This is a Balaton Highland-style thatched semi-timbered house, but the masonry could be straw, as it could be hidden under the moulded façade design.
Natural insulating materials, such as straw shavings or straw bales, have fundamentally excellent thermal insulation properties, but there are several barriers to their widespread use:
- Lack of certificates:
In the modern construction industry, the certification of materials is an essential requirement to guarantee their performance and safety (e.g. fire resistance, strength, moisture resistance). The increased use of cellulose insulation is largely due to the fact that it is produced in an industrial environment, in a regulated way and has all the necessary certificates. In the case of straw, as it is traditionally applied by local, artisanal methods, these certifications are typically lacking. - The role of large companies:
Until there is a major manufacturer or organisation that promotes and certifies straw-based insulation materials or construction technologies, their widespread uptake is unlikely. If a large company were to launch, for example, straw and wood-based wall panels, they would already have the necessary certifications, which could make a significant difference to the perception and uptake of the technology. - Regulatory compliance:
Building codes and standards are strict, particularly in terms of fire safety and structural requirements. Straw as a raw material does not comply with these regulations unless it is treated or combined with other materials. Therefore, custom straw bale or straw chip-based solutions often do not meet modern building codes. - Lack of research and development:
Cellulose insulation has been researched, developed and optimised for decades. Research into straw-based technologies is still in its infancy, so there are few standardised solutions that can be applied at industrial scale.
What does the future hold?
If a large manufacturer or an innovative start-up were to start working with straw-based building materials, it would probably develop industrial-scale manufacturing processes to treat the material (e.g. with fire- and moisture-resistant coatings) and obtain the necessary certifications. This direction could help bring about a renaissance of straw in the construction industry.
However, it should not be forgotten that obtaining certification is a time-consuming and costly process, which will only pay off if the material generates enough demand. It is likely, therefore, that straw bales or chips alone will remain a rather alternative or niche solution unless they become part of a larger industrial innovation.
More likely is the proliferation of wood and straw prefabricated panels, or any building product that contains straw and will be certified as such, such as a hemp-concrete masonry block.
The construction industry is also driven by the profit motive, and this sector is no exception. As in the case of straw, it is more likely that composite materials or prefabricated systems that are already certified and suitable for industrial-scale production will be used.
1. Prospects for prefabricated wood-straw panels or straw-based building materials
- Industrial production and standardisation:
Straw-based panels or building components (e.g. insulation panels, structural elements) are more likely to be standardised to guarantee material quality, dimensional accuracy and performance (e.g. fire resistance, strength) to meet the needs of the construction industry. - Advantages of composite materials:
Wood-straw panels or other straw-based products can combine the positive properties of straw (e.g. thermal insulation, light weight) with other materials such as pine, hemp or natural binders. This increases durability and compliance with modern building codes. - Sustainability trends:
The demand for green building materials is constantly growing and straw-based products clearly fit this trend, especially if the manufacturing process of the product is also low carbon.
2. Why no separate certification for straw or other natural materials?
Just as pine timber, cane, etc. are not certified separately for all construction purposes (but rather e.g. for plywood-glued timber structures), straw does not have properties on its own that would be suitable for all construction situations. Certificates are usually issued for specific products or systems rather than for natural materials.
The natural variability and limited range of uses of a material such as straw makes standardisation difficult. In contrast, certification of a specific controlled production product (e.g. straw-containing panels) has greater market value and is better suited to industrial needs.
3. Lessons from the example of hemp-concrete
In the case of hemp-concrete, it can be seen that raw hemp fibres alone are not suitable for certification or standard construction use. Hempcrete, on the other hand, is a composite in which lime or cement binders provide strength and fire resistance in addition to the hemp fibres. This model illustrates how the future use of straw in the construction industry may also evolve: stand-alone, raw straw is replaced by standardised, certified construction products.
4. What can we expect from the future of straw-based construction products?
- Wood-straw panel systems: Prefabricated panels that can be easily integrated into modern building systems, with standardised dimensions and performance.
- Straw Composites: Insulating or structural materials that contain straw, but are combined with other materials to improve their properties.
- Small businesses vs. large companies: Local communities may be able to use traditional straw bale technologies in the future, but large companies are expected to focus on developing and manufacturing standardised systems.
Based on current trends, it is likely that composites and prefabricated systems will be the key to the future, rather than stand-alone straw use.