We’ve talked about straw bale constructions here before, so we know this is a realistic form of construction. They don’t blow down as easy as the storybooks say, and the houses are quite beautiful. But is it really safe? Isn’t straw highly flammable? What about earthquakes?
There is actually evidence to suggest straw-bale accommodations are SAFER than current methods of home design.
First off, when it comes to fires, straw bale housing is extremely fire resistant. Sure, you don’t want a lot of loose hay coming out of the walls near an open flame, but if properly constructed, trying to burn down a straw bale house is like trying to burn through a phonebook.
This is due to the fact that a well-constructed straw bale house is packed airtight using special tools and techniques. This ensures that there is no settling after the roof is finished, that pests stay out of the airtight wall cavities, and, most importantly, that walls are fire resistant. Once the bales are fastened together, wrapped, and covered in plaster, there is no room for oxygen to feed a burn. In fact, tests performed throughout North America show a traditional wall can be devastated by a fire in half an hour to an hour while a straw built wall holds strong for two hours before the flames burn through.
Straw-built walls are also better for earthquakes. I know you are imagining tumbling hay stacks right now, but not so fast. In the load-bearing structures, which still do not pass regulations in many locales, the walls are particularly strong. Scientists have begun to point out these are actually the ideal building practices in earthquake-prone regions like the California coast where frame houses often shake apart.
Third, a straw-built structure is better for your health. While most people might see this as a stretch, straw bale houses are healthier because they are more soundproof. Studies show repetitive noises like traffic, which we tend to tune out after long exposure, take significant years off life span, even if not consciously heard.
Additionally, materials usually used for insulating and building a home can be hazardous to human health by aggravating allergies and causing Sick House Syndrome. Most sufferers never even realize their home is making them sick. Straw bale houses do not have these hidden enemies, as you know exactly what is in the walls.
As you can see, building your house out of these bulky Lego-like blocks provides a safe, healthy living environment. In America, 200 million tons of straw go to waste or get burned every year, producing ghastly amounts of CO2, while we create more pollution manufacturing traditional housing materials that are hard on the environment in incalculable ways . Not too mention all the energy consumed to transport materials when straw is often a local, untapped resource.
So set your concerns aside. Straw bale housing really is a safe and eco-friendly alternative.
