Standard Guide for Design of Earthen Wall Building Systems

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Historical Overview—Earthen building systems have been used throughout the world for thousands of years. Adobe construction dates back to the walls of Jericho which was built around 8300 B.C. Many extant earthen structures have been functioning for hundreds of years. However, with the development of newer building materials, earthen building systems have fallen into disfavor in parts of the world where they were once commonly used. At the same time, earthen construction is experiencing a revival in the industrialized world, driven by a number of factors.  
Sustainability—As world population continues to rise and people continue to address basic shelter requirements, it becomes increasingly necessary to promote construction techniques with less life cycle impact on the earth. Earthen building systems are one type of technique that may have a favorable life cycle impact.
SCOPE
1.1 This standard provides guidance for earthen building systems, also called earthen construction, and addresses both technical requirements and considerations for sustainable development. Earthen building systems include adobe, rammed earth, cob, cast earth, and other earthen building technologies used as structural and non-structural wall systems.  
Note 1—Other earthen building systems not specifically described in these guidelines, as well as domed, vaulted, and arched earthen structures as are common in many areas, can also make use of these guidelines when consistent with successful local building traditions or engineering judgment.
1.1.1 There are many decisions in the design and construction of a building that can contribute to the maintenance of ecosystem components and functions for future generations. One such decision is the selection of products for use in the building. This guide addresses sustainability issues related to the use of earthen wall building systems.
1.1.2 The considerations for sustainable development relative to earthen wall building systems are categorized as follows: materials (product feedstock), manufacturing process, operational performance (product installed), and indoor environmental quality (IEQ).
1.1.3 The technical requirements for earthen building systems are categorized as follows: design criteria, structural and non-structural systems, and structural and non-structural components.
1.2 Provisions of this guide do not apply to materials and products used in architectural cast stone (see Specification C1364).
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

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Historical
Publication Date
14-Jan-2010
Technical Committee
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Designation: E2392/E2392M − 10
StandardGuide for
1
Design of Earthen Wall Building Systems
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE2392/E2392M;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyear
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
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ε NOTE—Section 2.3 was corrected editorially in May 2010.
1. Scope 1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1 This standard provides guidance for earthen building
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
systems, also called earthen construction, and addresses both
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
technical requirements and considerations for sustainable de-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
velopment. Earthen building systems include adobe, rammed
earth, cob, cast earth, and other earthen building technologies
2. Referenced Documents
used as structural and non-structural wall systems.
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
NOTE 1—Other earthen building systems not specifically described in
C1364 Specification for Architectural Cast Stone
these guidelines, as well as domed, vaulted, and arched earthen structures
as are common in many areas, can also make use of these guidelines when D2487 Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering
consistent with successful local building traditions or engineering judg-
Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
ment.
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
1.1.1 There are many decisions in the design and construc-
E2114 Terminology for Sustainability Relative to the Perfor-
tion of a building that can contribute to the maintenance of
mance of Buildings
ecosystem components and functions for future generations. 3
2.2 ASCE Standards:
One such decision is the selection of products for use in the
ANSI/ASCE 7 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and
building. This guide addresses sustainability issues related to
Other Structures
the use of earthen wall building systems.
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2.3 New Zealand Standards:
1.1.2 The considerations for sustainable development rela-
NZS 4297:1998 Engineering Design of Earth Buildings,
tive to earthen wall building systems are categorized as
1998
follows: materials (product feedstock), manufacturing process,
NZS 4298:1998 Materials and Workmanship for Earth
operational performance (product installed), and indoor envi-
Buildings, 1998
ronmental quality (IEQ).
NZS 4299:1998 New Zealand Standard, Earth Buildings not
1.1.3 The technical requirements for earthen building sys-
requiring Specific Design, 1998 (including amendment
tems are categorized as follows: design criteria, structural and
#1, December 1999)
non-structural systems, and structural and non-structural com-
ponents.
3. Terminology
1.2 Provisions of this guide do not apply to materials and
3.1 Definitions:
products used in architectural cast stone (see Specification
3.1.1 For terms related to building construction, refer to
C1364).
Terminology E631.
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
3.1.2 For terms related to sustainability relative to the
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
performance of buildings, refer to Terminology E2114. Some
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
of these terms are reprinted here for ease of use.
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
with the standard.
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
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This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E60 on Sustainability Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E60.01 on Buildings and Construc- the ASTM website.
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tion. Available from American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 1801 Alexander
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2010. Published March 2010. Originally Bell Dr., Reston, VA 20191, http://www.asce.org.
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approved in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as E2392 – 05. DOI: Available from Standards New Zealand, Radio New Zealand House, Level 10,
10.1520/E2392-10E01. 155, The Terrace, Wellington 6011, http://www.standards.co.nz.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E2392/E2392M − 10
3.1.3 alternative agricultural products, n—bio-based indus- used to make adobe (1), (here also called earthen building
t
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