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Cob CodesMike Carter cobcrew at sprynet.comWed Jun 10 23:18:33 CDT 1998
Steve Berlant writes:
"There is some code phobia regarding cob. As an attorney and a natural building educator, I would like to dispel it."
Steve, please let us know when you have completed your first building-department approved Cob building.
"I'd first like to respond to these statements by saying that I feel that it is very exciting that cob is recognized as a legitimate building system in at least 3 building codes in the United States."
This is a bit misleading - how do you prove that "puddled adobe" = Cob in the minds of the inspectors? Probably 90% of whom country-wide don't even have first-hand knowledge of adobe? Then confuse the issue further by introducing your own terminology ("monolithic adobe").
"The 3 adobe/cob codes are more like performance based codes and do not specify exactly how one is to build with cob other than the usual wall height to thickness formulas, use of lintels, buttressing and other basics of adobe construction. Do not forget that cob is adobe. It is just one big piece of adobe ( and a lot more fun to work with too!) "
I will take issue with the statement that Cob is adobe. Although similar, the percentage of straw in "Oregon Cob" is generally higher than a typical adobe mix. Our engineering tests showed that the addition of lots of straw greatly decreased the compressive strength of the mix - to around 180-200 p.s.i. maximum at our site compared to 300+ p.s.i. for adobe. Tensile strength should be increased by the straw, however (not tested).
"It makes sense to test the materials to make sure that they can hold the weight of the structure's walls and roof. "
The engineering tests are just the start if you want to do this right.
"We do not need any cob buildings falling down and hurting anyone. That would be the end of cob construction in permitted areas in this country. "
Well, according to some, it has already happened (about 15 years ago in Northern CA) - see New Settler. Concrete, brick, wood frame, steel buildings fail often under different circumstances and they are still avidly used. What logic have you used to deduce that Cob would be different? Has Cob construction begun in permitted areas in this country?
Mike Carter
cobcrew at sprynet.com
Austin, TX USA
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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Steve Berlant writes:</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">"There
is some code phobia regarding cob. As an attorney and a natural
building educator, I would like to dispel it." </BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Steve,
please let us know when you have completed your first building-department
approved Cob building.<BR><BR>"I'd first like to respond to these
statements by saying that I feel that it is very exciting that cob is
recognized as a legitimate building system in at least 3 building codes in
the United States." </BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">This
is a bit misleading - how do you prove that "puddled adobe" = Cob
in the minds of the inspectors? Probably 90% of whom country-wide
don't even have first-hand knowledge of adobe? Then confuse the issue
further by introducing your own terminology ("monolithic
adobe"). </BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"><BR>"The
3 adobe/cob codes are more like performance based codes and do not specify
exactly how one is to build with cob other than the usual wall height to
thickness formulas, use of lintels, buttressing and other basics of adobe
construction. Do not forget that cob is adobe. It is just one
big piece of adobe ( and a lot more fun to work with too!)
" </BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">I
will take issue with the statement that Cob is adobe. Although
similar, the percentage of straw in "Oregon Cob" is generally
higher than a typical adobe mix. Our engineering tests showed that the
addition of lots of straw greatly decreased the compressive strength of the
mix - to around 180-200 p.s.i. maximum at our site compared to 300+ p.s.i.
for adobe. Tensile strength should be increased by the straw, however
(not tested).<BR><BR>"It makes sense to test the materials to make sure
that they can hold the weight of the structure's walls and roof.
" </BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">The
engineering tests are just the start if you want to do this right.</BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">"We
do not need any cob buildings falling down and hurting anyone. That
would be the end of cob construction in permitted areas in this
country. "</BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Well,
according to some, it has already happened (about 15 years ago in Northern
CA) - see New Settler. Concrete, brick, wood frame, steel buildings
fail often under different circumstances and they are still avidly
used. What logic have you used to deduce that Cob would be
different? Has Cob construction begun in permitted areas in this
country? <BR><BR> </BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"><FONT
color=#000000 size=2>Mike Carter<BR><A
href="mailto:cobcrew at sprynet.com">cobcrew at sprynet.com</A><BR>Austin,
TX USA</FONT><BR><BR> </BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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