Nice rant though.
John what about a hollow pc block filled with peastone. Then another layer of solid pc block on the outside. If the wall cracks or breaks in a quake the peastone will just flow down or out. The wall can be repaired and the stone poured back in?
Just a thought.
Nick
From: papercreters@yahoogroups.com [mailto:papercreters@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of John Annesley
Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2007 1:53 AM
To: papercreters@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [papercreters] Re: Papercrete vs CEB vs rammed earth vs adobe vs strawbale vs cordwood vs today'
In the original post it was stated that "The CEB blocks have a natural insulating quality- R
factor is enormous but the real interest is the 12 hour heat transfer." I understand what
was meant here, but just for technicality sake, let me point out that the R value is nil in a
CEB (compressed earth block), but that you're entirely correct in saying "the real interest is
the 12 hour heat transer." That heat transfer is called K value, or "the thermal flywheel
effect" and is the big bonus of thermal mass. The biggest bonuses in home construction
come when folks combine thermal mass jacketed in insulative material.
My only problem with CEB is that its block, and as with all heavy bricks and blocks, they
fall down and kill thousands during earthquakes in the third world. They will here too
except where the code required reinforcement such as hollow block with rebar running
through it. My focus in alternative building has been on finding building methods which
make sense in terms of personal safety, and energy effeciency. There are a lot of neat
things out there and I've always been a very open minded individual, but I've come to a
point where I'm unwilling to compromise in terms of considering building houses that
when put to the test will definitely fall on you and crush your family or at least all your
posessions, leaving you also homeless. Likewise, I've determined not to build burnable,
rottable, boxes or anything else with great great insulation and no thermal mass, or great
thermal mass and no insulation. Something safe and practical is what I'm concerned with.
I'm not trying to be 'down' on papercrete or other alternative construction-
wood framed houses with good insulation and no thermal mass are about the epitomy of
disastrous design if you ask me, in every way except earth quake resistance where they do
pretty well. They burn, they get too wet and they rot, termites like 'em, and without
thermal mass you're pumping heating and cooling into a well insulated box: I don't get it.
Actually I do get it: its fast and easy, like portland cement.
the job all the time either, its just fast and easy and hence the reason that it gained such
widespread popularity to the point that almost nobody even understands that there are
alternatives. In the construction trades time is money, and that's the driving force in
building technology, not making an energy efficient home although so many folks believe
that's what's going on. I'll stop ranting now. Oooops.
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