Hemp Insulation Basics | Victura Hemp

Non-Toxic

Hemp + Lime is a benign material. Three simple, natural materials do not off-gas chemical toxins into the home. Any removed hemp + lime material for renovations or home maintenance can be put in the garden to help balance soil PH levels.

Fire Resistant

A recent study conducted by Pennsylvania based hemp builders, Americhanvre, succeeded in getting hemp + lime a two hour fire rating by meeting ASTM E119 standards. A hemp + lime wall system will never ignite, and a charring hemp + lime mixture generates a small amount of smoke with no toxic compounds from added chemicals.

Carbon Sink

Tests have shown 716.6 pounds of CO2 are stored in one tonne of dried hemp. Additionally, a hemp + lime mixture can sequester over seven pounds of hemp per cubic foot.

Structural Qualities

Unlike batt or loose fill insulation, hemp + lime wall systems have the density that allows it to play a small roll in the structural integrity of a building. Hemp + Lime does not have the structural capacity to support a roof load on its own, but tests have shown a hemp + lime wall could support three to four times the compressive load. The rigidity of hemp + lime replaces the need for sheathing on a home.

Thermal Properties

Per inch, a hemp + lime mixture has an R-value between 2.3 -2.7depending on the type of application. This seems low, but a strict R- value rating for hemp + lime does not tell the whole story. The low thermal conductivity of, combined with phase shift, phase change effects, high internal thermal comfort, low energy transfer rates, and passive humidity need to be considered.

Pest & Rodent Proof

Hempcrete is pest and rodent resistant due to its high alkalinity and lack of nutritional value for insects and rodents. Its lime binder creates an environment that deters pests, while its dense structure provides no incentive for nesting or burrowing, making it a durable and natural barrier against infestations.

"In Canada, about 200,000 new homes are built each year, with an average of 2000 square feet. If they were all insulated to minimum code requirements with hemp + lime, a total of 990,718 tons of carbon would be sequestered annually. If the same homes had walls with fiberglass insulation, 207,354 tons of carbon would be emitted."

-Sustainable Building Essentials:

Hempcrete Construction