Cob: RE: RE: Insulation for cob

[Michael Saunby]

Use thatch.  Once you've got a thatched roof it hardly matters if you've 
got newspapers in the loft, and of course the thatch is such a good 
insulator (and it ventilates itself too) that you don't need insulation 
anyway.

Nearly any house will burn once it's got started.  Avoid naked flames, fit 
smoke detectors, keep wiring in good condition, have a quick easy exit, and 
don't use materials that give off toxic fumes when burnt (smoke kills more 
people than burning).  You could go further and consider how the structure 
might collapse once various timbers are damaged, or even what might happen 
once the fire hoses are turned on it (cob buildings in Devon have been 
badly damaged by the fire hoses!).

How about wearing warm clothing?  Back in the days when people used to do 
real (outdoor) work, you wouldn't take all your clothes off every time you 
came inside so houses could be a lot cooler.

Michael Saunby

On 09 July 1999 15:25, Avalon Bruce [SMTP:avalonb at nwol.net] wrote:
> well, THIS JUST ABOUT LEAVES THE PINK STUFF, also much
> denigrated as a 'health' hazard, both to humans and the enviroment
>
> why doesn't some enterprizing lad (or lady) INVENT some sort of 
lightweight,
> NON combustible, NON toxic, inexpensive insulation for ceilings out of
> recycled materials ?????
>
> we seem to know what all WON'T work -- what about what DOES work?
>
> av
>