2010 California Code
Health and Safety Code
Article 2. Guidelines For Materials

18944.35.  (a) Bales shall be rectangular in shape.
   (b) Bales used within a continuous wall shall be of consistent
height and width to ensure even distribution of loads within wall
systems.
   (c) Bales shall be bound with ties of either polypropylene string
or baling wire. Bales with broken or loose ties shall not be used
unless the broken or loose ties are replaced with ties which restore
the original degree of compaction of the bale.
   (d) The moisture content of bales, at the time of installation,
shall not exceed 20 percent of the total weight of the bale. Moisture
content of bales shall be determined through the use of a suitable
moisture meter, designed for use with baled rice straw or hay,
equipped with a probe of sufficient length to reach the center of the
bale, and used to determine the average moisture content of five
bales randomly selected from the bales to be used.
   (e) Bales in loadbearing walls shall have a minimum calculated dry
density of 7.0 pounds per cubic foot. The calculated dry density
shall be determined after reducing the actual bale weight by the
weight of the moisture content.
   (f) Where custom-made partial bales are used, they shall be of the
same density, same string or wire tension, and, where possible, use
the same number of ties as the standard size bales.
   (g) Bales of various types of straw, including wheat, rice, rye,
barley, oats, and similar plants, shall be acceptable if they meet
the minimum requirements of this chapter for density, shape, moisture
content, and ties.