Cob: Structural integrety

Thu Oct 4 01:14:42 PDT 2001

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Nope, I don't think conducting tests on cob with a concrete envelope would
be a good thing, because:

1.) Concrete as an outer or inner layer will cause moisture to accumulate,
leading to rotting straw and ultimately failure of the wall.  This is widely
known and concrete is ill-advised as a coating for cob.

2.)  If cob enveloped with concrete DID pass "official" tests, then this
would likely set a precedent, thus leading folks to build "approved-of"
walls likely to fail over time.

A better option would be to test cob material w/o concrete coating (i.e. as
it is commonly built) and prove it has adequate sheer and compression
strength for load bearing walls.

Again, most building codes have a clause allowing an inspector to approve of
a building which "appears" adequately constructed even though not meeting
codes for "generally accepted building materials".

Ocean
Ahimsa Sanctuary
http://www.peacemaking.org

From: "Gregori Robinson" <robinson at on.aibn.com>
Reply-To: "Gregori Robinson" <robinson at on.aibn.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2001 11:46:10 -0700
To: "John Hall" <hallsoi at netvigator.com>
Cc: <coblist at deatech.com>
Subject: Cob: Structural integrety

Has anyone tested the structural integrety of Cob as a bearing wall? Louis
Rompre' and Brad Robinson of Internatural Canada tested Strawbale and their
own BioBlock in partnership with the Canadian Morgage and Housing
Corporation CMHC, resulting in 3 times stronger than code for wind sheer and
downward thrust. This was acheived. I see no reason why Cob wouldn't meet
the same test results if the outside envelope was portland cement as their
test model was. Can anyone site examples of Strawbale and Cob uniting into
a project? www.ArtNouveau.ws <http://www.ArtNouveau.ws> (under
construction - coming soon.)

----- Original Message -----
From: John Hall <hallsoi at netvigator.com>
To: nigella1 <nigella1 at peoplescom.net>; <coblist at deatech.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2001 2:04 AM
Subject: Cob: Re: greetings all!

> If you are wanting to render the outside/ plaster the inside at some stage,
> the straw does provide a good key.............
> John.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "nigella1" <nigella1 at peoplescom.net>
> To: <coblist at deatech.com>
> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 11:00 PM
> Subject: Cob: greetings all!
> 
> 
> > Hello everyone, nigella here, I was a member sometime ago and had to leave
> > due to time restraints. Anyway , I am back :)
> >  I have a question. I have seen some cob structures (pics) that are smooth
> > as glass and some that had straw sticking out everywhere. I imagine at
> least
> > some of this is for intentional texture but how do you get the straw
> pieces
> > smoothed off , if you want them off?
> > Thanks
> > nigella
> >
> >
> > ---
> > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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> >
> >
> 
> 

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Nope, I don't think conducting tests on cob with a concrete envelope would =
be a good thing, because: 
 
1.) Concrete as an outer or inner layer will cause moisture to accumulate, =
leading to rotting straw and ultimately failure of the wall. &nbsp;This is w=
idely known and concrete is ill-advised as a coating for cob. 
 
2.) &nbsp;If cob enveloped with concrete DID pass &quot;official&quot; test=
s, then this would likely set a precedent, thus leading folks to build &quot=
;approved-of&quot; walls likely to fail over time. 
 
A better option would be to test cob material w/o concrete coating (i.e. as=
 it is commonly built) and prove it has adequate sheer and compression stren=
gth for load bearing walls. &nbsp; 
 
Again, most building codes have a clause allowing an inspector to approve o=
f a building which &quot;appears&quot; adequately constructed even though no=
t meeting codes for &quot;generally accepted building materials&quot;. 
 
Ocean 
Ahimsa Sanctuary 
http://www.peacemaking.org 
<BLOCKQUOTE> 
From: &quot;Gregori Robinson&quot; &lt;robinson at on.aibn.com&gt; 
Reply-To: &quot;Gregori Robinson&quot; &lt;robinson at on.aibn.com&gt;<=
BR>
Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2001 11:46:10 -0700 
To: &quot;John Hall&quot; &lt;hallsoi at netvigator.com&gt; 
Cc: &lt;coblist at deatech.com&gt; 
Subject: Cob: Structural integrety 
 
</BLOCKQUOTE> 
<BLOCKQUOTE>Has anyone tested the structu=
ral integrety of Cob as a bearing wall? &nbsp;Louis Rompre' and Brad Robinso=
n &nbsp;of Internatural Canada tested Strawbale and their own BioBloc=
k in partnership with the Canadian Morgage and Housing Corporation CMHC, res=
ulting in 3 times stronger than code for wind sheer and downward thrust. &nb=
sp;This was acheived. &nbsp;I see no reason why Cob wouldn't meet the same t=
est results if the outside envelope was portland cement as their test model =
was. &nbsp;Can anyone site examples of Strawbale and Cob uniting into a proj=
ect? &nbsp;www.ArtNouveau.ws &lt;http://www.ArtNouveau.ws&gt; &nbsp;(under c=
onstruction - coming soon.) 
 
 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: John Hall &lt;hallsoi at netvigator.com&gt; 
To: nigella1 &lt;nigella1 at peoplescom.net&gt;; &lt;coblist at deatech.com&gt;<B=
R>
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2001 2:04 AM 
Subject: Cob: Re: greetings all! 
 
&gt; If you are wanting to render the out=
side/ plaster the inside at some stage, 
&gt; the straw does provide a good key............. 
&gt; John. 
&gt; ----- Original Message ----- 
&gt; From: &quot;nigella1&quot; &lt;nigella1 at peoplescom.net&gt; 
&gt; To: &lt;coblist at deatech.com&gt; 
&gt; Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 11:00 PM 
&gt; Subject: Cob: greetings all! 
&gt; 
&gt; 
&gt; &gt; Hello everyone, nigella here, I was a member sometime ago and had=
 to leave 
&gt; &gt; due to time restraints. Anyway , I am back :) 
&gt; &gt; &nbsp;I have a question. I have seen some cob structures (pics) t=
hat are smooth 
&gt; &gt; as glass and some that had straw sticking out everywhere. I imagi=
ne at 
&gt; least 
&gt; &gt; some of this is for intentional texture but how do you get the st=
raw 
&gt; pieces 
&gt; &gt; smoothed off , if you want them off? 
&gt; &gt; Thanks 
&gt; &gt; nigella 
&gt; &gt; 
&gt; &gt; 
&gt; &gt; --- 
&gt; &gt; Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. 
&gt; &gt; Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). 
&gt; &gt; Version: 6.0.273 / Virus Database: 143 - Release Date: 08/16/2001=
 
&gt; &gt; 
&gt; &gt; 
&gt; 
&gt; 
</BLOCKQUOTE> 
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