[Greenbuilding] Light Clay Walls

[JOHN SALMEN]

It can be accepted in bc under section 5 of the code. "is not required where
it can be shown that uncontrolled vapour diffusion will not adversely affect
any of ...'health,use,operation'"

As this does not form part of section 9 a building inspector would normally
and reasonably require some LOA (letter of assurance)to hang their hat on -
in the form of a schedule D form (building envelope design review and field
review) which specifically limits the work to a registered architect or
engineer with a practice/experience or education focused in that work.

Air barriers are also defined in section 5 as a leakage rate not greater
than basically a sheet of drywall with the option of increasing that rate
(if it doesn't adversely affect....)

Now the CVRD has allowed this type of wall/building locally and others have
been built legally. Kris Dick eng. of building alternatives inc. I think has
been the lead eng. for these projects but there may be other professionals
around. 

Mike, is the claymix being relied upon for lateral bracing as well?

Best
john


JOHN SALMEN ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
4465 UPHILL RD,. DUNCAN, B.C.  CANADA, V9L 6M7
PH 250 748 7672 FAX 250 748 7612 CELL 250 246 8541
terrain at shaw.ca


-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Michael
O'Brien
Sent: October 19, 2010 9:25 PM
To: Chris Koehn
Cc: greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Light Clay Walls

Hi, Chris--

I haven't tried the slip form, but the lath is double duty--it acts as a
form to keep the light clay mix in place while it dries and then as a
supporting substrate for the clay plaster. It might work to apply the
plaster directly to the dry light clay but am not sure, haven't actually
tried that.

Our code also has a 1 perm vapor retarder, but this is a non-permitted
building--in Portland, anything 200 SF or less does not need a permit. Great
for small experiments!

Our code guys are usually accepting of high mass walls without VRs, as they
have learned more building science and understand how they work.

I'll post a couple more photos of such a house tomorrow.

Best,

Mike

On Oct 19, 2010, at 6:50 PM, Chris Koehn wrote:

> Yes Mike, thanks for the pictures.
> I was interested to see lathe being used instead of the slip form
technique I see EcoNest using. Care to comment on the comparison?
> I'm also keen to learn of folk's experiences with code officials,
primarily related to breathing walls. Here in BC the code calls for a vapour
barrier, which is antithetical to this technique as I understand it. 
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Chris
> TimberGuides
> Van Isle
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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Mike O'Brien Photography
1905 N Alberta Street
Portland, Oregon 97217



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