[GSBN] Penetrations in straw bale walls

[Lance Kairl]

Hi Laura,

It always surprises me when I come across NO ducting, boxes or sleeves, as
in the photos attached.

Installing ducting, conduits and sleeves or boxed out sections makes so much
sense.

One building recently put all water , hot and cold and electrical in the
bottom plate assembly and built the wall on top of it,

I feel that when there is a problem  with the water leaking(for instance) it
will be so much harder to locate and rectify.

 

My favourite type of electrical mounting block is no longer made, so I now
have to seek out a suitable replacement.

It was a plastic box that conduits firmly pushed into,

And solid enough  to screw through any side into blocking etc.  Some of our
other metal and plastic ones have push out sections

For conduits, the holes are usually larger than the conduits,  and are on
all sides, making the box weaker and less sealed.

 

The photos are from a building that we are now in the process of repairing
after and electrical fire,  Who would have guessed.

My pet hate is straw exposed to the back of electrical switches and light
fittings.

 

\cheers  Lance 

www.houseofbales.com.au

Australia

 

 

 

 

From: GSBN-bounces at sustainablesources.com
[mailto:GSBN-bounces at sustainablesources.com] On Behalf Of Laura Bartels
Sent: Tuesday, 29 November 2011 9:22 AM
To: Global Straw Building Network
Subject: [GSBN] Penetrations in straw bale walls

 

As I complete a project of my own and have used some of my typical ways of
doing penetrations in sb walls in a cold climate (sleeves, box outs, etc), I
wondered what other great approaches may be out there among our community.
It seems a topic missing from the archives as far as I can tell, and one
worthy of some good dialogue. It's clear that penetrations have a whole
range of impacts from air sealing, to moisture detailing, as well as
thermal, durability, repair and other considerations. It's also clear that
different penetrations pose different requirements such as attachment issues
such as an exterior hose bib, condensation issues such as a dryer vent, etc.
Not assuming there is a one size fits all solution for different
penetrations, different climates, different levels of appropriateness, etc,
I thought I'd raise the question. 

 

Laura

 

Laura Bartels

GreenWeaver Inc.

520 S. Third St., Suite 5 

Carbondale, CO 81623
970-379-6779
www.greenweaverinc.com

 




 

We've moved to the Third St. Center 

 <http://thirdstreetcenter.net/> http://thirdstreetcenter.net/

A community place promoting inspiration, sustainability and creative
exchange

 

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