// CODE SNIPPET
Section AR103 Nonbearing Light Straw-Clay Construction
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Light straw-clay shall be limited to infill
between or around structural and nonstructural wall framing
members.
The structure of buildings using light
straw-clay shall be in accordance with the International Residential
Code or shall be in accordance with an approved
design by a registered design professional.
Use of light straw-clay
infill shall be limited to buildings that are not more than
one story above grade plane.
Exception: Buildings using light straw-clay infill that
are greater than one story above grade plane shall be in accordance with an approved design by a registered
design professional.
Wind and seismic bracing shall be in accordance with Section R602.10 and shall use Method LIB. The required length of bracing shall comply with Section R602.10.3, with the additional requirements that Table 602.10.3(3) shall be applicable to buildings in Seismic Design Category C, and that the minimum total length of bracing in Table R602.10.3(3) shall be increased by 90 percent. In lieu of these prescriptive requirements, wind and seismic bracing shall be in accordance with an approved design by a registered design professional. Walls with light straw-clay infill shall not be sheathed with solid sheathing.
Light straw-clay
shall be deemed to have a design dead load of 40 pounds
per cubic foot (640 kg per cubic meter) unless otherwise
demonstrated to the building official.
Light
straw-clay shall be reinforced as follows:
- Vertical reinforcing shall be not less than nominal 2-inch by 6-inch (51 mm by 152 mm) wood members at not more than 32 inches (813 mm) on center where the vertical reinforcing is nonload bearing and at 24 inches (610 mm) on center where it is load bearing. The vertical reinforcing shall not exceed an unrestrained height of 10 feet (3048 mm) and shall be attached at top and bottom in accordance with Chapter 6 of the this code. In lieu of these requirements, vertical reinforcing shall be in accordance with an approved design by a registered design professional.
- Horizontal reinforcing shall be installed in the center of the wall at not more than 24 inches (610 mm) on center and shall be secured to vertical members. Horizontal reinforcing shall be of any of the following: 3/4-inch (19.1 mm) bamboo, 1/2-inch (12.7 mm) fiberglass rod, 1-inch (25 mm) wood dowel or nominal 1-inch by 2-inch (25 mm by 51 mm) wood.
The materials used in light straw-clay
construction shall be in accordance with Sections AR103.3.1
through AR103.3.4.
Straw shall be wheat, rye, oats, rice or
barley, and shall be free of visible decay and insects.
Suitability of clay soil shall be
determined in accordance with the Figure 2 Ribbon Test or
the Figure 3 Ball Test of the Appendix to ASTM E2392/E2392M.
Clay slip shall be of sufficient viscosity
such that a finger dipped in the slip and withdrawn
remains coated with an opaque coating.
Light straw-clay wall construction
shall be in accordance with the requirements of Sections
AR103.4.1 through AR103.4.7.
Light
straw-clay shall be not more than 12 inches (305 mm)
thick, to allow adequate drying of the installed material.
Light straw-clay and
its exterior finish shall be not less than 8 inches (203 mm)
above exterior finished grade.
An approved moisture barrier
shall separate the bottom of light straw-clay walls
from any masonry or concrete foundation or slab that
directly supports the walls. Penetrations and joints in the
barrier shall be sealed with an approved sealant.
Light strawclay
shall be permitted to be in contact with untreated
wood members.
Nonwood structural members in contact with light strawclay
shall be resistant to corrosion or shall be coated to
prevent corrosion with an approved coating.
Light straw-clay shall be
installed in accordance with the following:
- Formwork shall be sufficiently strong to resist bowing where the light straw-clay is compacted into the forms.
- Light straw-clay shall be uniformly placed into forms and evenly tamped to achieve stable walls free of voids. Light straw-clay shall be placed in lifts of not more than 6 inches (152 mm) and shall be thoroughly tamped before additional material is added.
- Formwork shall be removed from walls within 24 hours after tamping, and walls shall remain exposed until moisture content is in accordance with Section AR103.5.1. Visible voids shall be patched with light straw-clay prior to plastering.
Openings in walls shall be
in accordance with the following:
- Rough framing for doors and windows shall be fastened to structural members in accordance with the International Residential Code. Windows and doors shall be flashed in accordance with the International Residential Code.
- An approved moisture barrier shall be installed at window sills in light straw-clay walls prior to installation of windows.
The interior and exterior surfaces of
light straw-clay walls shall be protected with a finish in
accordance with Sections AR103.5.1 through AR103.5.5.
Light straw-clay walls shall be dry
to a moisture content of not more than 20 percent at a
depth of 4 inches (102 mm), as measured from each side
of the wall, prior to the application of finish on either side
of the wall. Moisture content shall be measured with a
moisture meter equipped with a probe that is designed for
use with baled straw or hay.
Exterior plaster finishes shall
be clay plaster or lime plaster. Interior plaster finishes
shall be clay plaster, lime plaster or gypsum plaster. Plasters
shall be permitted to be applied directly to the surface
of the light straw-clay walls without reinforcement, except
that the juncture of dissimilar substrates shall be in accordance
with Section AR103.5.4. Plasters shall have a thickness
of not less than 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) and not more than
1 inch (25 mm) and shall be installed in not less than two
coats. Exterior clay plaster shall be finished with a limebased
or silicate-mineral coating.
Where
wood framing occurs in light straw-clay walls, such wood
surfaces shall be separated from exterior plaster with
No.15 asphalt felt, Grade D paper or other approved material
except where the wood is preservative treated or naturally
durable.
Bridging shall be installed across dissimilar substrates
prior to the application of plaster. Acceptable bridging
materials include: expanded metal lath, woven wire mesh,
welded wire mesh, fiberglass mesh, reed matting or burlap.
Bridging shall extend not less than 4 inches (102 mm),
on both sides of the juncture.
Exterior wood, metal or composite
material siding shall be spaced not less than 3/4 inch
(19.1 mm) from the light straw-clay such that a ventilation
space is created to allow for moisture diffusion. The siding
shall be fastened to wood furring strips in accordance with
the manufacturer's instructions. Furring strips shall be
spaced not more than 32 inches (813 mm) on center, and
shall be securely fastened to the vertical wall reinforcing
or structural framing. Insect screening shall be provided at
the top and bottom of the ventilation space. An air barrier
consisting of not more than 3/8-inch-thick (9.5 mm) clay
plaster or lime plaster shall be applied to the light strawclay
prior to the application of siding.