[GSBN] Strawbale Classroom in Cork Ireland (Fire Resistance) (+SB code)

Thu Mar 15 20:24:24 UTC 2012

Tom -

First a note re: the second EBNet link Derek listed.  This is the repository
page for all supporting documentation for the proposed Strawbale
Construction chapter of  the International Building Code.  It includes the
2006 ASTM fire tests reports and the fire test video.  It also includes the
other documents that support the proposed SB code, as well as the proposed
chapter and appendix as published by ICC on March 13.  (note, ICC did not
include a few final revisions I requested, for example potentially allowing
baled materials other than the 5 cereal straws.  But I will pursue including
them in the longer review process.)

In addition to the excellent 2006 fire tests conducted by D. Eisenberg, B.
King, and B. Obregon of this list, there is the excellent 2004 German fire
test by FASBA and Dirk Scharmer (of this list).  Here is a summary of this
test by Dietmar Lorenz (of Dan Smith¹s office) from the Fall 2006 Last
Straw:

³A major step toward Code recognition was accomplished in February 2006 with
the General Approval (³Allgemeine bauaufsichtliche Zulassung² or AbZ) of
³Construction Straw Bales² as insulating infill within certain wall
assemblies. As part of the application the Fachverband Strohballenbau had to
show compliance with the following criteria:

1. Flammability:
In a standardized test straw passed as ³Normalentflammbar B2², i.e. it is
not considered an easily flammable material, but of normal or regular risk
regarding combustion and flame spread.

2. Fire Resistance:
An unplastered 18" wide bale wall was tested to achieve 30-minute fire
resistance (F-30), and 90-minute fire resistance (F-90) with 3 cm of earth
plaster on each side. A minimum of F-30 is required, except in single-family
residences with at least 5m of separation from adjacent structures. Fire
resistance is technically not part of the AbZ, but included as a general
prerequisite.²

You can go to www.fasba.de (click on English) and you can find a link to the
fire test (in German) and see a poster on SB Fire Resistance that gives a
good summary.

Martin

On 3/15/12 10:33 AM, "Derek Roff" <derek at unm.edu> wrote:

> Seeing the videos of fire tests may be useful in convincing the council, in
> appealing to the "seeing is believing" tendency of our brains.  Catherine
> Wanek documented the New Mexico fire test in the 90's, and could probably send
> you a copy of the video.  Bruce King has a 10-minute video on his website of
> the fire test done a few years ago in Texas.
> 
> http://www.ecobuildnetwork.org/resources/straw-bale-fire-test-video
> 
> There are many other useful documents on Bruce's site, including PDFs of the
> ASTM testing reports for the one-hour and two-hour fire tests.  Scroll down to
> Fire Resistance on this page:
> 
> http://www.ecobuildnetwork.org/strawbale-construction-code-supporting-document
> ation
> 
> Good luck,
> Derelict
> 
> Derek Roff
> derek at unm.edu
> 
> On Mar 13, 2012, at 4:03 AM, Tom Woolley wrote:
> 
>> Dear friends
>> 
>> here is the old chestnut about strawbale and fire!
>> I would be most grateful if anyone willing to help with this could email Alan
>> Wiseman directly
>> I am sure that Alan is aware that properly plastered strawbale walls are not
>> a fire risk, 
>> however he needs some official looking documents to give to his local
>> authority to convince them to issue a fire certificate
>> 
>> The situation in Ireland is different from the UK ...
>> we were able to convince building control in Northern Ireland that we
>> complied with one of the US Building Codes and that was sufficient to get
>> approval!
>> Irish Regs
>> http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/BuildingStandards/
>> 
>> many thanks to anyone who can assist
>> 
>> Tom Woolley
>> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>> 
>>> From: alan wiseman <wisemandesigns at gmail.com>
>>> Date: 13 March 2012 09:46:47 GMT
>>> To: <tom.woolley at btconnect.com>
>>> Subject: Strawbale Classroom
>>> 
>>>  
>>> Dear Tom,
>>>  
>>> I have received planning permission for a strawbale classroom .This is
>>> located in a built up area, next to a large block creche on one side and 2m
>>> away from a dwelling on the other side, a couples of miles from Cork city.
>>> But now comes the awkward part. As it is a commercial building we need to
>>> get a Fire Certificate This will be difficult as there is no precedent here
>>> in Ireland for this (there are plenty of structures, mainly dwellings, as
>>> you are aware, but none commercial that needed a Fire Safety Certificate).
>>>  
>>>  I am aware of commercial structures in the UK that have been built with
>>> strawbales.I would like to find out how they managed to persuade the fire
>>> department. I have test results from North America but precedents in Europe,
>>> particularly in the UK would better strengthen our case.  I am hoping you
>>> might have some insight or indeed contact on this. Any help is greatly
>>> appreciated.
>>>  
>>> 
>>>  Thanking you.
>>>  
>>> Kind regards,
>>>  
>>> 
>>>  Alan. 
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 13 Amberley Lawn
>>>  
>>> Grange
>>>  
>>> Cork
>>>  
>>> 
>>>  
>>> Tel: 021 489 99 79
>>>  
>>> Mob: 086 877 6564
>>>  
>>> www.wisemandesigns.net <http://www.wisemandesigns.net/>
>>> 
>> 
>>  
>> Tom Woolley
>> 
>> Rachel Bevan Architects
>> 80 Church Road
>> Crossgar
>> Downpatrick
>> BT30 9HR
>> tom.woolley at btconnect.com
>> 028 44 830988
>> www.bevanarchitects.com <http://www.bevanarchitects.com/>
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> GSBN mailing list
> GSBN at sustainablesources.com
> http://sustainablesources.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/GSBN

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.sustainablesources.com/pipermail/gsbn/attachments/20120315/f6fcb376/attachment.htm>