WHAT IS A SIREWALL?
Stabilized, Insulated, Rammed Earth (SIRE) walls are made using rebar and insulation enveloped with the mass of 14 – 20 inches of rammed earth. This combination, along with SIREWALL®’s system for quality control and soil blending, builds walls that exceed current standards for energy efficiency and compressive strength. SIREWALL’s customizable forms refined over the last fifteen years by SIREWALL’s expert builders, work seamlessly with unique designs and modern finishes that have timeless appeal.
SIREWALL System
The quality, beauty and durability of rammed earth walls are linked to the formwork used for construction. SIREWALL formwork has the flexibility of a modular system with interlocking end panels and versatile stretch panels. Builders can create beautiful walls quickly, accurately and safely using SIREWALL’s proven system. SIREWALL delivers predicable cost efficient results with minimal waste since the reusable formwork is easy to assemble and achieves consistent quality.
Made with rustproof, plasma-cut aluminium alloy, SIREWALL formwork is lightweight and can be easily assembled to create walls from two to twelve feet (or longer) with turns of varying degrees.
SIREWALL Courses
SIREWALL’s hands-on Rammed Earth Introduction course is designed homeowners, builders, designers, architects, engineers, investors, building inspectors and those involved in green building.
Held over two days on beautiful Saltspring Island, British Columbia, participants will get an introduction to rammed earth including:
- How your personal & community values can factor in to home & building design
- A wealth of information on why rammed earth is a healthier way to build
- The positive ecological impacts that rammed earth builders can make in the world
- SIREWALL vs. other types of rammed earth, demystifying concerns & limitations
- Inspirations for your project starting with site selection, soil analysis, design standards and visits to multiple sites
- Hands-on experience from choosing soil, blending, ramming earth and testing forms
- A chance to connect with like-minded people and the most experienced insulated rammed earth builder in North America, Meror Krayenhoff
SIREWALL is a registered education provider for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a registered provider for the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC). To date, the SIREWALL team has introduced just about every insulated rammed earth enthusiast in North America (over one hundred builders and fifty architects) on SIREWALL’s system for rammed earth construction.
2008 Course Dates:
- February 9/10
- April 19/20
- July 5/6
- September 20/21
Join instructors Meror Krayenhoff, head of SIREWALL and Terra Firma Builders Ltd., Joss Krayenhoff, Certified SIREWALL Builder, on beautiful Saltspring Island off the coast of Vancouver, British Columbia for this course. Cost: $450 plus GST per person.
While participants often complete this course feeling inspired, ready to dig and change the world… SIREWALL neither endorses nor considers the Introductory Course to prepare any builder to construct a SIREWALL or rammed earth home or building. To maintain our commitment to quality and uphold our building standards, SIREWALL does offer in-depth apprentice training for qualified applicants to become Certified SIREWALL Builders. Please ask us for more information.
Ask us about SIREWALL’s upcoming Introductory Courses. SIREWALL also provides courses for its Franchisees and Apprentices on Design, Soil Analysis and Certified Builder training.