Straworks Inc. offers an engineered wall system for simple straw bale buildings
to save you time and money. Going this route, skips the step and expense of taking your drawings to a structural engenieer
to have them stamped. Because straw bale construction is not recongnized by the Ontario Building Code,
that's something that othersiwe has to be done to get a building permit in most municipalities. If the
building you have in mind, meets the paramenters below, it's a good way to go:
- one storey in height
- within the geographic area outlined
on the map of Ontario below
- measures 45'-0" wide x 60'- 0" long or less
- has roof trusses with a 6/12 slope or less
Three
houses in Ontairo have already been successfully designed, permitted and built this way. Pictures of them are coming soon.
The process goes
like this:
Step
1. After meeting with you and your design team, Deirdre designs and drafts your building according to Straworks Building
System No. 1
Step 2. The stamped system drawings are then attached to
your final plans and the general contractor applies for the building permit.
Step 3. The building permit is issued and construction begins.
Background and Description
Straworks Building System No. 1 was designed by Deirdre McGahern and Anthony
Spick P.Eng, of Blackwell-Bowick Structural Engineers. It is based on their collective experience of designing, engineering
and building many different types of straw bale buildings and being driven to a standard system that is designed for ease
of construction, conservation of materials, and to lower the engineering bill for people looking to build modest and affordable
straw bale homes.
Straworks Building System No.1 is a hybrid system that uses 2x6s on 3' centers to get the roof
up initially and then relies on the strength of the bales and plaster to support all future building code loads. Slightly
less wood is used than a conventional house framed with 2x6s on 16" centers. Best of all, the framing system is designed
to maximize ease of bale installation and thermal performance. The length and width of a building are divisible by 3 ft. (a
bale length). The height of the walls corresponds to bales stacked 5, 6 or 7 courses high. Window sizes and placement are
designed so bales fit around them. This kind of design saves hours of time and energy on site spent modifying bales to fit
a frame that wasn't designed with them in mind. Furthermore, by avoiding cutting and notching bales we are keeping them whole
and allowing them to do what they do best--insulate our walls.
By calling it, Straworks Building System No. 1 we
are infering that this is our first pre-engineered wall system but not our last. As we continue to pursue a passion designing and building cost effective, super-insulated and environmentally respectful building, we anticipate developing
other wall systems, for storey and a half or two-storey buildings.
For more information, please contact us.
