[GSBN] Status of Straw Bale Construction and codes

Thu Nov 10 06:39:29 UTC 2011

David,

Thank you for making the point about the International Green Construction
Code in general.  With or without straw bale, it is a bright new day in the
land of building codes to have such a document.  Your efforts to engage and
challenge the thinking of many people in this realm over many years is a
primary reason this code is about to exist.  Thank you David.  The shift you
have helped create is profound.

It is expected that much of, or at least the particularly effective parts,
of the IGCC will eventually become part of the IBC.  I envision a day when
the Building Code and Green Code are one and the same.

Martin

On 11/9/11 6:09 PM, "David Eisenberg" <strawnet at aol.com> wrote:

>  Martin,
> 
> We all owe you huge thanks for all your work on the code itself and the work
> to try to get it into the IGCC, as well as your commitment to the next steps
> for the IBC and IRC. From someone who knows what it takes, I offer my deep
> gratitude to you for all of that.
> 
> And on a related topic, I wanted to share something very positive - a blog
> that Jeremy Sigmon wrote on the US Green Building Council website on Monday
> after he and I spent a few days in Phoenix at the final action hearings for
> the International Green Construction Code (IGCC). That code, without the straw
> bale provisions, is moving forward and will be out in the spring of 2012. And
> that is a step in the right direction, even without straw bale. And it is part
> of what we've been focused on for almost 17 years now. Nice to have the effort
> get some wider recognition. And of course there so many others who have been
> working at this along the way. Anyway, I feel honored and humbled by it.
> 
http://usgbcblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/14-years-later-codes-begin-to-follow.htm>
l
> 
> Onward,
> 
> David Eisenberg
> 
> 
>  
>  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: martin hammer <mfhammer at pacbell.net>
> To: GSBN <GSBN at SustainableSources.com>
> Sent: Wed, Nov 9, 2011 5:14 pm
> Subject: [GSBN] Status of Straw Bale Construction and codes
> 
> Everyone,
> 
> Bad news and good news regarding the proposed Strawbale Construction section
> of the International Green Construction Code (IGCC).  The bad news is very
> bad.  Strawbale Construction was eliminated from the IGCC and it was not even
> heard at the Final Action Hearings that concluded Sunday.
> 
> Without going into the complex circumstances and procedure, three weeks ago a
> proponent of a related Code Change Proposal withdrew it, which caused the
> section to be eliminated.  The proponent was a Building Official who is
> significantly less biased and more interested in public welfare than the many
> industry representatives involved, who as a rule are interested in protecting
> their territory.  This building official was the only person in a position to
> do what he did.  He maintains it was his decision, but also acknowledged the
> influence of other opponents (industry representatives).  I was unknowingly
> exposed to this action, which amounted to (or felt like) a stab in the back.
> 
> The most legitimate criticism by opponents was that the IGCC process did not
> include committee members qualified to judge the structural aspects of the
> proposed SB code.  Although there is truth to this, I argued (among other
> things) that the code was created by licensed design professionals and
> academics experienced in design, construction and testing of strawbale
> buildings (including many from the GSBN who were kind enough to write letters
> of support).  This includes Mark Aschheim (CE professor Santa Clara
> University) who wrote detailed analysis and rationale for the seismic
> provisions.  
> 
> At the other end of the spectrum were absurd comments, such as strawbale
> construction was ³not a green subject².  Or that there is no uniformity from
> one bale to the next.  The latter comment coming from a representative of the
> American Wood Council, which promotes a material (wood) where each piece is
> unique.  Comments such as these speak of ignorance at best, or more likely
> obstructionism.
> 
> So what could possibly be the good news?  I have refocused my energy on
> proposing strawbale construction for inclusion in the International Building
> Code (IBC).  Proposals are due Jan 3, 2012.  The IBC is where strawbale
> construction ultimately belongs (the IGCC would have been a nice step, but
> with limited effect).  Once in the IBC (and probably the International
> Residential Code), it would as a matter of course become part of the building
> code of virtually every jurisdiction in the US.
> 
> Almost every opponent of SB Construction in the IGCC stated it ³doesn¹t belong
> in the IGCC, it belongs in the IBC².  I¹ve written an e-mail ³anticipating
> their support in principle² as I notified them of my IBC intention.  The
> International Code Council, the body that facilitates and oversees the writing
> and publication of the I-Codes, has been very helpful throughout, and as one
> staff architect recently stated - ³As long as you persevere we will be backing
> you.²
> 
> The IGCC effort was not wasted.  The language as it stands is much more ³code
> ready² than it was at the beginning of the process 2 years ago.  I now have
> written objections from opponents, many of which I have addressed (the
> legitimate ones) and made changes resulting in a better code.  It is on many
> more people¹s radar (mostly in a good way).  The structural provisions are
> undergoing further review by a task force organized by Mark Aschheim and are
> being placed on the plate of the Building Seismic Safety Commission, an
> important commission that advises the ICC.
> 
> With my intention to submit this to the ICC on 12/24/11 (my internal
> deadline), I offer to send the current version to those interested in making
> comments.
> 
> At least three people from this list were kind enough to make donations to
> CASBA to help cover expenses for the IGCC effort.  I here offer to return
> those donations (contact me or Maurice Bennett), but will also suggest that
> they instead be used toward expenses of the even more important IBC effort.
> The first Hearings will occur in Dallas at the end of April.
> 
> That¹s all for now on the code front.  I will either succeed with this before
> I die (with significant help from my SB friends), or have the straw bale code
> engraved on my tombstone.   But I now have a new plan and renewed optimism
> about straw bale in the IBC.  Onward.
> 
> Martin Hammer
> 
> PS  A note of thanks to David Eisenberg for his continued support.
>  
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> 
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