One hundred years of experience with load-bearing plastered straw bale structures, along with a number of laboratory tests worldwide, show these wall systems to be capable of supporting substantial service loads. When properly baled, stacked, and detailed, and plastered on both sides with cement, lime, or earthen renders, straw bale walls can support at least residential-scale loads, and meet typical building code criteria for strength, serviceability, creep, and durability. Unplastered bale walls have been shown to provide abundant strength reserve in the elastic range, and a ductile, energy-absorbing core under dynamic or excess loads.
Author: Bruce King
