Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
SEDUM ROOF
Geotextile or old wool carpet
Rubber pond liner
30mm gravelly soil planted
with sedums
Sheepswool
insulation
Plastering angle bead
extra layer of rubber
over all fixings
SmartPly 18mm
75mm
Overhang of rubber
pond liner
Rafter
Gutter
Pitch = 10º
minimum
40mm woodfibre
insulating ceiling board
Strawbale wall
Timber fascia
Overhang at the eaves
buildings. Electricity cables should be
encased in PVC-free conduit sheathing to
give extra protection against the (as-yet-
unresearched) theoretical risk from heat
generated by electric cables sited in a
super-insulated wall such as straw. By using
a specialist tool like the back of a claw
hammer(!), channels can be made in the
straw to take the conduit, which is buried in
the straw and plastered over. Fixings can be
placed wherever required by knocking in a
short length of sharpened hazel, just like a
giant Rawlplug, and clips, back boxes,
cooker hoods, etc. can be attached to these
(illustrated opposite). It's probably a good
idea to encase back boxes, etc. in clay or
lime as an extra fire protection.
Straw houses need a good 'hat' to protect
them from the weather. A large overhang is
a feature of strawbale buildings, especially
in the UK and Irish climate. Just as traditional
thatched houses have a roof overhang of
about 450mm (18”), so too do straw ones.
This gives really good protection to the top
of the walls against the rain.
Electricity and plumbing
Here there are no real differences in installa-
tion between strawbale and conventional
