[Cob] cob building codes

[Mary Lou McFarland]

Just finished reading John's letter and he mentioned cobber's not getting 
behind the effort of creating building code for cob structures.  Is there 
such an effort out there to create code?  I haven't been around long enough 
to know about everything that's going on
I've read a little about what they have done to the adobe code in the S.W.  
They require concrete in the mortar mix and the external plaster.  Perhaps 
you could get away with that in an arid climate but that would be disastrous 
in my summer humidity.  It's my understanding that  when cob can't breathe 
it loses it' strength and viability, so if concrete is forced upon us then 
we will be our own undoing.  I think we have to ask ourselves how do we go 
about guiding the development of a code and how do we keep commercial 
building interests out of the process.  Habitat for Humanity has an earth 
building dept. so does anyone know how they go about getting municipal 
approval?
I would like to see it become easier for people to acquire permits, etc. but 
it would be a sad thing for cob to be taken completely out of the 
owner/builder arena.  It might very well be the last hope for people living 
at and below poverty level in this country, so I guess the question we 
should ask is how to proceed CAREFULLY.

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