The reasons to BUILD WITH hempcrete:

- High Insulation Value

- Rock-like Wall Strength

- Long-lasting, Durable Material

- Fast Construction Times

- Simple and Economical

- Mould and Pest Resistant

- Easy to Change or Repair

- Recyclable

The reasons to LIVE IN hempcrete:

- Non-toxic and Natural

- Fire-proof

- Thermally Comfortable

- Acoustically Absorbent

- Atmospheric CO2 Removal/Storage

- Heating and Cooling Cost Savings

- Good Thermal Mass

- Built-in Humidity Management

The reasons to SUPPORT hemp:

- Quick Growth and Highly Sustainable

- No Fertilizer, Weed Killer, Pesticides, Fungicides

- Low Water Requirements

- Multiple-use Plant Crop

- High Carbon Sequestration

Detail Of hempcrete

COMPOSITION:

Hempcrete is a biocomposite made from Hemp Hurd + Lime (or binder) + Water.Unfortunately it is
not a simple formula, as there are many different mix ratios and combinations, depending on who is
mixing it and where it is being used.Usually companies add "pozzolans" to the lime binder, which are
earth minerals that react chemically with calcium hydroxide in the presence of water to form
compounds with cementitious properties. These can make the lime harder or dry faster, depending
on what is needed for the area in which it is being mixed.

Also, there is no standard hemp hurd size and it may include fibers of hemp or flax. The mature
industrial hemp stalk must be "de-corticated" to remove the inner woody core of the hemp stalk from
the outer strong fibers, and depending on the equipment the hurd can come out in a variety of sizes
and size ratios.

One large company, Lhoist, has come out with a special mix of lime binder called Tradical®, which
when mixed with their hemp shiv makes what they label as "Hemcrete". A few other companies are
experimenting with, or have found their own, proprietary lime binder and hemp hurd mixes to create
hempcrete with specific performance characteristics.

It is because of this wide variation of mixes that it can be difficult to give an exact set of performance
specifications for hempcrete, but here are a general range of values measured for hempcrete:
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS: (rating)

Compressive Strength: 0.5 - 3.5 MPa - low for structural component

Thermal Conductivity: 0.05 - 0.20 W/mK - generally low

Thermal Capacity: 1000 - 1560 J/kgK - high

CO2 Sequestration: 108 kg/m3 - high

Acoustical Absorption Factor: 0.5 - 0.9 - quite high

Moisture Diffusion Coefficient: ~ 1.10-9 m2/s - very good

Water Vapour Diffusion Resistance Factor: ~ 4.85 - high

Water Absorption Coefficient (capillary): 0.0736 - 0.15 kg/m2/s - high

CONSTRUCTION METHODS:

In general, there are 4 different methods being used for hempcrete construction.

1. Monolithic Cast Walls - In-situ, Wet-mixed Hempcrete Pouring

One of the most common methods for building hempcrete walls is a standard slip-form, which is
similar to building concrete walls.

First, the structural framing is constructed for the building with all conduits and pipes for electrical,
plumbing and other building mechanical installed in the walls. Then, either wooden or plastic forms
are attached directly to, or spaced off, the structural framing to define the outer and inner face of the
wall surface. One side of the wall can be formed completely from floor to ceiling, while the other side
will be built up in sections as hempcrete is poured into the voids between the formwork.

Once the forms are in place, the

hempcrete is mixed on-site and
either poured or hand-placed in
the forms to surround all the
framing and mechanical fittings
in the wall. It is important to try
and fill all the voids in the wall,
but if anything is missed, it can
easily be patched up after the
forms are removed. Also, there is
an effort to tamp down the
hempcrete at the surfaces of the wall for better surface integrity, yet leave the interior hempcrete as
loose as possible for better insulating value.

The hempcrete will require some time to set up (roughly 24 hours) before the forms can be removed
and placed higher on the wall for the next part of the pour. The hempcrete in general will need at
least a month to cure and dry out to attain most of its strength, and then possibly more time, up to 3
months depending on exterior conditions, to dry completely.

2. Hempcrete Bricks and Blocks

There are a number of companies in Europe that have created different forms of hempcrete bricks
and blocks, which are non-structural and used as wall infill/insulation. Once the framing for the
building is done, then the bricks are either stacked and mortared together inside the framing, or
abutting the framing to form the actual wall assembly. This method saves on the drying time that is
needed for the slip-poured hempcrete wall, but it is less monolithic and cohesive than a wall that is
poured all at once to fill all cracks and crevices.
There is currently only one structural hempcrete block in the world and it is being developed in
Canada. Just BioFiber is based in Calgary and has patented an insulated hempcrete block that very
much reminds one of Lego blocks.

These blocks have the structural elements integrated into the matrix of the hempcrete and the entire
block is dried at the production facility. Once the blocks arrive on site, they are constructed similar to
standard concrete masonry units with mortar to achieve a completely strong and solid wall system.
The engineering that has gone into the design of this block is quite susbtantial, and it is reported that
the walls could go as high as 800 feet, which makes them a very exciting new prospect. With this
block wall system, the wall is essentially complete once built, saving huge amounts of time and
labour. It is a completely well-insulated at 11" thick, and only requires and exterior lime stucco and
interior lime plaster finish to complete

3. Complete Structural Wall Panels

Another method that has been used to construct hempcrete walls is the complete structurally
insulated panel created in a factory. These SIPs are eseentially custom wall sections that are built with
the hempcrete and structure combined, and shipped to site complete. Each panel is then assembled
on site according to design drawings to quickly form a finished building envelope, above a pre-built
foundation. These panellized wall systems have mainly been created in England. Some very
handsome commercial buildings are built from them, and have proven to outperform buildings built
from standard building materials.

4. Spraying Hempcrete

This method is quite similar to pouring hempcrete on site with the difference of industrial spray
equipment being employed. Rather than mixing the hempcrete and filling the formwork from the
bottom up, large amounts of hempcrete are mixed in a cement mixer and then an industrial sprayer is
used to build out a hempcrete wall from interior formwork. It is said to be much faster and have a
better insulating value than handpacked hempcrete, but the equipment is quite expensive and takes
far more know-how. As of now, there doesn't seem to be any companies emplying this method in
North America, but I'm sure it will come as regulations on hemp cultivation are relaxed.