B.

TECH SEMINAR REPORT

ON

STRAW BALE HOUSE

Submitted by

MELVIN MATHEW VARGHESE

Reg. No: 12411034

Guided by

Mrs. MANJUSHA M

Asst. Professor

Department of Civil Engineering

BASELIOS MATHEWS II COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

(Approved by AICTE and Affiliated to University of Kerala)

Lakeview, Muthupilakadu, Sasthamcotta,

Kollam, Kerala

2015

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 BASELIOS MATHEWS II

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Kollam, Kerala

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that this seminar paper entitled

STRAW BALE CONSTRUCTION

is report of seminar presented by

MELVIN MATHEW VARGHESE

during the year 2015 in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the

award of Degree of Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering

under University of Kerala.

Guide: Co-ordinator: Head of the Department:

Mrs. MANJUSHA M Mr. AJEESH A.C Prof.R.Rajasekharan Nair

Associate Professor Associate Professor Professor
Dept. of Civil Engg. Dept. of Civil Engg. Dept. of Civil Engg.
BMCE, Kollam BMCE, Kollam BMCE, Kollam
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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to record my appreciation for the Department of Civil Engineering for

giving me strong base in seminar and I am grateful for their valuable moral and
material support for completing this seminar.

I am grateful to our Head of the Department Prof. R.Rajesekharan Nair, for

giving me helping hand and the facilities for the successful completion of the seminar

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Mrs. Manjusha M, Asst.

Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, for her care and attention towards my
work and her useful advice which encouraged and supported me.

I would like to express sincere gratitude to all those who helped and guided
me and were much needed source of inspiration to me during the course of this
seminar

I also thank other staff members and all classmates who helped me in this
seminar

With great pleasure I am submitting my seminar Report.

Yours Sincerely

MELVIN MATHEW VARGHESE

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 ABSTRACT

The advancement in the field of technology have influence environment in utmost

extend so everyone is worried about the environment and its tremendous impact in
our life. It is obvious that people want to live in eco-friendly houses making it as a
part of environment and their life. Thought it is a challenging job, we can still use our
resources and manpower for the creation of innovative eco-friendly houses. Straw
house can be one of the best alternatives for the country like India where agriculture
is still the main source of income and production of straw is tremendous. Straw bale
construction can be one of the best alternatives as it is renewable resources having
tremendous features as cost effective with high health value, Aesthetics value,
thermal performance, Fire resistance, light weight and eco-friendly in nature. We also
can go with the various techniques of construction as load bearing straw bale
construction or non load bearing construction as per the circumstances. Straw bale
construction can be one of the best alternatives for all kind of people for constructing
a economic building with a sustainable material.

While the finished straw bale house wall has surprisingly good fire resistance,
loose straw from any cut bales presents a notable fire risk and the site should be swept
clear regularly. Straw bale building is growing in popularity and, despite the current
lack of certificated products or systems, an increasing number of successful housing,
school and office buildings have been approved by local building control.

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 CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE NO

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii

ABSTRACT iv

CONTENTS v

LIST OF FIGURES vi

1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 General 1

1.2 History 2

2 STRAW BALE IN CONSTUCTION 3

2.1 Properties 4

3 CONSTUCTION MATERIALS 7

3.1 Straw Source ,Bale Dimension & Compression 7

3.2 Characteristics Of Straw Bale 9

3.3 Environmental Impact 9

4 CONTRUCTION METHODS 10

4.1 General Construction Methods 10

4.2 Construction Methods 10

4.2.1 Load bearing method 10

4.2.2 Infill method 12

5 ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS 18

6 CONCLUSIONS

25

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 7 REFERENCE 26

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE NO TITLE PAGE NO

3.1 Typical two and three string bale dimensions 7

3.2 A bale laid flat –strings at centre of walls 8

4.1 (a) LB method outside view 11

4.1( b) LB inside view 11

4.2 (a) Outer view of infill method 12

4.2 (b) Inside view of infill method 12

4.3 (a) Side wall of straw bale house 13

4.3 (b) TREEPLAST screw 13

4.3 (c) TREEPLAST screw joint 13

4.4 Applying first coat of lime render by hand 15

5.1 Pre Fabricated straw bale panels – New York city 23

5.2 Semi detached council houses, North Kesteven 23

5.3 Nigel & Julie Woo key’s Four Bed roomed Homes 23

5.4 Straw bale house at Norway 23

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