Briefing: Challenges related to straw bale construction

Written by esba

This briefing discusses the current challenges to the deployment of straw bale walling systems in the UK. A short historical context is described and the major areas of scientific interest are discussed. These areas include the environmental, thermal, acoustic, structural and durability performance of straw bale walling systems in relation to their properties. Current values and measurements of these properties are discussed along with a short introduction to the major researchers and institutions researching the design and attributes of straw bale walls. The briefing concludes that the evolution of straw bale walling systems is rapidly developing and can, when appropriate solutions to potential risk issues are used, provide the basis for comfortable and sustainable buildings.

Authors: Goodhew, S.; Carfrae, J.; De Wilde, P., Dec 2010

Link: http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/10.1680/ensu.2010.163.4.185

About the author

esba

The European Straw Building Association is an independent European association, devoid of any profit making motive. The object of the Association is to promote and develop the use of straw, as a sustainable way of building in all the senses of the term “sustainable”: renewable, ecological, healthy, energy and climate efficient, social and economic.
The Association is a federation composed of organisations and people particularly concerned with the use of straw in buildings.