ASTM E2392/E2392M-23
(Guide)Standard Guide for Design of Earthen Wall Building Systems
Standard Guide for Design of Earthen Wall Building Systems
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 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 were 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.
5.2 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.
5.3 Building Code Impact—Earthen building systems have historically not been engineered, but as of the late 20th Century it is for the first time in history possible to reliably apply rational structural design methods to earthen construction. A large number of earthen building codes, guidelines, and standards have appeared around the world over the past few decades, based upon a considerable amount of research and field observations regarding the seismic, thermal, and moisture durability performance of earthen structures. Some of those standards are:
Australian Earth Building Handbook
California Historical Building Code
Chinese Building Standards
Ecuadorian Earthen Building Standards
German Earthen Building Standards
Indian Earthen Building Standards
International Building Code / provisions for adobe construction
New Mexico Earthen Building Materials Code
New Zealand Earthen Building Standards
Peruvian Earthen Building Standards
This guide draws from those documents and the global experience to date in providing guidance on earthen construction ...
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 add...
General Information
Relations
Buy Standard
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E2392/E2392M − 23
Standard Guide for
1
Design of Earthen Wall Building Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2392/E2392M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
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.
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, health, and environmental practices and deter-
technical requirements and considerations for sustainable de-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
velopment. Earthen building systems include adobe, rammed
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
earth, cob, cast earth, and other earthen building technologies
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
used as structural and non-structural wall systems.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
NOTE 1—Other earthen building systems not specifically described in
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
these guidelines, as well as domed, vaulted, and arched earthen structures
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
as are common in many areas, can also make use of these guidelines when
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
consistent with successful local building traditions or engineering judg-
ment.
2. Referenced Documents
1.1.1 There are many decisions in the design and construc-
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
tion of a building that can contribute to the maintenance of
C1364 Specification for Architectural Cast Stone
ecosystem components and functions for future generations.
D2487 Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering
One such decision is the selection of products for use in the
Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
building. This guide addresses sustainability issues related to
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
the use of earthen wall building systems.
E2114 Terminology for Sustainability
1.1.2 The considerations for sustainable development rela-
3
tive to earthen wall building systems are categorized as
2.2 ASCE Standards:
follows: materials (product feedstock), manufacturing process,
ANSI/ASCE 7 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and
operational performance (product installed), and indoor envi-
Other Structures
ronmental quality (IEQ). 4
2.3 New Zealand Standards:
1.1.3 The technical requirements for earthen building sys-
NZS 4297:1998 Engineering Design of Earth Buildings,
tems are categorized as follows: design criteria, structural and
1998
non-structural systems, and structural and non-structural com-
NZS 4298:1998 Materials and Workmanship for Earth
ponents.
Buildings, 1998
NZS 4299:1998 New Zealand Standard, Earth Buildings not
1.2 Provisions of this guide do not apply to materials and
products used in architectural cast stone (see Specification requiring Specific Design, 1998 (including amendment
#1, December 1999)
C1364).
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
3. Terminology
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
3.1 Definitions:
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
3.1.1 For terms related to building construction, refer to
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
Terminology E631.
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
with the standard.
2
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
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM 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.
3
tion. Available from American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 1801 Alexander
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2023. Published December 2023. Originally Bell Dr., Reston, VA 20191, http://www.asce.org.
4
approved in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as E2392/E2392M – 10 Available from Standards New Zealand, Ministry of Business, Innovation &
(2016). DOI: 10.1520/E2392_E2392M-23. Employment, 15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011, http://www.standards.govt.nz.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 B
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E2392/E2392M − 10 (Reapproved 2016) E2392/E2392M − 23
Standard Guide for
1
Design of Earthen Wall Building Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2392/E2392M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
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.
1. 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 healthsafety, health, and environmental practices and determine
the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E60 on Sustainability and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E60.01 on Buildings and Construction.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2016Dec. 1, 2023. Published September 2016December 2023. Originally approved in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 20102016
ɛ1
as E2392/E2392M – 10 (2016). . DOI: 10.1520/E2392_E2392M-10R16.10.1520/E2392_E2392M-23.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2392/E2392M − 23
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C1364 Specification for Architectural Cast Stone
D2487 Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E2114 Terminology for Sustainability
3
2.2 ASCE Standards:
ANSI/ASCE 7 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures
4
2.3 New Zealand Standards:
NZS 4297:1998 Engineering Design of Earth Buildings, 1998
NZS 4298:1998 Materials and Workmanship for Earth Buildings, 1998
NZS 4299:1998 New Zealand Standard, Earth Buildings not requiring Specific Design, 1998 (including amendment #1,
December 1999)
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For terms related to building construction, refer to Terminology E631.
3.1.2 For terms related to sustainability relative to the performance of buildings, refer to Terminology E2114. Some of these terms
are reprinted here fo
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.