Deutsch
English
SpanischThe national association of building with straw bales (FASBA) is a non profit organisation with about 130 members and is acting nation wide. FASBA has two main objectivs, one is to promote the technical transfer of building methods and the other is to encourage the comprehension and the facilities for self builder.
Straw bale architecture: An old building material obtains new reputation. In the late 19.th century building with baled straw came up with the development of steam driven presses. The first houses were built in Nebraska.
Straw bales have a unique status in the area of building law and building material approval. It is a non-industrial “product”, which grows on the fields. There is no producer in the usual sense, but numerous farmers who would benefit of an appreciation of the rarely used byproduct. It is hoped that as a result of legalizing the straw bale as building material, the demand will rise. In industrial countries, especially Germany, there are several obstacles to this unusual building material philosophy.
In the production of grain as one of the most important food straw bales occur almost as a waste product. Around 20% of the total harvest is not used for agricultural means and is available for other purposes. With this amount of baled straw ca. 350.000 one-family-houses per year could be built. For the production of straw bales only very small amounts of primary energy is needed. There are several methods to build straw bale houses. Basically load bearing (on the basis of traditional design) and non- load bearing constructions are distinguished.
More information about: www.fasba.de
