SIREWALL tagline: Your Future This Is

SIREWALL System

What is SIREWALL?

Structural   Insulated   Rammed   Earth
  • SIREWALL, is a structural sandwich wall system typically 20″ to 24″ thick
  • Local soils combined with 9% cement are compacted on either side of a hidden insulation core
  • Stabilized with compacted earth and rebar, with 4″ of rigid insulation hidden in the centre of the wall (rebar is used in seismic zones)
LPC Living Product Challenge label Sirewall

SIREWALL is a Certified Living Product, under the Living Product Challenge — Learn More

SIREWALL Quality of Life Metrics

Build as though life matters

…because improving a V8 will never make it an EV

  • metrics cover art: pest prevention

Impactful and eye-catching,  SIREWALLs are a complete wall system with the strength and beauty of sedimentary sandstone.

This distinctive, visceral connection to the earth is also the exterior and interior finish of a SIREWALL building – no sealants, siding or drywall required.

These high performance walls are constructed with a system backed by over 25 years of R&D, producing thermal mass and efficiency beyond any other wall system. This combination, along with the SIREWALL® System for quality control and soil blending, builds walls that exceed current standards for energy efficiency and compressive strength.

The SIREWALL System has been refined over the last twenty-eight years by SIREWALL experts, working seamlessly with unique designs and modern finishes that have timeless appeal.

SIREWALL has been the global technological leader of insulated rammed earth since its invention in 1992 and was the only practitioner for the first thirteen years. SIREWALL has four patents on this specific technology that leads the way in thermal and structural excellence in this emerging industry.

See our complete list of record-setting accomplishments

SIREWALL System

The SIREWALL System starts with secured reusable forms that are filled with a mixture of damp earth. The soil blend, once compacted, creates structural rammed earth walls that will last several lifetimes without the need for maintenance.

SIREWALL Earth Masons use SIREWALL’s world leading soil blending technology to achieve the optimal blend for the project’s strength and texture requirements.  We can create almost any colour desired, and do have recommendations to achieve quality and economy on a project specific basis.

SIREWALL Base Admixture (SBA) is a proprietary additive we have developed. It is incorporated throughout the wall to limit efflorescence and for its hydrophobic properties.  The hidden core of insulation at the center of the wall is most typically (but not necessarily) polyiso foam.

Forming, delivery, and mixing are determined specific to the project.  Pneumatic and hand tampers are selected specific to the project.

Learn SIREWALL

Dependable, durable, high-performance rammed earth—that’s what we do.

Ongoing Research and Development

While most people are drawn to SIREWALL by its beauty, they may not realize that this inherent beauty is actually the result of over 25 years of investment in R&D. To improve functionality, the strength of Structural Insulated Rammed Earth needs to be so much higher than its uninsulated cousin, so we continually refine our standards to ensure superior strength and performance.

Our standards are the highest, and we ensure SIREWALL Earth Masons, professionals who receive more training than any other in the industry, follow them meticulously.

SIREWALL Inventions:

Insulated

In 1992 we invented the technique of adding an insulative core to a regular rammed earth wall, we were granted 4 patents in 2005 and were the sole practitioners of this method for the first 13 years.

Structural

In 2008 we achieved our goal of being the first in the world to consistently create rammed earth with the high compression strengths required to be used as a structural building material.

SIREWALL remains the one and only rammed earth system capable of delivering these results.

Rammed earth is easy to do… but difficult to do well.

When powered by enthusiasm and insufficient knowledge, rammed earth results can be “variable”.

Green Building enthusiasts inspired to break ground and build a rammed earth structure with the best of intentions may be missing key components to create healthy, energy efficient homes and buildings that will last for future generations.

Below is a comparison chart that illustrates how depth of experience can result in a more solid approach to rammed earth construction.
 
 

Rammed Earth

Stabilized Rammed Earth

Non-Standard

Insulated Rammed Earth

SIREWALL®

Structural Insulated Rammed Earth

Compressive Strength

1mPa – 3mPa

145psi – 435psi

3mPa – 7mPa

435psi – 1,015psi

3mPa – 20mPa

435psi – 2,900psi

20mPa – 30mPa

2,900psi – 4,350psi

R-value (static) R6 R6 R18 – R25 R33 & UP
R-value (dynamic) R9 – R13.5 R9 – R13.5 R38 – R56 R50 – R74
Erosion Resistance A garden hose erodes this Garden hose resistant Widely variable 2,500psi pressure washer resistant
Quality Control Protocol Unlikely Possible Unlikely Yes
Risk of efflorescence Possible Possible Possible Unlikely
Curing Protocol No Possible Possible Yes
Air barrier detailing No No Possible Yes
Pre-build soil optimization No Unlikely Minimal Yes
Vapour drive barrier No No Unlikely Yes
Engineer and Building Permit friendly No Yes Unlikely Yes
Large project capability Possible Possible Unlikely Yes
Standards & Specifications No Yes Variable, Self -monitored Yes
Possible patent infringement No Yes Yes No

SIREWALL Cutaway

  1. Rubble trench – 4 inch bed of drain rock
  2. Reinforced concrete footing – up to 6 feet wide
  3. Drain pipe
  4. 12 inch interior rammed earth wall, reinforced with steel rebar
  5. 4 inch foam insulation
  6. 8 inch Exterior rammed earth wall, reinforced with steel rebar
  7. EMT pipe to function as electrical conduit
  8. Wooden top plate, anchored to wall, ready for roof truss
  9. Interior floor
  10. Optional anti-graffiti coating

What’s not visible in the diagram..?

…how the strength of an insulated rammed earth wall can vary when constructed!

Depending on how a rammed earth wall is built, these factors can dramatically affect overall strength and durability:

  • Too much or little moisture – 40% difference, best to worst
  • Hand tamping or wrong tampers – 50% difference
  • Curing – 50% difference
  • Mixing – 75% difference
  • Pneumatic tamping or wrong tampers – 25% difference
  • Control of lift depth – 50% difference
  • Material management – 30% difference
  • Consistency of soils used – 25% difference
The SIREWALL System uses a proven series of protocols to consistently achieve the highest possible wall strength.

Get inspired to build with us

Learn in detail what is attracting architects like Foster & Partners and Gensler to this incredible structural wall system and how it may be the perfect fit for your next big project.

Build as though life matters!

SIREWALL Quality of Life Metrics

…because improving a V8 will never make it an EV

Learn SIREWALL

Are you a professional looking for new ways to create superior buildings for your clients?

Garner support for your project as you move key stakeholders or clients out of the realm of hypothetical into real possibility.