Research & Evidence

Research, testing and technical evidence are important to building confidence in straw as a modern construction material.

This page brings together peer-reviewed research, technical reports, testing, guidance and other resources relevant to straw construction. It includes work on resource availability, environmental impact, building performance, structural behaviour, fire performance and contemporary straw construction systems.

If you know of research or technical evidence that should be included here, please contact general@strawbuildinguk.org.

Latest research

Quantifying the Resource Potential for Straw Construction in UK Housing

Charlotte Taylor, Judith Thornton, Rick Lupton and Will Hawkins – 2026

New peer-reviewed UK research examines whether sufficient straw is available to support the wider use of straw construction in UK housing.

The study finds that UK straw supply could meet the load-bearing construction demand for 300,000 low-rise dwellings, with little impact on other uses of straw. It identifies supply-chain coordination, certification, regulatory acceptance and economic efficiency – rather than resource availability – among the principal challenges to scaling up straw construction.

Read the research:
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/16/17/3531

Environmental impact & resource availability

Straw Environmental Product Declaration

The UK Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for straw provides independently verified life-cycle environmental information for straw used as a building insulation material.

Originally developed through the UP STRAW programme, the EPD provides recognised environmental data for the assessment of straw within construction. The EPD is owned by Straw Building UK and published through the International EPD System.

View the Straw EPD:
https://environdec.com/library/epd3854

Circular Biobased Construction in the North East and Yorkshire

Material Cultures and Arup – 2021

This research examines the potential for a regional biobased construction economy in the North East and Yorkshire, including the use of straw, timber and hemp.

Through mapping, cost and carbon analysis, interviews and literature review, it considers the relationship between local material resources, agriculture, manufacturing and construction.

Read the report:
https://materialcultures.org/cb-construction/

Decarbonising Construction Using Renewable Photosynthetic Materials

Craig White and Oliver Styles – 2017

This work examines the use of renewable plant-based construction materials to address both operational and embodied carbon, including the use of timber and straw within the ModCell construction system.

Read the research:
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-50346-2_20

Building performance & construction

The Leechwell Garden House – A Passive Solar Dwelling Built from Renewable Materials

Jim Carfrae and Pieter De Wilde

A study of the design of a low-carbon dwelling combining passive solar principles with renewable construction materials.

The work builds on experience from the Totnes House, a straw bale and timber dwelling, and considers both energy in use and the embodied energy of construction materials.

Read the paper:
https://irp.cdn-website.com/f7d0e3f8/files/uploaded/Leechwell_Garden_House.pdf

Layman’s Report

Jim Carfrae, Pieter De Wilde, John Littlewood, Steve Goodhew and Pete Walker

An accessible report drawing together research into straw construction and building performance for a wider, non-specialist audience.

Read the report:
https://architecturenow.co.nz/site_media/media/files/eurocell-laymans-report.pdf

Development and Testing of a Prototype Straw Bale House

Katharine Wall, Pete Walker, Christopher Gross, Craig White and Tim Mander – 2012

Peer-reviewed research into the development, construction and testing of a prototype house using prefabricated straw bale panels.

The research included durability assessment, fire resistance testing, acoustic performance, air permeability and thermal surveys.

Read the research:
https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/publications/development-and-testing-of-a-prototype-straw-bale-house/

BaleHaus

BaleHaus at the University of Bath formed part of an important UK research programme examining the use of prefabricated timber and straw construction for housing.

The project investigated areas including thermal performance, airtightness, moisture, durability and the development of straw construction systems suitable for wider adoption.

Explore BaleHaus research:
https://www.bath.ac.uk/case-studies/straw-scientifically-proven-as-viable-building-material/

Breathability – The Key to Building Performance

Neil May – 2005

An influential paper examining what is commonly described as the ‘breathability’ of buildings, particularly the relationship between moisture, materials and building fabric.

The principles are particularly relevant to vapour-permeable construction using natural materials.

Read the paper:
https://www.ecomerchant.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Breathability-The-Key-to-Building-Performance..pdf

Structural performance

Racking Shear Resistance of Prefabricated Straw-Bale Panels

Michael Lawrence, Luke Drinkwater, Andrew Heath and Pete Walker – 2009

Peer-reviewed research investigating the resistance of prefabricated straw bale panels to racking shear.

Testing found that the panels exceeded the design requirements considered in the study and demonstrated their potential for applications in low-rise structural walling.

Read the research:
https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/publications/racking-shear-resistance-of-prefabricated-straw-bale-panels/

Download the paper:
https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/files/333816/coma162-133.pdf

Fire performance evidence

Fire performance has been investigated through a number of tests of straw-based construction systems. The following reports provide technical evidence relating to the testing and development of ModCell straw construction systems.

EcoCocon – Fire Resistance Testing

EcoCocon’s straw wall panels have been tested for fire resistance in accordance with European standards. In testing reported in 2025, a 250 mm panel achieved REI 45 with no internal finish, while complete wall build-ups have achieved classifications up to REI 120, depending on the construction.

Read the latest fire test update:
https://ecococon.eu/si/blog/2025/ecococon-achieves-rei-45-fire-resistance-classification

View the current technical specification:
https://ecococon.eu/assets/downloads/technical-specification-en.pdf

ModCell TRADA Fire Test Report

Fire resistance testing of a ModCell wall system undertaken by Chiltern International Fire.

Read the report:
https://www.modcell.com/files/3812/8506/9648/modcell_fire_certificate.pdf

Carbon Connections – BaleHaus

A Carbon Connections case study covering the development and testing of prefabricated straw bale panels for housing construction, including the BaleHaus research programme.

Read the report:
https://www.modcell.com/files/2712/8506/9649/balehaus_case_study.pdf

Safety of Strawbale Walls in the Event of Fire

John Butler – 2020

A review of fire performance evidence relating to straw bale construction, including UK and international fire testing and the ModCell test programme.

Read the report:
https://strawworks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Safety-of-strawbale-walls-in-event-of-fire.pdf

Further information on the research and testing programme undertaken for ModCell and BaleHaus is available here:

Explore ModCell research:
https://www.modcell.com/technical/research/

The Carbon Connections BaleHaus case study provides further information on the development and testing of prefabricated straw bale panels.

Read the BaleHaus case study:
https://www.modcell.com/files/2712/8506/9649/balehaus_case_study.pdf

For a wider review of straw bale walls and fire performance, see:

Safety of Strawbale Walls in the Event of Fire – John Butler, 2020:
https://strawworks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Safety-of-strawbale-walls-in-event-of-fire.pdf

Technical guidance & design resources

Straw Construction – Technical Guide UK 2022

The first edition of the UK Technical Guide for Straw Construction was produced through the EU Interreg-funded UP STRAW project by its UK partner, the School of Natural Building, with Straw Building UK as a sub-partner.

The guide brings together technical information and good practice for self-builders, contractors, designers, structural engineers, planners and others working with straw construction.

Download the Technical Guide:
https://schoolofnaturalbuilding.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Technical-Guide-UK-Feb-2022-1.pdf

UP STRAW BIM

The UP STRAW project developed Building Information Modelling resources for straw construction.

Twelve wall assemblies representative of straw construction were designed and documented by project partners, providing digital information for use within contemporary design processes. Resources include BIM files and supporting information in a range of formats.

Explore the BIM resources:
https://www.bimobject.com/en/up-straw

Research libraries & further resources

University of Bath – Straw research

Research at the University of Bath has contributed significantly to the technical evidence base for straw construction, including work on structural performance, thermal and moisture performance, durability, prefabricated systems and the availability of construction materials at scale.

Charlotte Taylor research profile

Charlotte Taylor’s research examines construction materials, resource availability, land use and the potential to scale up lower-carbon construction materials, including straw.

Explore Charlotte Taylor’s research:
https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/persons/charlotte-taylor/

Pete Walker research profile

Pete Walker’s research includes natural building materials, structural performance and the development and testing of straw construction systems.

Explore Pete Walker’s research:
https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/persons/pete-walker/

UP STRAW Zotero Database

The UP STRAW Zotero database brings together research and reference material relating to straw construction from the UK, Europe and further afield.

Topics include construction techniques, regulation, technical and environmental performance, fire safety, acoustics and scientific research.

Explore the research database:
https://www.zotero.org/groups/2187655/upstraw/