Sustainable earth walls to meet the building regulations

Abstract

The thermal conductivity and diffusivity of un-fired clay bricks, a straw clay mixture and straw bales have been measured using a thermal probe technique, with an iterative method for data analysis. The steady-state air-to-air thermal transmittance, or Uvalue, and the time-dependent thermal properties of some proposed sustainable earth wall constructions are presented. Sustainable cavity walls of un-fired clay bricks with paper, straw or wool cavity insulation have thermal transmittances less than 0.35 W/m 2 K, and therefore meet the current United Kingdom Building Regulations. A review of possible methods for thermally up-grading existing earth walls, by adding an internal insulated timber frame construction, again demonstrates possible compliance with the current UK thermal regulations.

Construction particleboards made from rapeseed straw glued with hybrid pMDI/PF resin

“…An example here is the revival of straw bale houses, especially in the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and Europe (Vejeliene et al 2011;Thomson and Walker 2014). According to Goodhew and Griffiths (2005), this building technology provides buildings with better thermal insulation of walls than wood or wood-based materials. It also makes it possible to save the materials and use local resources and, therefore, reduce the costs of transport as well as air pollution (Morel et al 2001).…”

Thermal Performance of Traditional and New Concept Houses in the Ancient Village of San Pedro De Atacama and Surroundings

“…Nowadays, it is possible to calculate the proprieties of earth blocks or rammed earth walls, and discover once again the ancient experimental knowledge. Literature (for example references [7][8][9]) offers many examples of tests conducted on this kind of materials, but the outcomes of real construction are often different to that predicted using test results. This paper studies real homes, selected by material characterization: one is done by adobes (earth blocks), one by tapial technique (rammed earth walls), one is self-construction principally on wood, and the last one is done by concrete blocks covered by asbestos cement on the roof.…”

Experimental analysis of Pressed Adobe Blocks reinforced with Hibiscus cannabinus fibers

“…Soil has been used in the construction of shelters and houses for thousands of years. At present, approximately 30% of the world's population still lives in earthen structures [1,2]. In most developing countries, houses are essentially constructed using locally produced adobes.…”