abrasion 66, 67, 70 absorption 26–30, 64, 71 airtightness 41, 54, 60, 64, 96, 134 back-filling of joints and gaps 78 baler twine 21, 33, 34, 45 bracing 40, 45, 52, 55–59, 77 building costs 72 building physics 23–31 building process 75–78 casein paint 69, 70 ceiling 9, 48, 62 cement plaster 29, 34, 64, 65, 73 compression 36–39, 44, 52, 77, 80 condensation 24, 26, 50, 51, 56, 62, 66, 68, 77 construction time 72–74 creep 37–39 cropping of bale surfaces 79, 80 cutting apparatus 47, 48 deformation 36–40, 52, 77–80 density of straw bales 21–24, 36–39, 52, 75 detail planning 52–63 do-it-yourself 11, 46, 51 domes 47, 48, 140, 141, 152, 153 doors 60 earth plaster 64–71, 78 earthquake resistance 16, 40, 154 erosion by rain 66, 67 exterior plaster 65–70 fire protection 11, 32, 45, 49, 62, 64, 75 floor 51, 57–59 foundation 40–46, 52–59 French-dip technique 78
interior walls 62 jumbo bales (large bales) 37, 39, 52, 61, 98, 104, 122 lime paint 69 lime plaster 29, 64–68 load application 37–39, 59 loadbearing 20–22, 34, 36–40, 43, 47, 52, 59, 60, 77 modulus of elasticity 36, 37 moisture 12, 21, 22, 24, 26–31, 50, 51, 64, 65 moisture damage 30 mould 12, 21–22, 24, 27–30, 51, 64, 68 mowing 19 non-loadbearing 22, 44–46, 54–56, 74, 77 paint 27, 66, 68, 69, 70, 73 passive house 11, 41, 42, 96, 104, 106, 108, 116, 128, 132 plaster reinforcement (mesh) 40, 54, 73 plinth 26, 59 point foundation 57, 58, 128 post-tensioning 78 prestressing 44–46, 52, 57, 76–80 primary energy content 33–35 production of straw bales 19–21, 33–35 quality of bales 21 rain protection 22, 26, 29, 30, 62, 65–69, 75 reinforcing of the wall 77 relaxation 38–40, 78 reshaping 77 ring beam 39, 59, 60, 62, 72 roof insulation and details 29, 30, 47–53 seals against rising humidity 24 seismic performance 16, 40, 154 separation of bales 75, 76 service ducts 62
heat storage 24, 25, 62, 65 heat transition coefficient 23, 24 history 13–18 horizontal forces, see also: bracing 55–57 humidity 12, 21, 22, 24, 26–31, 50, 51, 64, 65 hygrometer 28 hygroscopic behaviour 26–29 insulating shell in a new building 45 insulation materials 4, 24, 34 insulation of existing building 45 interior plaster 64
silicate paint 70 sorption 26–30, 64, 71 sound 31, 62, 63 splash water protection 26, 59, 66 storage 75 straw bales as a building material 19–22 straw screw 71, 128 straw types 19, 29 structural design 36–40 supplementary compaction 75 sustainability 10 thermal bridges 25, 49, 54, 57, 59–63
Subject index
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Subject index
thermal conductivity 23, 24 thermal insulation 23–25, 30, 34, 35, 41, 42, 45, 49–51 threshing 19 transport 75 U-value 23–25, 34, 35, 41, 49, 54 vapour barrier, vapor diffusion 27, 29, 30, 49, 50, 66 vapour diffusion 26–27, 49, 65–71 vaults 47, 48, 136–141 wall and roof junctions 62 wall construction 29, 43–46, 56 wall corner 57 water absorption coefficient 70, 71 water-repellent treatment 70 weather protection 22, 26, 29, 30, 62, 65–69, 75 weatherboarding 26, 29, 54, 71 window 24, 41, 45, 52, 60, 68 μ-value 26, 27