Construction is a building method that uses bales of straw (commonly wheat, rice, rye, oats straw) as structural elements, building insulation or both. This construction method is commonly used in natural building or “brown” construction projects.

1. Guided by
D.V.N.V Lakshmi Alekhya
presented by
N. Shravya
(15C15A0107)

2. Introduction
The 1st straw bale house is introduced by Egyptians.
Each year gain farmers battle with the remains of their harvest,
straw. Straw doesn’t decompose very rapidly and becomes a
burden for the farmers. The burning of straw produces CO.
Enough straw is already produced in Egypt, it reaches 33million
ton every year and it burning produces 1.65million ton of CO, for
that many efforts were directed to find alternatives to burning of
straw. (reference by Athena Swentzell “The straw bale house”
Reference by
Athena Swentzell

3. Abstract
Egypt is rapidly developing its economy. The economics of
the government identify the building industry as a vital engine of
economic growth. The raising need of housing for the growing
rural and urban population is a pressing issue. Straw bale
construction has considerably good insulation and can be
promising building alternative that meets housing needs and
energy efficient goals of Egypt. It is used for solve the problems
of pollution caused by burning of straw.
Straw bale house in Egypt

4. CONTENTS
Abstract
Introduction
Definition
Why straw bale
building?
Straw bale dimensions
construction methods
using straw bale
Construction details
Advantages &
disadvantages
Conclusion

5. Definition:
construction is a building method that uses bales of straw
(commonly wheat, rice, rye, oats straw) as structural elements,
building insulation or both. This construction method is commonly
used in natural building or “brown” construction projects.
Why straw bale building?
 Energy efficiency.
 Healthy choice.
 Cost advantage.
 Structural capabilities.
 Comfort, creativity & aesthetics.
 Resistant against termites & pests.
 Fire resistance, moisture effect & maintenance.

6.  Energy efficiency:
R- value of construction materials
Construction R- value Comments
Conventional wall
system
2.0 to 3.5 Depending on
climatic conditions,
building code
regulations, building
materials and type of
insulation
Straw bale walls 5.5 to 8.5 Depending on widths
,type, quality and
density of straw
bales and on how the
bales are stacked
•R- The greater resistance to the flow of heat.

7.  Fire resistance:
Fire resistance of straw bale
Material Fire resistance
Un- rendered straw bale 30 minutes
Rendered straw bale 2 hours
Timber framed and cladded
building
8 minutes

8. Straw bale dimensions
Straw bale bricksStraw bale brick dimensions

9. Construction methods using straw bale
 There are three main methods to build with straw bale
Construction
methods
Structural
bale
(load
bearing)
Light-
weight
frame
Non
structural
bale
(in-fill
methods)

10. Load bearing method
Example of straw bale house by using Load bearing method

11. Light weight frame
Example of straw bale house by using Light weight frame

12. In-fill method
Example of straw bale house by using in- fill method

13. How to build it ?
Trench and re barring for the footer
a) b)
a) Trench and rebarring for the poured footer.
b) The trench is filled with concrete, the poured footer is two feet wide

14. The space in between the walls and all cells in the blocks still must
be filled with concrete.
a) b)
a) Completed double stem walls and filling in between,
b) Section of foundation
a) b)
a) The finished foundation walls to build up a floor
b) Compacting the fill dirt with a gasoline powered tamper.

15. Raising the door onto the foundation
a) b)
a) The barn raising tradition of old comes alive again
b) Attempting to line up a bale exactly over an all thread rod before
lowering it onto the well

16. Straw bale walls shot with lime stucco and ferrous sulfate coloring
Pre-manufactured adobe blocks to make the floor

17. Advantages
 Easy to build
 Renewable nature of straw.
 Low cost.
 Easy availability.
 Naturally fire- retardant.
 High insulation value.
 Low cost alternative for building highly insulating wall.
 Durable- life of 100years

18. Disadvantages
 Susceptibility to rot.
 Difficulty of obtaining insurance
coverage
 High space requirements for the
straw itself.
(thickness of wall is usually around
18-20 inches)

21. Conclusion
 Instead of being unwanted and difficult to dispose of, rice straw
would become a valuable commodity to be harvested for profit.
 The emission from eventual burning or decomposition of the
straw are postponed.
 The major physical components of an ideal passive solar design
would include adequate thermal mass(to store and release heat
of a 24-hour cycle) and an insulating exterior wrap to reduce
heat loss to the outside.

22. Thank you