Straw Bales Straw as a building material

Straw is an
1. agricultural by-product,
2. the dry stalks of cereal plants, after the grain and chaff have been
removed.
3. Straw makes up about half of the yield of cereal crops such
as barley, oats, rice, rye and wheat.
4. It has many uses, including fuel, livestock bedding and fodder,
thatching and basket-making.
Straw Bales Straw as a building material

Baler – farm machinery Baler – farm machinery

Circular Rectangular
Bale Bale

It is usually gathered and stored in a straw bale, which is a bundle

of straw tightly bound with twine or wire. Bales may be square,
rectangular, or round, depending on the type of baler used.
Straw Bales Strawbale construction -
Process

• Rectangular straw
bales are selected for
construction with
moisture content not
more than 20%of its
Step 1: total weight. The straw
Material and should not have any
seeds left behind
specification which may cause the
structure to
deteriorate.
Straw Bales Strawbale construction -
Process

• The bale wall should

be minimum 14” thick.
• Load bearing – wall
height : wall thickness
Step 2: is 5.6:1
General • Non Load bearing -
wall height : wall
requirement thickness is 13:1
• Foundation should be
s sized to match the wall
thickness
• A moisture barrier
between top of
foundation and wall
should be provided
Straw Bales Strawbale construction -
Process

Step 2:
General
requirement
- Foundation
Straw Bales Strawbale construction -
Process

• Bales in load-bearing
walls shall be laid flat
and stacked in running
bond where possible,
Step 3: with each bale
overlapping the two
Stacking bales beneath it.
and • Bales in non-load
bearing walls may be
pinning laid either flat or on
edge and stacked in
running bond where
possible.
• Overlaps shall be a
minimum of 12 inches.
Straw Bales Strawbale construction -
Process

• Gaps can be filled with

loose straw
• The straw bales need to
be anchored to the
Step 3: foundation
Stacking • The strawbales will then
be pinned using pointed
and wooden sticks or
treaded rods to hold
pinning them in position
• The bales are then laid
over each other and
stacked till the roof /
lintel level
Straw Bales Strawbale construction -
Process

Step 3:
Stacking
and Displays the pinning
pinning

Sectional view of a frame wall

Straw Bales Strawbale construction -
Process

• All openings in load

bearing bale walls shall
be a minimum of one
full bale length
Step 4: • Openings: Openings in
exterior bale walls shall
Opening not exceed 50 percent
s and of the total wall area,
based on interior
lintels dimensions
• Lintels: An approved
structural frame.
• A lintel (such as an
angle-iron cradle,
wooden beam,
wooden box beam).
Straw Bales Strawbale construction -
Process

• Lintels shall be at least

twice as long as the
opening is wide and
extend at least 24”
Step 4: beyond either side of
the opening
Opening
s and
lintels
Straw Bales Strawbale construction -
Process

• A water proof
membrane need to be
provided 1/3rd height
Step 5: of the wall from the
Moisture ground level to prevnt
possible entry of
Protectio moisture.
n and • Also all window sills
and lintels need to be
wall protected from rain /
finishes moisture entry
Straw Bales Strawbale construction -
Process

• Interior and exterior

surfaces of bale walls
shall be protected from
Step 5: mechanical damage,
Moisture flame, animals and
prolonged exposure to
Protectio water. Cement stucco
n and shall be reinforced with
galvanized woven wire
wall stucco netting. Lime-
based plasters may be
finishes applied directly onto
the exterior surface of
bale walls without
reinforcement, except
where applied over
materials other than
Straw Bales Strawbale construction -
Process

• Non load bearing wall:

The roof frame is
resting on the wall
frame.
• Load Bearing : The roof
frame is seated over
Step 6: the wall and transfers
Roofing the load directly to the
walls.

• The wall is
waterproofed on the
top before laying eth
roof frame to prevent
entry of moisture.
 Straw Bales Fire, Moisture, Vapour
Barrier and Pest proof
Fire resistant : Straw bale walls are naturally fire resistant, while the dry straw that makes
up a bale is easily combustible when loose, the compact nature of a bale does not trap
enough air to support combustion. The plaster coating effectively seals the already fire
resistant bales inside a non combustible casing being the lime / cement plaster.

Moisture: The straw before being used in construction should not contain more than 20%
moisture of its total weight. As this may cause decomposition within. To prevent entry of
moisture from rain / snow. The low end of walls are water proofed, the bottom and top of the
straw bale walls are also water proofed thereby keeping it safe.

Vapour barrier: Walls in hot and humid climates generally breathe air. When this natural
process is prevented by waterproofing an entire wall and plastering it with cement, the straw
may decompose within as there is no escape for the moisture within. Therefore lime plaster
serves best with straw as its characteristics enables the wall to breathe.
Pest proof: The straws before used in construction should be deseeded to prevent the pest
getting attracted to the food. Also the walls are plastered and all voids are filled completely.
Straw Bales Flooring

Adobe floors are a traditional flooring method. Adobe is a mixture of straw and mud
which is poured into place, then trowelled smooth and allowed to dry. The straw acts to
bind the mixture together and prevent cracks. The "mud" part of the mix must have a
significant percentage of clay. Once the floor dries, it can be oiled with linseed oil, and can
even be colored with dyes. Adobe floors are often referred top as being very comfortable.

Trowelling Straw, mud and clay Oiled and colored

 Straw Bales Roofing

Vaulted roof Shed roof Gable roof

Any type of sloping roof is most ideal for straw bale buildings namely
• Shed roof

• Hip roof

• Gable roof
Straw Bales

Compiled by
M.Gangotri
Architect

Courtesy
• Ar.Niranjana
• World Wide Web