[Strawbale] foam, pro and con

[Howard Switzer]

I haven't seen ire here either, thank you all.  I have been posted offlist by someone telling me it was inappropriate for us to etc. and that by doing so we are squelching innovation and creating an unwelcoming atmosphere.  I don't think that is true.  But I think it would be completely irresponsible not to talk about the toxicity of materials if their use is what we are discussing.  If we are to discuss materials we should know what they are made of in detail to determine what the risks and costs of using them are.  Like Frank, I've used some from time to time and knowing the material has informed me as to how I use them or not.  We should remember too that some manufacturers in the industry has been less than upfront on many important issues but since this list is not political we won't discuss who.  Knowing you material is simply better than not knowing.   I would say those opposed to knowing are at risk of doing something foolish that may affect their health some years down stream.  I'm sure the poly foam works good and since it will be encapsulated perhaps... well, it is their call, right?  How materials respond to fire is also very important information to consider, so thank you Derek.

Considering how the foam works to bind the bales together, however, reminded me of a great old story about the bale house that got wet before the roof was put on causing all the wheat to sprout until the wall ran out of moisture but not before binding the bales together with its root systems.  Am i going to try it?  Probably not on purpose.

Howard Switzer
931-589-6513


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Derek Roff 
  To: strawbale at listserv.repp.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 12:30 PM
  Subject: Re: [Strawbale] foam, pro and con


  > When I presented my experiment in using foam
  > [snip] I warned
  > that I would invoke the ire of many on the forum.

  I would hope that there is a recognizable difference between disagreeing 
  and "invoking ire."  So far, the discussion has been calm and polite, in my 
  opinion.  Has any ire has been expressed off-list?

  A consideration of the toxicity of a building material might include toxic 
  products generated during a house fire.  Twenty years ago, toxic combustion 
  products made some foams illegal for residential construction, in some 
  European countries.  I don't remember the specifics, and I don't know if 
  the laws or combustion toxicity levels for construction foams have changed 
  significantly since then.

  Derelict

  Derek Roff
  Language Learning Center
  Ortega Hall 129, MSC03-2100
  University of New Mexico
  Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
  505/277-7368, fax 505/277-3885
  Internet: derek at unm.edu


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