Simplicity perfected: hemp-lime blocks

Hemp-lime blocks as a symbiosis of hemp and lime for building and insulating

The synergy of two age-old building materials results in a simple yet nonetheless outstanding and also very lightweight building material: hemp-lime blocks, the fusion of tradition and innovation in a building material.

Since humanity discovered lime as a building material and the use of hemp as an oil and fiber plant, the use of these raw materials has been a common thread through most cultures. What belongs together has finally been put together in the hemp limestone: the woody hemp shives, a waste product from fiber production, are mixed with a small amount of lime and water. This inhomogeneous mass is pressed into bricks and then air-dried. Hemp limestone combines the positive properties of hemp and lime: it is fire-resistant and moisture-tolerant (it also insulates when wet). Due to its inhomogeneous structure, it can absorb sound very well and has optimal insulating properties with a U-value of 0.07 W/m²K. Its massive nature also makes it an excellent heat store. Buildings using this energy-efficient, lightweight construction method can remain stable and solid for centuries, are mold and vermin resistant and offer moderate radiation protection. Lastly, this building material is completely unproblematic to dispose of; after dismantling, it can be used as loose bulk material. In terms of building physics, hemp limestone is characterized by its ability to transport moisture (via diffusion and capillary action). Due to its high insulation value, additional thermal insulation is unnecessary in most cases. Although hemp limestone cannot be used as load-bearing walls, there are many possible uses:
• Exterior walls
• Internal insulation
• External insulation
• Partitions
• Subfloors
• Acoustic walls
• Renovation
By the way, hemp grows quickly, easily and abundantly and stores CO² in the plant during its growth phase.