Investigation into the Variations of Moisture Content of Two Buildings Constructed with Light Earth Walls
Publication: Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 11, Issue 4
Abstract
This paper briefly describes the background to light earth buildings and details a series of moisture measurements undertaken upon the clay and straw (light earth) constructed walls of two U.K.-based buildings. The methodology of measurement that was based upon previous studies undertaken on walls made from straw bales is described. A novel “in-wall” wet heating system used in one of the two buildings allows the investigation of the effects of direct wall heating upon the distribution of moisture in the walls. The influence of exterior and interior temperature and humidity are described as are the variations in moisture migration introduced by the in-wall heating system. It was concluded that both buildings have exterior wall moisture content readings that indicate little risk of degradation due to interior wall moisture levels (although the Studio walls do exhibit higher and if suffered over long time periods, dangerous moisture readings for part of the measurement period).
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Acknowledgments
The writers acknowledge the financial assistance of the DTI, U.K. through the Partners in Industry Programmes which allowed much of this work to be possible. The writers also wish to thank Gaia and Locate Architects for their support and the kind help and assistance of Anne Morgan, Neil Cockett, and Lysanna Robinson the owners of the two case-study buildings.
References
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Fugler, D. (2000). “Straw bale moisture research.” Canada Mortgage andHousing Corporation, Canada.
Gonzalez, H. J. (1998). “Home made straw bale moisture meters.” The Last Straw, Spring, Issue No. 22, 31.
Goodhew, S. M. R., Griffiths, R., and Woolley, T. (2004). “An investigation of the moisture content in the walls of a straw-bale building.” Build. Environ., 39, 1443–1451.
Lacinski, P., and Bergeron, M. (2000). Serious straw bale, Chelsea Green Publishing.
Volhard, F. (1998). Leichtlehmbau, alter baustoff neue technik, 5th Ed., C. F. Mueller, ed., Heidelberg, Germany.
Woolley, T., and Kimmins, S. (2000). Green building handbook, Vol. 2, E&FN Spon, London.
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© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Oct 25, 2004
Accepted: Jan 14, 2005
Published online: Dec 1, 2005
Published in print: Dec 2005
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