Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
When installing a cable into a straw bale wall, start the installation at the uppermost
point by making a slit in the face of the bales into which the cable will be inserted.
Force the cable into the slit just above the knife as you continue cutting with the knife
(see Figure 12.1).
Figure 12.1
Cutting a slit in the straw into which the electrical cable is inserted
Using either your hands or a blunt piece of timber, force the cable or conduit into the
cut in the face of the bales. Some people find it necessary to wear protective gloves as the
straw is quite sharp and abrasive.
The installation of power outlets
Pegs to fix power outlets on to can vary in size and material, however they must be large
enough to get two fixing screws into the timber through the back of the wall box. It is
important that the wall box be held securely to prevent twisting during the render process
(see Figure 12.2). Care must be taken when rendering around the electrical boxes, as they
can easily be twisted.
Barbed timber pegs as fixing points for power outlets
The power outlet will be fixed to a timber peg that has been inserted into the straw bale
wall. The timber peg, approximately 350 mm long, will have a point on one end and
barbs cut into its sides. The barbs provide a stronger fixing into the wall, as the straw will
lock back into the barb slits into the sides of the peg (see Figure 12.2). Note that the straw
does not fold straight back into the barbs, this happens over a day or two as the straw
relaxes after having been forced aside when the peg was driven into it.
