[Cob] Cob structures and "basements" or sunken floors

[Katie Bond]

I am peaking out (very new...and today was finally sunny on a day off) to 
ask where I would find Oregon building codes?

Katie Bond
Portland, Oregon

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shannon C. Dealy" <dealy at deatech.com>
To: "David Boyer" <HasteinD at earthlink.net>
Cc: <coblist at deatech.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 04, 2006 11:19 AM
Subject: Re: [Cob] Cob structures and "basements" or sunken floors


> On Sat, 4 Mar 2006, David Boyer wrote:
>
>> Fellow Cobians and wannabes,
>>
>>   We have recently been informed by a (Linn) County, Oregon building 
>> inspector that we can build all the cob cottages we want without a 
>> building permit providing they are separated by at least 3 feet; that the 
>> highest point of the roof is not more than 10 feet above ground and that 
>> they are not larger than 200 square feet. (We want to get this in writing 
>> on County stationary/correspondence before we begin construction)
>
> What you are describing is roughly the current definition for unpermitted 
> structures (such as accessory buildings) given in the international 
> building code (which Oregon has adopted at least in part).  Unfortunately, 
> my recollection is that the 10 feet given in the code is not "above 
> ground", but rather from it's lowest to highest point.  There is no 
> provision allowing these to be used as a residential structure, and any 
> plumbing and/or wiring must still be permitted and inspected.  I'm not 
> saying you can't live in it, that's your call, however, be aware that 
> legally it won't be a house.  I would recommend getting a copy of the 
> current Oregon codes and reading them rather than relying on anything 
> verbal from the county (you're probably safe on anything they give you in 
> writing, but even that is no guarantee), many libraries carry or can get 
> copies of local building codes.
>
>> A 200 square ft cob structure would fit our needs if it had 2 stories 
>> (400 sq. ft.). A way to get around the 10 foot roof height limit for a 2 
>> story structure would be to have the bottom floor be below ground level 
>> at least 2 feet (3 feet would be better).
>>  No cob construction literature I have read covers the subject matter of 
>> below ground living space. No Cob workshop I have seen offered has this 
>> topic on the agenda.
>>    Why?
>
> Because buried walls must be able to handle the lateral loads of all the 
> earth surrounding the building, as well as all the moisture wicking 
> through the ground, and any possible running/standing water that may get 
> channeled by the surrounding earth into direct contact with the walls. 
> Simply put, cob is not up to this.  I don't mean this can't be done, 
> however, to do it safely would not be easy.
>
> Shannon C. Dealy      |               DeaTech Research Inc.
> dealy at deatech.com     |          - Custom Software Development -
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