Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
strawbale building and how it must be
done. Much of the information available is
based on US Building Codes and methods
of building, which are not necessarily
appropriate for Ireland and the UK. There is
an increasing body of knowledge available
about practice in Europe, but we would not
necessarily agree with all of it. We would
encourage you to inform yourself as fully as
possible of the principles of good strawbale
design, and then make up your own mind.
require that stucco wire must be used on
straw buildings that are cement-rendered.
This means that even if you are sure it is
not necessary you still have to do it. Very
quickly it becomes 'fact' that strawbale
buildings must be wrapped in stucco wire,
when the reason for the 'must' has become
lost. In Germany it is still not permitted to
build loadbearing strawbale buildings, even
though we have been doing it here with
full legal approval for fifteen years! So it is
healthy to practise common sense, coupled
with an enquiring mind.
When faced with a choice about whether
or not to try a new or different construction
technique, always ask yourself first: Does
it work? But don't stop there. Ask the most
important question next: Is it necessary, or
does it just over-complicate the building?
And finally, ask yourself: Do I have the
knowledge, skills and support required to
carry out my dreams? The best strawbale
homes are straightforward, beautifully
simple (often simply beautiful!), and created
as the result of many people's efforts.
There is a fundamental difference between
Codes of Practice in the USA and some
other European countries, and our Building
Regulations. Other codes may be prescriptive:
that is, they tell you that you MUST do it a
certain way. In Ireland and the UK, Building
Regulations are guidelines. They advise you
on best practice, but you can do it another
way if you can show it's effective.
Prescriptive codes can mean that as new
and simpler techniques are developed and
the nature of straw is understood more
fully, new practices cannot be used officially
until the Building Codes have been altered.
For instance, the Codes in some US States
