For this first step of the project (CobBauge 1), the expected deliverables and output are the following:

WP T1 – Cob mixes formulation and evaluation

Leader: BUILDERS

Deliverables

Activity 1.1. 20 formulations of cob mixes

12 types of soils and 6 types of natural fibres from UK and France will be used. These 20 formulations will allow a differentiation of the key aspects of cob.

Activity 1.2. 4 optimised cob mixes (2 in UK and 2 in France)

4 optimised cob mixes will be selected from the 20 mixes tested according to their mechanical, structural, moisture, thermal and acoustic performances. This selection will comply with both French and British legislative criteria.

Activity 1.3. 1 innovative mixing and building method

This method will be selected according to builder’s opinion and economical and environmental costs. A comparison between concrete, actual cob and innovative cob will be made to assure the competitiveness of the innovative cob mix.

Activity 1.4. 4 medium scale cob manufacturing

The 4 optimised cob mixes will be manufactured at larger scale to ensure that the innovative method associated to these cob mixes are suitable indoor and outdoor. Their performances will be tested in climate rooms and will demonstrate the feasibility of innovative cob house and the reliable characteristics of the designed innovative cob products.

Outputs

  • 4 optimised cob mixes designed
    From the 20 innovative mixes, 4 optimised cob mixes will be designed from local soils and natural fibres. Their enhanced properties in terms of mechanical and thermal performances and comfort will allow them to comply with actual regulation and a take up of earth construction.

  • 4 optimised cob mixes produced
    The 4 optimised cob mixes previously designed will be produced from materials selected based on availability and location of buildings to be constructed in order to minimise CO2 production due to the material transportation. The innovative manufacturing method will be used to allow a reduced time of labour compared to traditional method of cob building.

WP T2 – The specification of demand and mobilisation of a professional network

Leader: PnrMCB

Deliverables

Activity 2.1. A comprehensive network directory

A directory accessible to members of the network via the project website that will firstly identify the stakeholders in the building sector, cob and earth generally, those interested in the issues of reducing CO2 emissions in the construction, and secondly recent cob buildings with information on the construction mode, site organization and the environmental impacts.

Activity 2.2. A report on the target audiences receptivity to the CobBauge construction process

This report will be based on statistical studies from future owners and private and public investors. An economic study will make it possible to specify the impact of the new process on the costs of cob walls. The statistical data from the surveys will make it possible to understand the development potential of the process more precisely and to define the actions to be implemented in order to achieve the obejctives.

Activity 2.3. List of recommendations for the development of CobBauge 2

A report of recommendations will be drafted based on 6 worshops and 2 general meetings, as well as barriers identified at the beginning of the project, improvement in product and process performance and the results of the demand study. The report will detail an action plan to be undertaken in a second stage of the project (CobBauge 2) by the project partners and members of the network.

Outputs

  • Set up of a network
    The partners will implement a shared network of professionals related to earth construction. Workshops will be held in Brittany, Normandy, Hauts-de-France, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall to establish and measure demand for the CobBauge product and process, raise interest and share the activities of current and potential members and users.

  • Inventory and mapping
    An inventory of existing contemporary cob and CobBauge buildings will be implemented to analyse the CobBauge development and measure the efficiency of the project. Locational extracts of elements of this database will feed an online map.

  • Survey to assess the demand
    Surveys will be conducted to identify and quantify the demand for a new CobBauge product and process. Based on a virtual demonstration project and an economic study evaluating its impact on the building costs, a statistical survey of the network will be carried out to clarify the potential of the cob market and to make recommendations accordingly for a programme of adapted actions.

 

For this second step of the project (CobBauge 2), the expected deliverables and output are the following:

WP T3 – Design and build

Leader: Plymouth University

Deliverables

Activity T3.1. Create methodology for building with CobBauge material

Detailed methodology for the practical creation of CobBauge material on the building site. A set of standard design details, plans and 3D models will be published to enable designers, architects and builders to easily incorporate the CobBauge material into their building projects which will include the two pilot buildings.

Activity T3.2. Integrate standards details into the design of the pilot CobBauge building

Two buildings, with the relevant permissions and designed to allow the measuring equipment to be installed. The buildings will use the CobBauge material in walls that are subject to thermal variances to allow the building reflect a true representation of the material’s performance.

Activity T3.3. Design the building performance measuring system

To reinforce the prospective demand from the general public, it is important to do real measurements at full scale of the CO2 emissions and energy performance of buildings in use.

Activity T3.4. Build two buildings

Two buildings will be build: A domestic-scale building in Norfolk and a home in Normandy/Brittany. The building processes will take place over approwimately 1 year from Autom 2020 and Spring 2021 with some staggering between pilot programmes to ensure iterative learning is achieved.

Outputs

WP T4 – Performance measurements

Leader: Plymouth University

Deliverables

Activity T4.1. Measure and assess the construction phase

The designed construction phase surveys and media will be used to link the steering group’s and other partner experiences to optimise the construction process. The end of this deliverable will result in a complete data set on the completed buildings, compatible with the monitoring systems, and typical of the types of buildings that will be sold.

Activity T4.2. Measure and assess the buildings in use

The quantitative and qualitative data from the measured use will establish the low energy credentials and associated reductions in CO2 emissions benchmarked against similar low energy building types such as Passiv’Haus. The assessment of the data will compare the thermal, energy, CO2 and comfort data with equivalent alternative low energy designs.

Activity T4.3. Life Cycle Assessment

The lifecycle and environmental impacts and the embodied energy/carbon of the CobBauge material will be assessed using the appropriate ISO standards embedded in specialist software (Simapro).  The system will produce a draft Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for the CobBauge material.

Outputs

WP T5 – Training, network and demand

Leader: PnrMCB

Deliverables

Activity T5.1. Build and share a common directory of stakeholders and database of buildings

Creation of a directory of stakeholders and database of buildings that will be accessible to members of the network.  he directory will identitfy the stakeholders in the building sector that have expressed a desire to use CobBauge and those that are interested in the issues of reducing CO2 emissions in construction. The database will identify relevant exemplar buildings that have recently build with information on the constructive mode, worksite organization, the environmental impacts, and finally a share/commented bibliography.

Activity T5.2. Mobilise network to share the strenghts of CobBauge and generate demand

The network organisation will result in different outputs, the dissemination of results through exchange workshops, meetings of the years 2&3 and site visits. The validated CobBauge Development Plan will be broadcast to the whole online network. The development plan will purpose future actions, summarise expectations, results and will be discussed by network members into specific workshops at the end of the program to share and adopt it.

Activity T5.3. Setup training

Two main sets of target groups need to be trained, professionals & practitioners. The contents will be adapted according to the particular groups, structures for engineers…To ensure innovation, 2 EU transnational exchanges will be planned.

Activity T5.4. Run the training

On graduation a list of trainees will be developed and added to the directory, making trainees part of the network and included on the website. A list of the trainees will be developed and added to the directory, making trainees part of the network. Assessed trainees will also be included on the website.

Activity T5.5. Train the trainers

Outputs