© copyright FACULTY of ENGINEERING ‐ HUNEDOARA, ROMANIA 255 1. Adeola A. ADEDEJI, 2. Jimoh A. BELLO CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE OF A STRAW BALE WALLED BUILDING – A REVEW 1. DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, PMB 1515, ILORIN, NIGERIA 2. CIWAT ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS, GRA, ILORIN, NIGERIA ABSTRACT: This study highlights the use of plastered straw bale as a load bearing element, its method of construction and specification required to obtain maximum benefits from the use of this material. Critical Path Analysis (CPA) was used in formulating, scheduling and managing the various milestones or activities in the construction of a plastered straw bale walled building. CPA arising from this work provides an empirically constructed schedule of planning activities for straw bale wall and other auxiliary building elements (foundations, roof, lintel and brick columns) to meet some self-imposed or institutionally required calendar of events. The critical path analysis was developed using Microsoft Visual Basic 6 Software to determine the critical path in the construction schedule. The construction basic data are input into the activity interface which comprises the activity name, description, predecessor activity, start node and end node. The economic analysis of the construction work has shown that the total actual cost of the residential building is 0.77 of the same building built with sandcrete wall with scheduled times of 29.64 and 28.64 weeks respectively. KEYWORDS: Automation, construction, straw bale, plaster, critical path analysis  INTRODUCTION This study demonstrates the utility of Microsoft Visual Basic and Microsoft Excel in generating construction project plans using the critical path method (CPM) to establish and maintain a reasonable and acceptable construction schedule for a bungalow residential building, constructed with straw bale walls and other auxiliary structural members (brick columns, slab and lintel beams). General principle from experienced human planner and physical laws has been utilized. The study also develops a computer program that gives a step by step procedure in the construction process using Microsoft Visual Basic and Microsoft Excel Programming. Also a successful management of any construction work depends largely on how early such a project is completed. Therefore, the determination of the critical path in the construction process will help the management to keep abreast with the task ahead and thereby prevent any delay in all the activities along the path.  STRAW BALE The use of straw is one of the oldest construction methods in our present day. Stone was probably the first material to be used in construction and though it is still in use today, other materials like bricks, timber, concrete and steel have been developed and used alongside (Blum 2002, Catherine, 2001, Bou-Ali 1993). Some factors that affect choice of materials for wall construction are: i) The particular functions of the wall which will limit the choice of material by the designer. ii) The structural form of the building determines whether a wall is to be load bearing or non-load bearing, hence the nature of the loading and the load carrying capacity of the material will restrict the choice of certain materials. iii) Some special selection of materials may be available from only one supplier which may lead to long waiting period before an order can be fulfilled. Hence, the natural economic climate may mean that some of the more common materials, which are under normal circumstance readily available, may be used. iv) The speed of construction of the wall may lead to use of materials that would meet the need of that time. v) The cost of material may lead to choice of less costly but suitable material for use. vi) Also, the cost of labor for the construction of the wall and any subsequent finishing costs. FUNCTIONS OF WALLS The importance of these functions will depend upon the type of structure which is to be erected, the situation of the building in terms of both macro and micro environment and the use for which the building is intended.