Rammed Earth is a heat resistant building material
Stabilised Earth Adelaide
Rammed Earth Fire Resistance
Rammed Earth is very fire resistant.
A study conducted by the National Building Technology Centre, Department of Housing and Construction in Queensland tested the ability of a load bearing Rammed Earth wall to sustain temperatures up to 1150C.
Findings from this test support the claim that rammed earth is one of the most heat resistant building materials.
The thickness of the test wall was 300mm and the vertical load applied for the duration of the test was 100 kN/m.
Heat was increased through the duration of the test so that at 60 minutes the temperature was 950C, until at the 4hr point temperature had reached around 1150C.
Test results were separated into 3 categories:
- Structural adequacy – No failure at 241 minutes.
- Integrity – No failure at 241 minutes.
- Insulation – No failure at 241 minutes.
The testing body summarised the fire-resistance rating of the test material with the following statement:
‘for the purpose of Building Regulations in Australia, the fire-resistance rating of the test specimen is four hours’.
See testing documentation here …
Rammed Earth house survives Kangaroo Island bush fires
The house shown in this photograph was only just completed before the bush fires that devastated KI during the 2019-2020 summer.
The house survived with no structural or visible damage.
Rammed Earth house survives Kangaroo Island bush fires
Another view of the house after the fires burnt through this area.