On
> Behalf Of martin hammer
> Sent: 01 March 2011 05:54 AM
> To: (private, with public archives) Global Straw Building Network
> Subject: Re: [GSBN] building in Haiti
>  
> Bruce, all,
> 
> Although on the EBNet Haiti team (in addition to the BWB SB Haiti team), I'll
> jump into the GSBN forum with a couple thoughts on the plaster and the
> security issue.
> 
> The security concern will be greater in some locations than others.
> Generally, the more urban the greater the concern.  It seems obvious that both
> in perception and as a physical obstacle, mesh reinforced cement plaster would
> be the most secure plaster, and I¹ll say probably secure enough.
> (Notwithstanding Derek¹s proposed method of breaking and entering, that still
> takes time, effort, makes noise, etc, and thus is a deterrent).  In some cases
> clay, or lime plaster may not be enough, in other cases it will.  Installing a
> second plaster on the inside face of the bamboo framing would provide
> additional security (real and perceived).
> 
> For the Home Expo building I suggest installing a cement plaster (with up to
> 50% lime if you can get your hands on it) on half the building, and a clay
> plaster with a durable finish on the other half.  With and without a second
> plaster on the interior.  Let people see how they both feel, look, and sound,
> and allow them to decide which would work for their circumstance.
>  
> Cordaid, a Dutch organization, built a prototype wood-framed house in Leogane,
> Haiti with no less than 7 enclosure-finish systems.  (I can send photos, if
> you haven't seen it already.)  I think it goes too far to the point of being
> chaotic/confusing.  But a couple variations in one prototype building seems
> valid to me.  Looking at opposite corners you might only see one finish at a
> time.
> 
> In terms of security, doors and windows (shutters?) will probably be a greater
> point of vulnerability than the wall enclosure system.  I would show how that
> can be addressed on at least one opening.
> 
> Also, although security can be a serious issue in parts of Haiti (and other
> places in the world!), there of course is much more to consider about this
> building . . .
> 
> Martin Hammer  
> 
> 
> On 2/28/11 6:15 PM, "Andrew Webb" <andrew at thegreenwebb.com> wrote:
> 
>> > Except perhaps in perception - concrete may be less tempting to try to
>> > break through than clay (if it is obviously clay) even if doing so is
>> > just as easy.  The finish and the image it projects is likely a factor.
>> > 
>> > -Andrew Webb
>> > 
>> > On 1/03/2011 11:41 AM, john rehorn wrote:
>>> >> Good point, Derek.  Thick clay or lime would be as good a 'vandal wall'
>>> as 
>>> >> one inch of cementatious.
>>> >> 
>>> >> John Reho
>>> >> 
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> 
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