Cob: enviroshake/rain collection

[D.J. Henman]

Wendy,
   if you are still in China, would you try to find out some of the 
ingredients and mixtures they used for the rammed earth walls.   This 
differs according to regions often times.   But, it be good to here if 
you have any recipes for the local you are in.   And the degree of 
compacting.   For example a moist mixture of x,y, z, in ratio x1,y1,z1, 
etc,  applied 5" at a time and tamped down to 2 1/2 to 3" then the next 
level applied.    

Many of the old fences where not rammed, but basically a clay soil and 
straw mixture and applied to a frame or with  rocks and or broken tiles.    

If you can speak Chinese and find somebody who knows about these walls. 
 In Chinese I forgot he name but it's the characters for mud + master   
or mud + artist.  

Thanks,
  Darel

Wendy Smyer Yu wrote:

> Being new to the list, I'm not sure if you've already covered this,
> but what about ceramic tile?  I'd bet that the biggest drawback is
> probably the weight (and in earthquake prone areas that's a
> potential problem)... but, in terms of something that could safely
> collect water (providing the glaze is ok), that could be produced
> locally, is this a decent option?  I'm in China and all the old
> buildings (and some of the new) are topped with ceramic tiles.
> It's amazing to see the old rammed earth walls with the classic
> tiles running along the top...
>
> Wendy
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> From: billc_lists at greenbuilder.com
>> Reply-To: billc_lists at greenbuilder.com
>> To: coblist at deatech.com
>> Subject: Re: Cob: enviroshake/rain collection
>> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2003 03:50:35 -0500
>>
>> Hi folks,
>>
>> That certainly doesn't sound like any actual lab testing has been done.
>>
>> I would suggest being *very* cautious about using a product such as 
>> this for rainwater catchment for drinking water.  Tires have plenty 
>> of nasties - heavy metals like cadmium and if I remember correctly 
>> mercury (I'd have to ask my neighbor who's with the Sierra Club and 
>> is constantly battling cement kilns that want to burn tires as fuel). 
>> Anyway, the point is there can be leaching and physical breakdown 
>> even if the water doesn't look or taste funny.  And the cumulative 
>> effects of drinking water containing certain substances are pretty 
>> well known in the water utility industry.
>>
>> Personally, i wouldn't trust 'em without a full test - that means 
>> putting a test installation through enough freeze/thaw, UV, heating, 
>> and other cycles to simulate 15 or 20 years in service, THEN collect 
>> water off it and have a thorough lab analysis run.
>>
>> I'd also want to know what exactly that discoloration is from. 
>> Something natural from the hemp?  Something from the tires? Some 
>> other ingredient?  And is the discoloration only after the initial 
>> installation, or after any long period of no rain?
>>
>> Anecdotal answers such as the ones below are not good enough when it 
>> comes to human consumption.
>>
>>> Hi folks, if anyone is interested in what the enviroshake people 
>>> have to say, here it is...
>>>
>>> In response to your email.  I can not say that there is any 
>>> off-gasses from
>>> the product,  but what I can say is that the composition of tire 
>>> rubber is
>>> only 8%, of the actual shake.  I have had a lot of inquiries about the
>>> effect of the sun on the product,, and of the sites that have been 
>>> done, we
>>> haven't experienced anything except discolouration in the water.   
>>> Usually
>>> after 3 or 4 rains the water is back to its natural colour.  Quite a 
>>> few of
>>> our customers use rainbarrels to collect water, and we have not had any
>>> complaints or any damage.
>>>
>>> One of our customers is in Florida, and he hasnt had any problems, 
>>> with his
>>> flowers or vegetables.
>>>
>>> If there is any thing else , please do not hesitate to contact me back.
>>>
>>> thanks
>>> Chris Jackson
>>> Product Specialist
>>> Wellington Polymer Technology Inc.
>>>
>>> Phone: 519-380-9265
>>> Fax: 519-380-0689
>>> Tol Free: 866-423-3302
>>>
>>> Jenny Walker
>>> Freelance Graphic Designer
>>> & Illustrator
>>> 613-741-7980
>>> http://www.jwalkerdesign.ca
>>> jenny at jwalkerdesign.ca
>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Bill Christensen
>> http://greenbuilder.com/contact/
>>
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>>
>
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