[Cob] Building Codes and Testing

[Charity Davis-Custer]

Hello Cobbers,

I was wondering if anyone out there has any experience
with permitted cob buildings, specifically residential
accessory structures.  I found out yesterday that I
will indeed have to pull permits for my building as my
city has recently adopted the 2003 Michigan
Residential Building Codes (as a sidenote I found out
that these codes haven't been published yet, how can a
city enforce codes that the citizens don't have access
to? *sigh*).

I've looked through the archives and it seems like
this question is often asked and seldom answered.  I'm
happy for the people out there who are building in
areas that have minimal codes or codes that are
loosely enforced, but we can't move right now (though
when we do we'll be looking for one of these building
utopias).  I also have a great deal of respect for
those guerrilla builders who are out there breaking
the rules and if our location were better (we live in
the burbs on a corner lot with our backyard entirely
exposed to the street) I would consider it.  But the
fact of the matter is I'm going to have to deal with
the inspectors and I'd like your help.

I've considered using slight subterfuge in my first
attempt at getting a permit.  I may list cob as
stabilized earth (that is really what it is right?) on
my materials list.  I don't think this is going to fly
but I've heard of an architect pulling it off.

I've also considered appealing to the building
inspector and attempting to enlist him as my ally. 
I'm thinking that if I overwhelm him with info and
plead for help I may be able to pull it off.  I'm
assembling all the info I can find, drawing
schematics, using graphs and charts, building a model,
filming my fire and stress tests on cob bricks...you
name it (in fact any suggestions would be helpful).

I am having trouble finding any info on the following:
foundation dead load for a 1 foot thick 8 feet high
cob wall; exterior resistance to wind loads (on
rounded and buttressed walls); what kind of live and
dead loads can cob walls support (I know it varies
depending on materials and design but I need to start
from somewhere)...and any other numbers you've got.

Are there any cob case studies out there?  Any advice
you can give?

Please help, I'm desperate and extremely determined.  

Charity Davis-Custer

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