Building with Compressed Earth Block within the Building Code

Abstract

AbstractDespite the use of earthen materials in building construction for thousands of years, many engineering properties of earthen walls are not well understood, documented, or regulated. California and New Mexico have adopted building codes allowing earthen structures through prescriptive methods that rely on rules of thumb to limit heights and spans of construction. Furthermore, California restricts earthen structures to very limited areas on the basis of soil type. Overall, the prescriptive methods have led to uncertainty about reinforcing requirements. There is a belief among builders who use earthen materials that reinforcement is required only in areas of high earthquake hazard, implying that a geographic area is either seismic or not. In reality, all locations are prone to some seismicity. On the basis of the probability of seismic activity and soil conditions at each locale, every site has a risk that ranges from very low to very high probability of earthquake damage. Energy compliance and struc...