Section BJ105 — STRAWBALE WALLS—GENERAL — 2025 California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)

BJ105.1 General. ¶

BJ105.1 General. S trawbale walls shall be designed and constructed in accordance with this section and with Figures BJ105.1(1) through BJ105.1(4) or an approved alternative design. Strawbale structural walls shall be in accordance with the additional requirements of Section BJ106. FIGURE BJ105.1(1)—TYPICAL BASE OF PLASTERED STRAWBALE WALL ON CONCRETE SLAB AND FOOTING For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm. on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER. APPENDIX BJ — STRAWBALE CONSTRUCTION FIGURE BJ105.1(2)—TYPICAL BASE OF PLASTERED STRAWBALE WALL OVER RAISED FLOOR For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm. BJ105.1(3)—TYPICAL…

provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use

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BJ105.2 Building limitations and requirements for use of strawbale nonstructural walls. ¶

BJ105.2 Building limitations and requirements for use of strawbale nonstructural walls. Buildings using strawbale nonstructural walls shall be subject to the following limitations and requirements: 1. Number of stories: not more than one, except that two stories shall be allowed with an approved engineered design. 2. Building height: not more than 25 feet (7620 mm), except that greater heights shall be allowed with an approved engineered design. 3. Wall height: in accordance with Table BJ105.4. 4. Braced wall panel lengths: in accordance with Section R602.10.3, with the additional…

provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback

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BJ105.3 Sill plates. ¶

BJ105.3 Sill plates. Sill plates shall be installed in accordance with Figure BJ105.1(1) or BJ105.1(2). Sill plates shall support and be flush with each face of the straw bales above and shall be of naturally durable or preservative-treated wood where required by this code. Sill plates shall be not less than nominal 2 inches by 4 inches (51 mm by 102 mm) with anchoring complying with Section R403.1.6 and the additional requirements of Table BJ105.4, where applicable, and Sections BJ106.13.2 and BJ106.13.3 for strawbale braced wall panels. BJ105.3.1 Exterior sill plate flashing. Exterior sill…

provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard

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BJ105.4 Out-of-plane resistance methods and unrestrained wall dimension limits. ¶

BJ105.4 Out-of-plane resistance methods and unrestrained wall dimension limits. Strawbale walls shall employ a method of out-of-plane load resistance in accordance with Table BJ105.4 and comply with its associated limits and requirements. TABLE BJ105.4—OUT-OF-PLANE LOAD RESISTANCE METHODS AND UNRESTRAINED WALL DIMENSION LIMITSCol2Col3Col4Col5Col6 ------------------ METHOD OF OUT-OF-PLANE<brLOAD RESISTANCEaFOR ULTIMATE<brDESIGN WIND<brSPEEDS<br(mph)FOR SEISMIC<brDESIGN<brCATEGORIESUNRESTRAINED WALL DIMENSIONS,H bUNRESTRAINED WALL DIMENSIONS,H bMESH STAPLE<brSPACING AT<brBOUNDARY<brRESTRAINTS…

provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use

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BJ105.5 Connection of light-frame walls to strawbale walls. ¶

BJ105.5 Connection of light-frame walls to strawbale walls. Light-frame walls perpendicular to, or at an angle to, a strawbale wall assembly shall be fastened to the bottom and top wood members of the strawbale wall in accordance with requirements for wood or cold-formed steel light-frame walls in this code, or the abutting stud shall be connected to alternating strawbale courses with a [1] / 2 inch diameter (12.7 mm) steel, [3] / 4 -inch-diameter (19.1 mm) wood or [5] / 8 -inch-diameter (15.9 mm) bamboo dowel, with not less than 8inch (203 mm) penetration.

provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject

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BJ105.6 Moisture control. ¶

BJ105.6 Moisture control. Strawbale walls shall be protected from moisture intrusion and damage in accordance with Sections BJ105.6.1 through BJ105.6.9. BJ105.6.1 Water-resistive barriers and vapor permeance ratings. Plastered bale walls shall be constructed without any membrane barrier between straw and plaster to facilitate transpiration of moisture from the bales, and to secure a structural bond between straw and plaster, except as permitted or required elsewhere in this appendix. Where a water-resistive barrier is APPENDIX BJ-10 2025 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM…

provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use

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BJ105.7 Inspections. ¶

BJ105.7 Inspections. The building official shall inspect the following aspects of strawbale construction in accordance with Section R109.1: 1. Sill plate anchors, as part of and in accordance with Section R109.1.1. 2. Mesh placement and attachment, where mesh is required by this appendix. 3. Pins, where required by and in accordance with Section BJ105.4.

provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking

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BJ105.8 Voids and stuffing. ¶

BJ105.8 Voids and stuffing. Voids between bales and between bales and framing members shall not exceed 4 inches (102 mm) in width, and such voids shall be tightly stuffed with flakes, loose straw or straw-clay before application of finish.

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