Hemp-lime composite for buildings insulation: material properties and regulatory framework

• Main Authors: Rosa Agliata, Simone Gianoglio, Luigi Mollo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad Politécnica de Valencia 2019-06-01
• Series: Vitruvio: International Journal of Architectural Technology and Sustainability
• Subjects: bio-composite; biomasses; hemp-lime; energy efficiency; bio-insulation
• Online Access: https://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/vitruvio/article/view/11771

The increasing demand for indoor comfort in housing sector, together with the development of environmental awareness by people and societies, is leading to a rising need of new construction materials. Research and industries are then developing materials capable of meeting environmental and technical requirements: made from renewable sources; based on natural compounds to ensure healthy indoor environment and safe disposal; having good insulation properties, especially for energy saving. A material showing these features is the hemp-lime biocomposite, a natural-based mixture made of a lime binder matrix and shives aggregate, in different proportions. This paper wants to present an overview of the most interesting material properties for the building sector and a brief regulatory framework, in order to highlight the advantages that the use of this composite for building envelopes and internal partitions may provide.