Section BJ106 — STRAWBALE WALLS—STRUCTURAL — 2025 California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)

BJ106.1 General. ¶

BJ106.1 General. Plastered strawbale walls shall be permitted to be used as structural walls in accordance with the prescriptive provisions of this section.

Ask AI about § BJ106.1

BJ106.2 Building limitations and requirements for use of strawbale structural walls. ¶

BJ106.2 Building limitations and requirements for use of strawbale structural walls. Buildings using strawbale structural 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, BJ106.13(2) or BJ106.13(3), as applicable, whichever is most restrictive. 4. Braced wall panel lengths:…

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

Ask AI about § BJ106.2

BJ106.3 Loads and other limitations. ¶

BJ106.3 Loads and other limitations. Live and dead loads and other limitations shall be in accordance with Section R301. Strawbale wall dead loads shall not exceed 60 psf (2872 N/m [2] ) per face area of wall.

Ask AI about § BJ106.3

BJ106.4 Foundations. ¶

BJ106.4 Foundations. Foundations for plastered strawbale walls shall be in accordance with Chapter 4, Figure BJ105.1(1), Figure BJ105.1(2) or an approved engineered design. on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER. APPENDIX BJ — STRAWBALE CONSTRUCTION

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

Ask AI about § BJ106.4

BJ106.5 Orientation and configuration of bales. ¶

BJ106.5 Orientation and configuration of bales. Bales in strawbale structural walls shall be laid flat or on-edge and in a running bond or stack bond, except that bales in structural walls with unreinforced plasters shall be laid in a running bond only.

Ask AI about § BJ106.5

BJ106.6 Plaster on structural walls. ¶

BJ106.6 Plaster on structural walls. Plaster on load-bearing walls shall be in accordance with Table BJ106.12. Plaster on shear walls shall be in accordance with Table BJ106.13(1). BJ106.6.1 Compressive strength. For plaster on strawbale structural walls, the building official is authorized to require a 2-inch (51mm) cube test conforming to ASTM C109 to demonstrate a minimum compressive strength in accordance with Table BJ106.6.1. For natural hydraulic lime (NHL) plasters, the compressive strength in the NHL manufacturer’s specifications is permitted to be used to satisfy the requirements in…

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

Ask AI about § BJ106.6

BJ106.7 Straightness of plaster. ¶

BJ106.7 Straightness of plaster. Plaster on strawbale structural walls shall be straight, as a function of the bale wall surfaces they are applied to, in accordance with all of the following: 1. As measured across the face of a bale, straw bulges shall not protrude more than [3] / 4 inch (19.1 mm) across 2 feet (610 mm) of its height or length. 2. As measured across the face of a bale wall, straw bulges shall not protrude from the vertical plane of a bale wall more than 2 inches (51 mm) over 8 feet (2438 mm). 3. The vertical faces of adjacent bales shall not be offset more than [3] / 8 inch…

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

Ask AI about § BJ106.7

BJ106.8 Plaster and membranes on structural walls. ¶

BJ106.8 Plaster and membranes on structural walls. Strawbale structural walls shall not have a membrane between straw and plaster, or shall have attachment through the bale wall from one plaster skin to the other in accordance with an approved engineered design.

Ask AI about § BJ106.8

BJ106.9 Mesh. ¶

BJ106.9 Mesh. Mesh in plasters on strawbale structural walls, and where required by Table BJ105.4, and where used to resist wind uplift in accordance with Section BJ106.14, shall be installed in accordance with Sections BJ106.9.1 through BJ106.9.4. BJ106.9.1 Mesh laps. Mesh required by Table BJ105.4 or BJ106.12 shall be installed with not less than 4-inch (102 mm) laps. Mesh required by Table BJ106.13(1) or in walls designed to resist wind uplift of more than 100 plf (1459 N/m) in accordance with Section BJ106.14 shall run continuous vertically from sill plate to the top plate or roof-bearing…

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

Ask AI about § BJ106.9

BJ106.10 Support of plaster skins. ¶

BJ106.10 Support of plaster skins. Plaster skins on strawbale structural walls shall be continuously supported along their bottom edge. Acceptable supports include: a concrete or masonry stem wall, a concrete slab-on-grade, a wood-framed floor in accordance with Figure BJ105.1(2) and an approved engineered design or a steel angle anchored with an approved engineered design. A weep screed as described in Section R703.7.2.1 is not an acceptable support.

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

Ask AI about § BJ106.10

BJ106.11 Transfer of loads to and from plaster skins. ¶

BJ106.11 Transfer of loads to and from plaster skins. Where plastered strawbale walls are used to support superimposed vertical loads, such loads shall be transferred to the plaster skins by continuous direct bearing in accordance with Figure BJ105.1(3) or by an approved engineered design. Where plastered strawbale walls are used to resist in-plane lateral loads, such loads shall be transferred to the reinforcing mesh from the structural member or assembly above in accordance with Figure BJ105.1(3) or BJ105.1(4) and to the sill plate in accordance with Figure BJ105.1(1) or BJ105.1(2) and with…

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

Ask AI about § BJ106.11

BJ106.12 Load-bearing walls. ¶

BJ106.12 Load-bearing walls. Bearing capacities for plastered strawbale walls used as load-bearing walls in one-story buildings to support vertical loads imposed in accordance with Section R301 shall be in accordance with Table BJ106.12. TABLE BJ106.12—ALLOWABLE SUPERIMPOSED VERTICAL LOADS (LBS/FOOT) FOR PLASTERED LOAD-BEARING STRAWBALE WALLSCol2Col3Col4Col5Col6 ------------------ WALL<brDESIGNATION PLASTERa (both sides) PLASTERa (both sides)MESHbSTAPLEScALLOWABLE<brBEARING CAPACITYd <br(plf) WALL<brDESIGNATIONTypeThickness<br(minimum in inches each side)Thickness<br(minimum in inches each…

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

Ask AI about § BJ106.12

BJ106.13 Braced wall panels. ¶

BJ106.13 Braced wall panels. Plastered strawbale walls used as braced wall panels for one-story buildings shall be in accordance with Section R602.10 and Tables BJ106.13(1), BJ106.13(2) and BJ106.13(3). Wind design criteria shall be in accordance with Section R301.2.1. Seismic design criteria shall be in accordance with Section R301.2.2. An approved engineered design in accordance with Section R301.2.1 shall be required where the building is located in a special wind region or where wind design is required in accordance with Figure R301.2(2) and Section R301.2.1.1, respectively. on Jul 18,…

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

Ask AI about § BJ106.13

BJ106.14 Resistance to wind uplift forces. ¶

BJ106.14 Resistance to wind uplift forces. Plaster mesh in skins of strawbale walls that resist uplift forces from the roof assembly, as determined in accordance with Section R802.11, shall be in accordance with all of the following: 1. Plaster shall be any type and thickness allowed in Section BJ104. 2. Mesh shall be any type allowed in Table BJ106.13(1), and shall be attached to top plates or roof-bearing elements and to sill plates in accordance with Section BJ106.9.2. 3. Sill plates shall be not less than nominal 2-inch by 4-inch (51 mm by 102 mm) with anchoring complying with Section…

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

Ask AI about § BJ106.14

BJ106.15 Post-and-beam with strawbale infill. ¶

BJ106.15 Post-and-beam with strawbale infill. Post-and-beam with strawbale infill systems shall be in accordance with Figure BJ105.1(4) and Items 1 through 7, or be of an approved engineered design. 1. Beams shall be of the dimensions and number of members in accordance with Table R602.7(1), where the space between posts equals the span in the table. 2. Beam ends shall bear over posts not less than 1 [1] / 2 inches (38 mm) or be supported by a framing anchor in accordance with Table R602.7(1). 3. Discontinuous beam ends shall be spliced with a metal strap with not less than 1,000-pound (454…

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

Ask AI about § BJ106.15