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Calearth Vaults

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posted 2 years ago

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Does anyone know what technique calearth uses for it's vaults? In pictures I can see they use superadobe for the base, but then it seems they vault wire mesh over the bags. I'm guessing they use ferrocement, but I'm not sure. Anyone know for certain?

Nancy Reading

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posted 2 years ago

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Hi Marcus, Welcome to Permies.
I'm not familiar with Calearth, but found some information through their website. Have you seen this document which is their official building standard? It says they use cement stabilised soil in the bags, so they certainly use some cement. I'm not sure about the vault buildings though.

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Anne Miller

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posted 2 years ago

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Maybe this list of videos might help:

https://www.calearth.org/classes/online-full

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John C Daley

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posted 2 years ago

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From memory bags are stacked at one end to create a buttress wall.
Then bags are packed on an angle so that the loop over the clear space, such that no bags are being supported by thye angled bags and so the vault is created to the other end.

John Daley Bendigo, Australia The Enemy of progress is the hope of a perfect plan
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John C Daley

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posted 2 years ago

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Nubian aRCHES
This describes how they are built.

Marcus O'Farcus

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posted 2 years ago

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John C Daley wrote:From memory bags are stacked at one end to create a buttress wall.
Then bags are packed on an angle so that the loop over the clear space, such that no bags are being supported by thye angled bags and so the vault is created to the other end.

I thought this might be the case too, but from the other pics on their website, it doesn't appear they bag all the way across, but they stop bagging and change techniques. Superadobe is used only for the buttress. I just don't know what technique they use to complete the "roof" of the vault.
This link has more pics: calearth vault program

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