Curtis Log
July 21st, 2014
July 17th, 2014
GOOD SOIL FOR COMPRESSED STABILISED EARTH BLOCKS
The selection of a stabilizer will depend upon the soil quality and the project requirements. Cement will be preferable for sandy soils and to achieve quickly a higher strength. Lime will be rather used for very clayey soil, but will take a longer time to harden and to give strong blocks.
Soil for cement stabilisation: it is more sandy than clayey Gravel = 15% Sand = 50% Silt = 15% Clay = 20% Soil for lime stabilisation: it is more clayey than sandy Gravel = 15% Sand = 30% Silt = 20% Clay = 35%
The average stabilizer proportion is rather low:
Minimum Average Maximum Cement stabilisation 3 % 5 % No technical maximum Lime stabilisation 2 % 6 % 10%
These low percentages are part of the cost effectiveness of CSEB.
Source: http://www.earth-auroville.com/compressed_stabilised_earth_block_en.php
July 9th, 2014
Current Sketchup Model (AM) 7/9/2014
Contact Information for organizations and individuals that we can advertise the microhouse workshop to.
MHv3 is a R-3 occupancy group: residential occupancies where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature and not classified as Group R-1, R-2, R-4 or I. Therefor we refer to Section 1009.7.2 of the 2012 IBC exception #5 "In Group R-3 occupancies;(...) the maximum riser height shall be 7.75"; minimum tread depth shall be 10"; nosing projection not less than .75" but not more than 1.5""
2012 IRC states:
R311.4 Vertical egress. Egress from habitable levels including habitable attics and basements not provided with an egress door in accordance with Section R311.2 shall be by a ramp in accordance with Section R311.8 or a stairway in accordance with Section R311.7.
Therefor we are meeting code by having an acceptable means of egress "stairway" serving the second floor.
July 8th, 2014
Meeting to update the timeline of the project. Revised model with new pitch on roof (11.7 to 17 degrees) to provide optimum solar absorption during June 21 the summer solstice (the most quality sunlight to harvest) and allowing for operable mounts to adjust for year around efficiency. second story stairway- head clearance is 7', 2nd story has 10' ceilings at peak and 8' at smallest point between the finished ceiling and floor. continuing to completely overhaul the model according to the new slope and exterior dimensions. We retaining the material efficiency through longer framing members and extended brick. The bond beam and lentils are compliant with New Mexico Earthen Building Code, which is deferred in the absence of adobe or Earthen building code. We will be getting a proctor compression test and Atterburg (moisture content) test to determine soil content and optimum moisture content. Our results will not arrive quick enough for accurate and complete assessment so we will rely mostlyon intuition and trial and error, the OSE way! plus some suggestions from resources.
Chapter 10: egress stairways for residential egress. 1009.3 treads min. 11", raiser 7"max. - 4"min.
Screenshots 7/8
Code bond beam rafter connection
New Pitch
New Pitch to Show Head Room
July 7th, 2014
Bobcat was fixed bright and early. Logged 6.5 more hours on the bobcat and realized that this is a larger and more time consuming job than it was originally expected. Got rained out and worked for four more hours on revising the model per Chris Reinhart's suggestions.
July 6th, 2014
More site work, moving about 3-4 yd.s of dirt every 45 minutes, aka I am one with the machine! logged solid 4 hours from 9 am 1 pm and shortly after lunch hit one of the stakes marking the boundaries of the site and blew two tires. Began making revisions on the SKP model.
July 5th, 2014
While it rained and postponed our ground breaking on the site work necessary to pour the foundation Marcin and I decided to step down the size of the walls from 24" to 18" with the double layer of bricks oriented with the 1' dimension running parallel to the stem wall. At about 5 pm we broke ground. I logged 4.5 hours on the bobcat working well after midnight by lamp and headlights.
Site work begins
July 4th, 2014
Microhouse V3 site - before work begins
Sunday June 29th, 2014
Link to CEB codes in the UBC, IBC, and New Mexico adobe code: http://www.midwestearthbuilders.com/code.html
"On the basis of a detailed analysis of the space required for home activities and equipment, the Committee evolved the following space standards for families of various sizes. For the one-person family, a dwelling of 400 square feet of floor area is desirable. A two-person family requires a dwelling unit having 750 square feet of usable floor area; a three-person family requires 1,000 square feet of floor space; a four-person family, 1,150 square feet; a five-person family, 1,400 square feet; and a six-person family, 1,550 square feet. These standards make an interesting comparison between legally enforceable health requirements and the requirements based upon amenity and a new interpretation of health. (See the case of Lionshead Lake Inc. v. Wayne Township, Passaic County, Superior Court of New Jersey, April 27, 1951, discussed below.)" -https://www.planning.org/pas/at60/report37.htm
Fri April 18, 2014
Getting ready to depart for FeF and creating my first content on the wiki page!