[GSBN] Strawbale Classroom in Cork Ireland (Fire Resistance) (+SB code)
martin hammer
mfhammer at pacbell.net
Thu Mar 15 21:38:56 UTC 2012
Hi Art,
In the recently proposed SB code, I use the following language:
2407.4 Type of construction. Buildings or portions thereof utilizing
strawbale walls in accordance with this chapter shall be classified as Type
V-B construction. Strawbale walls constructed in compliance with Section
2407.1.1 or 2407.1.2 shall be permitted wherever combustible walls of the
same fire-resistance are allowed by Chapter 6 of the International Buildlng
Code. Strawbale walls with any finish allowed by this chapter shall be
permitted wherever non-rated combustible walls are allowed by the
International Building Code.
Sections 2407.1.1 and .2 refer to tested assemblies that have
fire-resistance ratings of 1-hour and 2-hour. There currently is no stated
type of construction for strawbale in any code** that I¹m aware of. What
I¹m proposing, and what I believe any building official would say until a
code says otherwise, is that SB construction is Type V-B (i.e., Type V,
unrated).
**However, in California, the current HS18944 Guidelines for Straw-Bale
Structures says ³(a) Straw-bale walls, when covered with plaster, drywall,
or stucco, shall be deemed to have the equivalent fire resistive rating as
wood-frame construction with the same wall-finishing system.²
Wood frame constructino covered with those materials (depending on
specifications) is Type V-A (i.e., Type V, 1hr.). What HS18944 says is not
the same as saying strawbale is Type V-A , but if you accept what it does
say, it¹s not a big leap to get there.
The safe thing for your purposes is to say strawbale construction is Type
V-B. But I believe plastered strawbale walls and buildings actually perform
more than well enough to be considered Type V-A. In the long run that¹s
where I think it will land, but I¹m taking it incrementally, calling it
unrated for now except for the assemblies that were tested. For the vast
majority of strawbale applications, there is no need for a type of
construction that is 1-hour. If needed a case could be made for a specific
project and jurisdiction.
I hope this helps.
Martin
On 3/15/12 1:50 PM, "Art Ludwig" <oasis at oasisdesign.net> wrote:
> Martin,
>
> I'm working on the hydrant water supply as part of the integrated design for a
> project with at least two straw bale buildings. The required hydrant flow in
> this jurisdiction is determined by the Insurance Service Office procedure for
> needed fire flow <http://www.isomitigation.com/downloads/ppc3001.pdf> .
>
> Can anyone help me figure out the Construction Class number for earth
> plastered straw bale for purposes of this calculation?
>
> Here's a table from the document linked above that is sort of a Rosetta Stone
> for translating amongst the various standards that you all might be familiar
> with:
>
>
> This calculation is non-critical; we can get it to work with ISO class 1 (the
> worst) but I feel like we'd have more credibility if we had an idea what
> actual class the building fit in...
>
> Thanks,
>
> Art
>
>
> On 3/15/12 1:24 PM, martin hammer wrote:
>> Re: [GSBN] Strawbale Classroom in Cork Ireland (Fire Resistance) (+SB code)
>> 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 <http://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-docume
>>> ntation
>>>
>>> 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>
>>>>> <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>
>>>> <http://www.bevanarchitects.com/>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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