Baleblock machine boring holes

  Wall foundation and rebars thru holes in baleblock

Baleblock cores being filled with concrete

Baleblock columns and horizontal ribs

Strawbale walls under construction

Strawbale wall cores ready to place concrete.

Baleblock stawbale wall system allows second or third story.

Baleblock strawbale construction.

Two story strawbale residence under construction.

 

Nizhoni School for Global Conscioussness built with Baleblock strawbale system.

Baleblock straw bale residence

Baleblock straw bale residence - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Featured in Designer, Builder magazine

Featured in Environmental Design and Construction magazine.

PRODUCT NAME
BALEBLOCK
Standard strawbales with pre-drilled cores
MANUFACTURER
Celestial Construction, Inc.
1599 Luisa Street
Santa Fe, NM 87505
PH: (505) 820-2818
FAX: (505) 820-0861
EMAIL: birkani@aol.com
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
An economical raw material offering large savings in cost per square foot of exterior wall area. Acts as an infill material with high R value (R=48). This R value of the blocks provides substantial savings in heating and cooling cost. BALEBLOCK provides a ready made form work for structural elements. A standard strawbale which is predrilled with a BALEBLOCK machine to create 4” or 6” diameter cores, that receives reinforced concrete to form a concrete post and beam structural system.
BASIC USES
Exterior walls, Interior walls, Landscaping walls, Yard walls, Straight or curved walls, Sound insulation, Check dams, Storm drainage control and Two-story structural walls
COMPOSITION & MATERIALS
BALEBLOCK is composed of straw ( the stalk or stem of wheat, rice, oats or barley ) left aftertreshing, or when seed-head has been removed. Building trades require bales that are adequately compacted. Although high compression somewhat reduces insulation values, uncompacted bales do not have sufficient strength. BALEBLOCK uses the standard rectangle compressed block of straw bound with polypropylene string or bale wire in a minimum of two places with the string running parallel to the length. Bales must be sufficiently dry with a maximum moisture content of 15% at the time of installation. If a partial bale is required, it should be split from a full bale and re-tied to maintain the original compression of the bale.
For 2-string bales the dry weight should be between 40 and 65 Lbs. per bale. Bales should be kept dry before, during and after construction. Strawbales can be cut and shaped to various shapes and sizes with a chainsaw or a handsaw. If shaping requires the ties to be cut, new strings should be added first, to preserve tension in the new shape.
SHIPPING
BALEBLOCK’s are shipped in 500 unit semiloads FOB Santa Fe, NM or the BALEBLOCK machine can be shipped to site and BALEBLOCK s manufactured on site, with locally produced straw.
TECHNICAL DATA
Strawbale has been tested and approved in the state of New Mexico and in Canada. On that basis it is being used in Arizona, California, Texas, Nevada, Colorado and Idaho, and is applicable in most states.
NM Tests of two-string strawbales:
ASTM E-119 (Fire test)
ASTM E-331 (Wind-driven rain)
ASTM E-72 (Transverse loading, compressive loading, and rack and shear)
R Value 43.2 - Laid flat R Value 42.8 - Laid on edge
Refer to State of New Mexico Construction Industries Division, Strawbale code, Section 105-1
SIZES
Two-String strawbale 14 to 16” High 18” Wide 35 to 40” Long
AVAILABILITY & COST
BALEBLOCK’s are available now, directly from Celestial Construction, Inc. F.O.B. Santa Fe, New Mexico. Call for current prices.
BALEBLOCK Machines are available now for purchase directly from Celestial Construction, Inc.

For further information and costs:
Please Call: (505) 820-2818

INSTALLATION
Installation of BALEBLOCK is similar to that of conventional cement block masonry.
A level surface is required for the first course. Cavities in BALEBLOCK are spread out by reusing plastic storm and drainage pipe, or recycled cardboard pipe, to align with upper courses and to receive reinforced concrete to form vertical columns which are secured to a concrete bond beam member, thus ready to receive the roof structure. Every other course of BALEBLOCK, depending on architectural and engineering specifications, may receive a horizontal durawall lateral steel ladder reinforcing and mortar to form horizontal ribs for lateral loads. Door and window rough jambs are directly anchored to vertical concrete columns by using steel anchor bolts. Surface finishes can be a variety of stucco, wood, vinyl siding, rock and brick, veneer or sheetrock. Vapor barrier not recommended. (as per manufacturers details). Adequate cavity ventilation is necessary as per manufacturers details. BALEBLOCK R ‘s should not be used below grade locations. Parapet walls made out of strawbales are not recommended.
Surfaces may be plained or levelled off after completion of walls. Technical services are available from Birkani Architects. For further information and costs:
Please Call: (505) 820-2818
LIMITED WARRANTY & DISCLAIMER
Information herein is accurate and reliable to the best of our knowledge, however, the use of strawbales in the construction industry is still at an experimental stage, If approved by a Registered Architect and installed properly, Celestial Construction, Inc. guarantees the concrete post and beam performance to the original owner. However, Celestial Construction, Inc. does not warranty the installation, workmanship, accessories, local strawbale material conditions, application conditions and is not responsible for product performance. BALEBLOCK is maintenance free, and requires no additional maintenance, beyond usual customery protection from natural elements.

Featured in Emerging Technology magazine.