LEEDS METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

The Use of Lime Hemp

Composite Products in the
UK
Academic and On-Site Perspectives

Sam Boys
1/1/2013





Contents
1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 3
2. Literature Review ...................................................................................................................... 4
Mechanical Properties .................................................................................................................. 4
Thermal Properties ....................................................................................................................... 4
Hygrothermal Properties .............................................................................................................. 4
New Parameters ........................................................................................................................... 5
Acoustic Properties ....................................................................................................................... 5
Preparation Methods .................................................................................................................... 6
Curing Conditions & Drying Times ................................................................................................ 6
Whole Building Modelling ............................................................................................................. 7
Full Scale Experimental Test Building ............................................................................................ 7
Sequestration & Life Cycle Analysis .............................................................................................. 7
Related Studies ............................................................................................................................. 8
Interim Conclusions ...................................................................................................................... 8
3. Publications and Secondary Sources on Hempcrete ............................................................... 10
Supplier Literature ...................................................................................................................... 10
Books & Other Literature ............................................................................................................ 10
4. Existing Case Studies ............................................................................................................... 11
Haverhill, Surrey .......................................................................................................................... 11
Haverhill Thermographic Testing ................................................................................................ 12
County Down Eco House ............................................................................................................. 13
The Wales Institute for Sustainable Education ........................................................................... 13
5. Carleton School, Pontefract .................................................................................................... 14
Timing of Hemcrete

Placement ................................................................................................. 15
Method of Placement of Hemcrete

........................................................................................... 15
Knock-on Effects of Extended Drying Times ................................................................................ 16
Internal Solutions ........................................................................................................................ 17
External Render .......................................................................................................................... 17
Ventilation Issues ........................................................................................................................ 18
6. Conclusions ............................................................................................................................. 19
Bibliography ........................................................................................................................................ 21

1


2

The use of Lime Hemp Composite
products in the UK.

1. Introduction
In response to environmental concerns a number of innovative new construction products have
recently become available for use. Amongst these is a product called hempcrete, also known by its
trade name Hemcrete. Hempcrete is a bio composite material made from hemp shiv and a lime
based binder (Lime Technology Ltd, 2011) which can be mixed and poured in-situ, much like in-situ
concrete, or supplied pre-cured as panels, cassettes or blocks. The leading supplier of this product in
the UK, Lime Technology Limited, herald the product as having a number of benefits:
Good thermal insulation
Excellent thermal inertia
Negative embodied carbon
Easy to use
Made from renewable/ abundant UK materials (Lime Technology Ltd, 2011)
Anecdotal evidence from sites using the product suggests that there are a number of problems with
its use in the UK climate, particularly on larger jobs where the in-situ method is used. This paper will
attempt to investigate the claims made for the material, and the problems encountered on the
aforementioned sites, and where possible offer some advice on the avoidance of future problems.


3

2. Literature Review
Mechanical Properties
Lime-hemp composites (LHC) have been used since the early 90s in France, and much of the early
academic work originates from Western Europe. Arnaud and Cerezo (Arnaud & Cerezo, 2001),
(Arnaud & Cerezo, 2002), studied various LHC mixtures, intended for different purposes: wall, floor,
roof. The different mixtures vary in their binder content, from 100kg to 530kg of binder per 110kg
of hemp. The mechanical properties were evaluated by means of compression testing. It is
concluded that LHC is characterized by its ductile behaviour in comparison with other building
materials, making it useful in preventing cracking where differential strains are likely, and making the
risk of sudden collapse very low (Arnaud & Cerezo, 2002). It was found that the lightweight mixtures
(intended for roof insulation) exhibited more ductile behaviour than that of the more dense floor
mix, which showed properties closer to that of the pure binder. It was also noted that the mixtures
become more brittle after the setting period of 9 months. Although the material was proven to have
a large range of maximum stress
M
(between 0.4 and 1.2 MPa) and Youngs modulus E (40 to 90
MPa) it was noted that these values were not sufficient to use in loadbearing applications (Arnaud &
Cerezo, 2002). Dry thermal conductivity was also measured using an isothermal box and an attempt
made to produce a formula for the conductivity as a function of the density and binder content,
however, Evrard (2003) contended that the water content and humidity behaviour was not taken
into account in this model. Nervertheless, the results showed that the LHC had good insulating
properties ( between 0.06 and 0.11 Wm
-1
K
-1
for densities between 200 and 400 kg/m
2
) and the
theoretical model produced showed reasonable agreement with the measured results.
Thermal Properties
In 2002, BRE produced a report on the construction of the hemp houses at Haverhill in Suffolk
(Yates, 2002). As well as reporting in detail on the processes involved in the construction of this
development, the report also finds that the energy performance of the hemp homes is noticeably
better than the static state models predicted. It was found that the hemp houses consistently
maintained an internal temperature one or two degrees higher than in the brick houses for the same
amount of heat input (Yates, 2002). This effect is also noted by Evrard & De Herde (2005), when
using WUFI HAM (Heat, Air and Moisture) modelling software it was established that thermal
damping was taking place in a theoretical setting. Three theoretical cases were simulated; thermal
shock, thermal cycles and hygric shock. It was found that LHC took 9 months to achieve hygric
equilibrium (and therefore constant transfer conditions) following hygric shock, and therefore
concluded that standard steady state models (such as SAP) do not give an accurate picture of
thermal comfort and therefore energy usage (Evrard & De Herde, 2005).
Hygrothermal Properties
Evrard, et al. (2005), in Dynamical interactions between heat and mass flows in Lime-Hemp
Concrete, went on to test LHCs transient behaviour further using WUFI software, with
consideration given to the mechanisms of heat transfer, particularly the interaction between
moisture content and heat flow. This study also simulated the drying of the LHC from its wet state as
would occur following its implementation in practice. It used an ambient temperature on both sides
of the wall of 20C and 80% RH (which may be unrealistically high for typical UK conditions), and it
was found that to achieve hygric equilibrium from a starting point of 400kg/m
3
took around 2 years.
It is, however, also noted that finishing materials such as lime render/ timber cladding (Evrard & De
4

Herde, 2005) can in practice be installed after a few months, depending on climate conditions
(Evrard, et al., 2005), although said conditions are not specified. The study also tested LHC against
cellular concrete and mineral wool in transient conditions; both sudden cooling and sudden heating.
The results of Evrard & De Herde (2005) are confirmed in that the LHC case studies confirm that
thermal performances of LHC in transient conditions are rather high, and LHC is found to have
strong thermal and hygric inertia (Evrard, et al., 2005).
New Parameters
Evrard and De Herde (2010) studies further the hygrothermal performance of LHC, in this instance
comparing realistic assemblies (including cladding/ render and internal plaster) with assemblies
representing more traditional building methods such as masonry cavity wall, aerated concrete and
internally and externally insulated monolithic constructions. The assemblies were subjected to
variations in temperature and relative humidity to simulate the real environment. The authors find
that the introduction of new parameters helps to explain the effective indoor comfort. Phase shifting
(delay) of a sine variation in temperature, phs
th
(h) and damping of the amplitude of a sine variation
in temperature, dmp
th
(%) reduce the impact of daily fluctuations in outside temperatures and avoid
summer overheating. Moisture buffering, MBV
simul
, affects the internal relative humidity and
contributes to thermal buffering through latent heat effects (Evrard, 2006), (Evrard, et al., 2005). The
phs
th
of two LHC assemblies is found to be 14 and 15 hours, meaning the internal surface reaches its
maximum temperature in the early morning if maximum external temperature is in the early
afternoon. The dmp
th
is 92% and 91% respectively, removing much of the daily internal temperature
variation. It is noted that these effects on indoor comfort go some way towards explaining the
discrepancies between predictions and measurements made by the BRE at Haverhill, Surrey (Yates,
2002). (Maalouf, et al., 2011) studied further the effect of moisture transfer on the thermal inertia of
LHC, comparing it with that of normal concrete and brick masonry, however realistic assemblies are
not used and these elements (brick and concrete) would normally be isolated from the internal
environment by a vapour control layer or similar. The object oriented program SPARK is used to
model the behaviour of the elements in real climatic conditions and, again, LHC compares favourably
with traditional materials. It was found that neglecting the effects of moisture transfer in the
simulation has a significant effect on the outcomes for LHC, especially as thickness increases
(Maalouf, et al., 2011).
Acoustic Properties
Arnaud and Cerezo (2001) concluded that the LHC thermal properties recorded far better than
those of conventional building materials, with coefficient of absorption better than 0.5 for all the
mixtures tested. However, at the BRE tests in Haverhill, Surrey it was found that the hemp homes
did not perform as well as the traditional homes in the acoustic tests, although they did meet the
requirements of the Building Regulations 1991 Part E, which were current at the time of testing
(Yates, 2002). This may well be due to the monolithic construction used with the hemp homes as
opposed to more complex cavity construction in the traditional homes. Further research into the
sound absorption properties of LHC (Gle, et al., 2011) characterizes different mixtures of LHC
according to their porosity, and then models the sound absorption of the mixtures. It is found that
the absorption can be adjusted significantly by control of the constituents; lime binders with small
shive particles being the most effective sound absorbers, although these changes will clearly affect
the mechanical and thermal properties as well.
5

Preparation Methods
(Evrard, 2006) goes on to investigate the effect that the methods of preparation i.e. mixing speed,
tamping compression and water input, have on the final properties of the LHC, as well as a dynamic
sorption test using Nordtest (Rode, 2005) inspired methods. This is then compared with a WUFI
simulation. It is established that the strength of tamping has a large influence on the final properties
of the LHC. If the mixture is over compressed then the LHC will take longer to dry and carbonation of
the lime will occur much more slowly. Conversely, a very lightly tamped mixture dries much more
quickly and carbonation is more advanced at the end of the test period (Evrard, 2006)
1
. These results
are in agreement with those of Elfordy et al (2008), who described the influence of the projection
distance on the density of the product, and therefore the thermal conductivity and mechanical
properties. It was noted that both thermal conductivity and mechanical properties increase with the
mortar density (Elfordy, et al., 2008) and that final density is a function of the projection distance.
With regards to the dynamic sorption test, it was found that the LHC in practice took longer to reach
constant buffering than the WUFI model predicted, and it is postulated that this difference is due to
a retarded sorption effect (Evrard, 2006). The tests showed that buffering (of the) LHC wall mixture
was high, and on the Nordtest classification in Rode et al (2005) good to excellent.
Elfordy et al. (2008) also examines the competition between the hemp and the lime carbonation
process for water, and finds that adding just enough water to slake the lime just before the hose
outlet accelerates the setting kinetics and reduces drying times to less than one month. These
figures were obtained using a mould measuring 300mm x 600mm and filled to a depth of 200mm, to
simulate the production of LHC blocks, and as such, the drying time may not be accurate for a thicker
cast in-situ arrangement.
De Bruijn et al (2009) studies the mechanical properties of LHC containing fibres as well as shives, to
improve mechanical properties and simplify the production of the raw material for countries without
the facility to separate the shives from the fibres. It was found that the inclusion of fibres did not
create a mechanically stronger LHC, but samples were of a similar strength to contemporary LHC.
Curing Conditions & Drying Times
Arnaud and Gourlay (2012) studied the parameters which affect the curing process. Extreme
humidity conditions are studied, as well as the binder content and hemp particle size. It was shown
that extremes of humidity (30%, 75% and 98%) affect hydraulic lime binders detrimentally, however
air lime binders are only affected by high RH: The curing conditions can strongly affect the
mechanical behaviour of hemp concretes: high relative humidity conditions (75% and 98% RH) are
not really suitable for the binder setting (both hydraulic and air lime) and low humidity conditions
(30% RH) slows down very sharply the setting of hydraulic lime-based binders (Arnaud & Gourlay,
2012). The optimum curing conditions were found to be 20C and 50% RH. Considering that the
mean summer humidity (1971-2000) over most of the UK lies between 76% and 85% and in the
winter is above 80% (UK Climate Projections, 2009) and average temperatures are well below 20C,
this presents obvious concerns for curing times in the UK. This study also finds that higher binder
proportions in the mix create a higher strength product, with lower max strain,
M
, but increase the
curing time. Also, smaller hemp shive particle size distribution results in lighter concretes whose
1
Interestingly, it is also noted that the carbonation of the lime results in a gain in mass, as CaCO
3
is heavier
than Ca(OH)
2
. In theory this could mean an increase in mass of the LHC of 175% as carbonation takes place.
(Evrard, 2006)
6


mechanical properties evolve more slowly due to reduction of macropore size but they finally have
higher modulus and compressive strength (Arnaud & Gourlay, 2012).
Colinart et al (2012) investigated further the drying times of LHC in relation to the manufacturing
process used (mixed and tamped or sprayed). It was found that the spraying process produces a
lighter weight, faster drying concrete than moulding or tamping. Furthermore, it was noted that
when using the spraying process, adding a slaked binder to the shives rather than adding water to
the shives and binder decreases the initial water content and therefore the drying time of the
resultant LHC (Colinart, et al., 2012). These results are in agreement with Elfordy et al. (2008) and
Evrard (2006), as mentioned above in Preparation methods. In relation to the mixing and tamping
process it is noted that the more the initial mixture is manipulated and tamped (or vibrated), the
more the density and drying time is. (Colinart, et al., 2012)
Whole Building Modelling
The transient hygrothermal behaviour of a whole building envelope of LHC is modelled by Tran-Le et
al (2010) using SPARK, a numerical modelling environment program. This research found that
accounting for moisture transfer and moisture production sources in HAM models can account for a
difference of 19.5% in energy consumption, and the use of LHC over cellular concrete can yield
savings of 45% in energy consumption.
Full Scale Experimental Test Building
Shea et al. (2012) constructed a full scale test building, known as the Hempod, and reported on the
thermal performance of the finished building. The calculated U-values were compared with a co-
heating test and found to give results within 3% of each other. It was noted that, as observed by
previous studies (Evrard & De Herde, 2010) (Yates, 2002), the steady state accounted for with U-
values and simulated by a co-heating test are rarely ever reached in reality, and a 300mm thick test
panel was constructed to investigate the energy transferred over 24 hours as a % of the steady state
prediction (Q
24
), and the time to steady state (t
s-s
). The study finds that the U-value calculations
agree broadly with the co-heating test, but the test panel takes in the order of 10 days to reach a
steady state. WUFI simulations of the same panel thickness predict a steady state in 3 days, without
taking into account the effect of relative humidity. This highlights the effect relative humidity has in
dynamic conditions as in (Evrard, et al., 2005), (Evrard & De Herde, 2010), (Maalouf, et al., 2011).
Sequestration & Life Cycle Analysis
The sequestration of carbon is key to the claims made for LHC in respect of its negative embodied
carbon (Lime Technology Ltd, 2011) status. Sequestration is the process of the locking up of
carbon in the LHC, both during the growing of the hemp, through photosynthesis and during the
carbonation of the lime binder. This concept is described in some detail in Hemp Lime Construction:
A Guide to Building with Hemp Lime Composites (Bevan & Wooley, 2008). The figure often quoted
for LHC of 110 kg/m
2
(Lime Technology Ltd, 2011) is explored in a little more detail, but there has
been little academic work done in this area to date. It is unclear whether this figure applies to the
pre-fabricated systems available which presumably use climactic controls and forced ventilation in
their manufacture, or just to the cast in-situ mode of delivery. Additionally, anecdotal evidence from
sites using cast in-situ LHC have shown that in UK conditions forced ventilation/ heating is required
in the drying stage, and no account seems to be made for this in any of the calculations. A French
Life cycle analysis (LCA) is cited (Bevan & Wooley, 2008), but the excerpt is from an unofficial
7

translation by The Guardian. It is noted also that the sequestration is only considered to be
temporary, as the carbon stored in the hemp is likely to be released into the atmosphere again at
the end of its life, either through combustion or bio-degradation (Bevan & Wooley, 2008). Care must
be taken to ensure that the carbon is released back into the atmosphere as CO
2
rather than CH
4
, as
would be the case if allowed to rot in landfill.
A theoretical life cycle analysis of the CO
2
impact of a LHC building against a traditional base case
(Rai, et al., 2011) takes into account operating CO
2
and embodied CO
2
. Ecotect software is used to
model a 25 year life cycle for a distribution warehouse. It is shown that against the steel clad base
case, LHC cladding can produce a CO
2
saving of 279.4%. This figure takes into account the
sequestration benefit of the Hemp used in LHC manufacture. If sequestration is not taken into
account, the LHC is considerably worse than the steel cladding (138.5% increase in CO
2
), mainly due
to the presence of lime and cement in the binder. This model also compares LHC to timber cladding,
and it is noted that the sequestration benefit of LHC is higher than that of timber as considerably
more hemp by weight is used in the LHC cladding. Again, this highlights the importance of the
sequestration of CO
2
in attaining the carbon negative status claimed by the manufacturers, and the
need for viable recycling options if this claim is to be upheld beyond the life of the building in
question.
Related Studies
The delay in the drying of LHC is seen as one of the main drawbacks of its use, particularly in the UK.
Work has been done (Khazma, et al., 2012) on similar lignocellulosic composite materials (flax shive/
cement based) to improve the reliability of setting and hydration. The report finds that a pectin/
polyethylenimin mixture coating on the shives before addition of the binder reduces competition
between the porous shives and the binder for water, resulting in faster setting times, improved
hydration, improved mechanical properties and significant reduction in dimensional variation
(Khazma, et al., 2012). Similar coating methods could be investigated to improve the drying times
and properties of LHC, although minimizing the hydrophilic properties of the hemp shives may have
a detrimental effect on the moisture transfer and buffering properties mentioned earlier.
Another area of possible improvement which has been investigated is the substitution of a binder
with less CO
2
impact than the current lime based one. Clay binder has been investigated, (Busbridge
& Rhydwen, 2010) and the thermal properties established are similar to those quoted by Lhoist for
LHC (Lhoist UK Ltd, 2012). However, clay is found to be considerably more hygroscopic than lime,
and have poorer vapour permeability, and these parameters could again affect the moisture
buffering and thermal inertia of the finished product. It was also observed that mould grew on the
hemp-clay blocks during drying.
Other vegetable aggregates have also been studied (Nozahic, et al., 2012), finding that sunflower
stems share many of the same physical properties as hemp shives, however this research was
carried out on much lower aggregate contents than commonly used in LHC (binder/ aggregate ratio
by mass of 18 as opposed to around 1.65 in conventional LHC), and as such results of mechanical
properties are not comparable.
Interim Conclusions
It is clear from existing academic work that LHC provides good thermal insulation, and that excellent
thermal inertia values can be demonstrated. It has been shown in several studies that steady state
8

models such as those behind U-values are not sufficient to give a clear picture of energy usage in
buildings constructed of LHC. This is due to the thermal inertia exhibited by LHC the time taken to
reach a steady state (t
s-s
) being a key parameter. Key to this is the moisture buffering capability of
LHC, and without taking relative humidity into account simulations showed much shorter t
s-s
. This
thermal inertia results in a damping of the effects of external conditions, meaning that the peak
internal temperature is both considerably lower than peak external temperature, and is also reached
in practice in the middle of the night, when external temperatures have usually dropped again. This
results in increased thermal comfort for the occupants, and a lower demand on heating and
therefore energy usage. This means that U-values, which are calculated on the assumption that a
steady state is reached instantaneously, do not give an accurate picture of the actual energy usage
of the building in use and the true picture is, in fact, much more favourable.
The claim of negative embodied carbon relies heavily on the sequestration argument, and while
carbon is undoubtedly locked up in the hemp as it is grown, it is yet to be shown that this carbon can
be managed at the end of the life of a building in a way that does not release it back into the
atmosphere. Incineration would release the carbon as CO
2
, which would mean that the
sequestration had only been temporary. Significantly, if put to landfill, the carbon could be released
as CH
4
, which is far worse as a greenhouse gas than CO
2
. Currently the design life of most housing is
around 60 years, and commercial buildings considerably less. In the timescales involved in global
warming and climate change these periods are blinks of an eye. Viable recycling options must be
developed if LHC is to be considered truly carbon negative.
The claim that LHC is easy to use is also not as straight forward as it may seem. The process itself is
undoubtedly simple, but several trades are likely to be involved in the use of in-situ production, and
there is little margin for error in the placing and tamping operations. Obtaining a homogenous
product can be difficult, and over tamping will lead to poorer insulation properties and increased
drying times. In the UK drying times are of primary importance on most sites, and high relative
humidity and low temperature have been shown to seriously inhibit the drying and curing processes.
Little academic research has been done into drying times in realistic UK climatic conditions, and this
is a possible area for further research. As such, careful consideration should be given to when the
placing of LHC is scheduled in a build, and the length of time drying is expected to take. Also, training
of staff/ subcontractors will be of paramount importance in obtaining a consistent end product.
LHC is made from renewable/ abundant materials, but reducing the amount of transport involved
in the production process could reduce embodied energy even further. It is also unclear how much
CO
2
is released from the earth during the farming of hemp, and this is something that may need to
be factored in to the embodied CO
2
of LHC.
Overall, it is clear from academic work that LHC can provide comfortable buildings with low carbon
footprints, through low energy usage and low carbon materials. The construction of such buildings in
the UK must be carefully considered to allow for prevailing climatic conditions, and this is an area
where more research might be useful. Drying times in prejudicial conditions have not been widely
studied, and there are some possibilities to assist this. Also more work could be done to find viable
recycling options for the product at the end of its life. The claims made by the manufacturers are
broadly fair, but are open to some qualification and debate.

9

3. Publications and Secondary Sources on Hempcrete
Supplier Literature
In addition to the academic work reviewed above there are a number of texts and publications
available giving advice on the use of Hempcrete and related products. The UK supplier websites such
as Lime Technology Ltd and Lhoist UK Ltd provide installation instructions and various guides to
frequently asked questions etc. However, as one might expect in a suppliers literature, there is very
little information given on the potential problems and limitations associated with the product.
The Lime Technology Ltd Designers Information Pack (Lime Technology Ltd, 2011) provides design
related advice, including standard detail drawings and guides to U-values, air permeability and
general specifications. This publication also includes guidance notes from consultants AKS Ward on
domestic scale installations, highlighting the primary differences between standard timber framing
and that used in conjunction with Hempcrete.
Lime Technologys Installers Information Pack (Lime Technology Ltd, 2011) includes further practical
advice on aspects of installation, such as mixing, storage, casting, drying and rendering, in addition
to relevant data sheets and safety advice. It is interesting to note that the drying times of 6-8 weeks
stated are based on an average temperature of 20-14C respectively, which as noted above, is
unlikely to be achieved under UK conditions.
Books & Other Literature
Mentioned briefly above, Hemp Lime Construction (Bevan & Wooley, 2008) provides
comprehensive guidance on building with LHC, and should be a must read for anyone involved in
projects using this material. The book is the result of a DEFRA funded study which was commissioned
by the National Non-Food Crops Centre, and as such, takes a generally positive bias, however the
advice given is thorough and practical. The publication cites many of the references mentioned
above, and addresses the scientific and environmental arguments as well as the practical aspects of
construction. Running to over 100 pages, much of the current experience of using the material is
discussed, and many tips and tricks are divulged to the reader.
BRE Information Paper IP14/11 (Sutton, et al., 2011) gives a summary of the key points to consider in
the use of LHC, including some of the limitations. It also contains example sections, and a useful
construction sequence for a standard wall section. The BRE guide quotes a drying time of 4-8 weeks
for the hemp-lime, but does highlight the fact that the material is more suited to the warmer
months.

10

4. Existing Case Studies
There are a number of short case studies available on the various supplier websites for the
components of LHC systems which give basic details of various projects that have used LHC (Lime
Technology Ltd, 2011). In addition to these details there are some more in-depth, independent case
studies of in-situ LHC builds.
Haverhill, Surrey
The most important case study to date is that of the hemp houses built at Haverhill in Surrey in 2002
(Yates, 2002). As noted above, this case study provided valuable data on the thermal and acoustic
properties. In addition to the empirical data mentioned above, the study also tells the story of the
build in detail, and gives a frank account of the practical problems experienced on-site. As such, this
is another recommended read for anyone who is to be involved in using LHC in its in-situ form.
The study compared the construction and subsequent performance of two hempcrete homes with
that of two (otherwise) similar traditional cavity wall homes on a new-build development, and was
carried out by the Building Research Establishment on behalf of the client, The Suffolk Housing
Society. The BRE studied the project to investigate:
Relative structural, thermal, acoustic, permeability and durability qualities;
Reduction in waste generated on site;
Environmental impact;
Construction costs. (Yates, 2002)
The main findings of these investigations were that the hemp homes stood up well against the
traditional homes in terms of structure and durability, thermal performance and waste, with the
structure and durability being described as at least equal to that of the traditional homes, and
thermally heating fuel consumed by the hemp homes is no greater than that used in the
traditionally constructed houses (Yates, 2002).
The report notes that the predicted thermal performance, calculated from the U values and SAP,
was significantly lower than that of the traditional homes, but, as mentioned above, in practice the
hemp homes maintained a marginally higher internal temperature for the same fuel input. The
testing was carried out in the first three months of occupation, and Yates points out that the
occupants will have been un-familiar with the way the hemp homes perform thermally, and that
there is room for improvement by adjusting the behaviour of the tenants. A training day focussing
on overall thermostatic control and thermostatic radiator valves (Yates, 2002) is suggested, with
subsequent re-testing, but the results of this are not reported.
As noted above, the hemp homes did not perform as well as the traditional homes in the acoustic
tests, however they did still pass the building regulations that were current at the time.
In terms of permeability, the BRE undertook 96 hour spray tests of samples of the LHC, and it was
found that water penetration was limited to an average of 50-70mm, making penetration of the
external envelope (200mm) unlikely. Thus both forms of construction were found to give complete
protection from water penetration. However, the hemp homes generated less condensation (Yates,
2002).
11

The amount of waste produced was also found to be similar, however it was noted that the volume
of excavation from the hemp homes was significantly lower (Yates, 2002).
The construction costs of the hemp houses was estimated to be significantly more than the
traditional homes, at 526/m
2
against 478/m
2
, however, it was noted that significant relative
savings were made on the second hemp home as opposed to the first, thought to be due to the
contractor becoming more familiar with the processes involved. The report highlights a number of
causes of inefficiency thought to have hindered the progress of the build in general. Some of these
are site management issues particular to this project specifically, however, some relate to the LHC
material or processes required to install it. The need for a prefabricated shuttering system is
mentioned as a problem, and this is something which successor projects have remedied. The drying
times of the LHC are also mentioned as a major issue.
Haverhill Thermographic Testing
Following on from the above study, the BRE commissioned a thermographic inspection of the
Haverhill project in March 2003 (Yong, 2003). The aim of this survey was to produce thermal images
of the front and rear aspects of the two kinds of construction and investigate any significant areas of
heat loss through the external envelopes.
The internal temperature of both buildings was measured to be the same. The data obtained shows
that the external temperature of the traditional home was 4-6C higher than that of the hemp
home. Given that the internal temperature was similar the conclusion drawn is that the external
envelope of the hemp homes retains more heat than that of the traditional cavity wall buildings.

Figure 1: Thermographic images from Haverhill (Yong, 2003)
12

County Down Eco House
This case study (Bevan & Wooley, 2009), carried out by Bevan & Wooley, authors of the
aforementioned Hemp Lime Construction (Bevan & Wooley, 2008) detailed the construction of an
80m
2
single storey eco house in County Down, Northern Ireland. It was a qualitative look at the
experience of building with LHC, and described the pros and cons of the building process. It was
noted again that the shuttering process slowed down the progress of the work, as did the drying
time associated with the LHC, which was placed in October. The paper also included a brief resume
of the thermal properties of LHC.
The Wales Institute for Sustainable Education
Harris et al. (2009) described the construction of the WISE building. The building utilizes materials
with as low an embodied energy as possible (Harris, et al., 2009). LHC was used in the non-
loadbearing walls and floor slab, in conjunction with other sustainable building methods such as
rammed earth walling and limecrete footings. It noted that the cast and tamped form of application
was more successful as it led lo less waste than spraying.

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5. Carleton School, Pontefract
In 2011 works commenced on the Carleton School site in Pontefract, West Yorkshire. The main
contractor was BAM Construct, operating on a design and build basis, with an architect being
novated from the client team. The build involved a substantial extension to the existing school
buildings, some of which had been fire damaged, and had to be removed.
In-situ Tradical Hemcrete was specified by the clients architects for much of the external envelope
of the new buildings. However, as the contract was design and build, design liability fell with the
main contractor. Construction commenced in March 2011, with the placement of Hemcrete
beginning in August 2011. The in-situ Hemcrete was spray-applied into a frame with permanent
shuttering on the inner face, and a temporary proprietary shuttering system on the outer face. The
sprayed mixture was then tamped into place.
In May 2012 Leeds Metropolitan University was given access to the site for the purposes of
investigating the use of LHC in the project. Site Manager, Matthew Garnett gave his perspectives of
the build to date and provided a tour of the project site.
At the time of the interview with Mr Garnett the drying of the LHC was not complete, meaning that
plastering, rendering and associated works were being delayed. This was clearly the source of
considerable concern for the site team, given that they had been advised by the supplier that the
drying time would be in the order of 4-6 weeks, and it was now in excess of 9 months since
placement began. External sheeting had been erected on scaffolding to protect the drying LHC from
the elements, and the scaffold was causing some inconvenience and considerable extra cost. Forced
ventilation and heating had also been installed in the building in an attempt to expedite the drying
process.

Figure 2: Covered Hemcrete at Carleton School
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A number of test panels had been created on the building to test the possibility of rendering before
the recommended %RH had been achieved. It was noticed that there was an element of tannin
staining on these panels, and this would have presented a problem if rolled out across the whole
building, as the render system used was self-coloured; that is to say it would not be covered by any
kind of paint system.

Figure 3: Render test panel and evidence of tannin leaching.

Timing of Hemcrete

Placement
In the light of the findings of Evrard et al. (2005), Yates (2002) and the experiences of other case
studies, it is clear that the placement of the Hemcrete in August was a risky operation, as bad
weather could easily push the drying of the Hemcrete into the autumn/ winter months, extending
drying times significantly. As it was, the winter of 2011 and the spring and summer of 2012 were
exceptionally wet, undoubtedly contributing to the extended drying times of the LHC. The initial
claim of a 4-6 week turn-around on the Hemcrete was highly contentious, and is something which
has been disputed by the supplier. At the time of the visit there was some discussion between BAM
and Lime Technology regarding liability for the extended drying times, due to Lime Technology being
a named supplier, but the contractor being responsible for design. Although there was ample
information available at the time of the design stage in the form of case studies and academic work,
the contractor contends that they were not told at any point that scheduling the placement of LHC
in late August/ early September would cause problems. This raises the question of whether,
considering the contractors liability under the design and build contract, more research could have
been done by BAM prior to the design and scheduling of the project.
Method of Placement of Hemcrete

The placement of the Hemcrete was carried out by a named subcontractor who was a specialist in
the use of LHC, while the timber framing was carried out by a subcontractor chosen by the main
contractor. As mentioned above, the LHC was sprayed into a shuttered structural timber frame, with
permanent shuttering on the inside and a temporary modular shuttering system on the outer face.
The sprayed mixture was then tamped into place.
It was noted that the density of the Hemcrete in places appeared to be higher than others
something which research has shown to inhibit the drying time of LHC (Evrard, 2006), (Elfordy, et al.,
2008). This over-compaction was put down to a workmanship issue by the main contractor. Indeed,
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Yates notes that: Many builders apply too much force when tamping because they think that the
material needs to be firm. In fact, it should remain relatively open and not too dense, particularly in
the core, as this slows the drying process. (Yates, 2002, p. 34).

Figure 4: Differences in mix densities.
Bevan and Wooley suggest the use of spray application to overcome the problem of over tamping:
Spraying the material ensures a consistency in application as placing by hand and over-tamping can
lead to denser mixes. (Bevan & Wooley, 2008, p. 41). In this case both spraying and tamping were
used and it is possible that the tamping could have negated the benefit of the spraying process,
causing a denser product and contributing to the delays in drying time.
Knock-on Effects of Extended Drying Times
The delays caused by the drying of the Hemcrete had a number of effects on the scheduling of
follow on trades. As alluded to above, the render finish to the exterior of the building could not be
applied until the %RH of the Hemcrete had fallen below 15% for a depth of 40-50mm (Lime
Technology Ltd, 2011). The requirement to keep the exposed Hemcrete reasonably dry and
maintain air flow meant that scaffold had to be kept on hire for longer than expected. Matt Garnet
said: Externallywe have a lot of scaffold up, and the majority of that scaffold is simply there to
protect the Hemcrete. So, we have paid extended hire costs from September until now [the
following May].
The extended drying time was also delaying the application of lime plaster internally, meaning that
M&E installations, suspended ceilings and flooring operations were being delayed. The contractor
had pressed ahead with the plastering of one room as a test to see what would happen if the plaster
was applied before the recommended %RH was achieved. Site Manager Matt Garnett said of the
lime plaster: It took a few days of work to this one room for it to cure. We had to keep coming back
in to try and polish it off and the finish in there isnt very good because of that. It is not clear how
16

much the %RH of the Hemcrete contributed to the difficulty in curing the plaster and thus obtaining
a good finish. It is possible that there may be a workmanship issue compounding the problem, as
lime plaster is not often used in modern buildings. It should also be noted that although Lime
Technology advises that a two coat wet-on-wet application of British Gypsum Durafinish can be
used internally (Lime Technology Ltd, 2011), British Gypsum were not prepared to warrant its use,
and were unable to provide an alternative from their range. Matt Garnett explained: We had a
meeting with British Gypsum to see if we could get one of their products that we could actually
plaster on here, but their products are not breathable, and they would not warrant anything going on
there.
Internal Solutions
In order to expedite the follow-on trades the contractor had installed a plastered bulkhead margin
where suspended ceilings abutted the Hemcrete walls to allow the installation of ceiling grids, and
where dado trunking and other services were to be fixed to the Hemcrete a plywood pattress had
been installed which could subsequently be plastered up to. In this way they had been able to
remove some of the criticality from the curing of the Hemcrete. Matt Garnett said of the
programme: Internally, because we have put this plasterboard margin in, and timbers for the dado
trunking, it has taken that part of it off the critical path. The only thing that it is preventing us from
doing is I dont want to start floor finishes in those areas and then have to go back in and lime-
plaster a room with a vinyl floor in place.
The contractors had also installed large fans inside the building to force air-flow over the drying
product, and Matt Garnett said this seemed to have helped significantly. In addition, the under floor
heating had recently been commissioned, and was now being left on in an effort to assist drying
which was also said to have produced a rapid improvement in drying. There was a suspicion though,
that the use of these measures would not have been accounted for in the carbon footprint
calculations of the designers, and the Lime Technology data for Hemcrete.

One advantage of the delay in rendering was that it allowed the contractor to take advantage of
more up to date advice regarding the placement of reinforcing mesh in the base coat. Mr Garnett
explained: Recently Lime Technologies have also said we need to introduce a layer of mesh into the
first coat of render as they have had experience of the product crackingso if we had rendered [the
building] last year, potentially we would have been looking at a problem with cracking.
External Render
In November of 2012 the site was re-visited as the project had reached practical completion, and the
school had opened for the new term. The external render had been applied to all but the north face
of the school, which was still below the threshold for rendering. This was thought to be due to the
northern aspect receiving less direct sunlight than the other faces. This face had been base-coated,
but was awaiting its finishing coat.
There was some concern over the render finish on the faces that had been top-coated, with the
finish being slightly irregular in appearance. It was thought that the differences in surface colour and
texture were due to the finishing being done at different stages of dryness of the top-coat.
The contractor was also concerned about the hardness of the render, and there was evidence of
some streaking and discolouration to the window frames, glazing and the brick plinth on which the
17

Hemcrete walls were sat. This streaking was thought to be due to the lime render dissolving in
rainwater and then running down the face and being deposited as lime scale. The window frames
were powder coated aluminium, in a dark blue colour, and it was noted that the depositions could
cause permanent damage to the frames and the glazing if it was not cleaned off regularly. The brick
plinth below the Hemcrete was in charcoal grey in colour, and the depositions were quite unsightly
and had to be removed with proprietary brick cleaner on a regular basis. The site team were
optimistic that this deposition would decrease as the render cured over a period of months. At the
time of writing the site team were still periodically cleaning the windows and frames with a
proprietary lime scale remover.
Ventilation Issues
On the second visit to the site the team were experiencing some issues with smells emanating from
some of the rooms with Hemcrete external walls. On investigation by a representative from Lime
Technology the smells were attributed to dampness caused by a lack of ventilation in the affected
rooms. It was suggested that the buildings ventilation control strategy be amended in the short
term to ensure that ventilation continued to occur at times when the school was not in use, in order
to assist the drying of residual moisture in the Hemcrete. In addition, there were some rooms
which had no ventilation at all. It was suggested that a small fan unit with heat recovery was
installed in these rooms to introduce some air flow. Although the school had opened the rooms
affected by dampness were not in use, pending the resolution of the problem. To date the
ventilation issue has been raised periodically by the school, as recently as week ending Friday 8
th

March 2013, and the smells continue to linger in a few rooms. The site team is optimistic that warm
weather in the summer months will put an end to this problem.

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6. Conclusions
It is clear from the literature review above that the claims made for LHC can be substantiated with
academic work. However, there has been relatively little research carried out into the drying times
of LHC, and the effects of environmental factors on them, and research into realistic UK weather
conditions is a possible area for further study.
It seems that the biggest problem faced by sites using in-situ LHC on a commercial scale is the
balancing of programme constraints with the drying times of the product. This was mentioned by
Yates in reference to the Haverhill case study (Yates, 2002) as a major cause of inefficiency on the
build, the County Down Eco House (Bevan & Wooley, 2009) also experienced delays due to October
placement and it was also a major problem on the Carleton School build. It was hoped that more
empirical data could be collected from the Carleton School project in terms of %RH data for the
Hemcrete, in order to facilitate analysis compared to the known weather conditions. However,
although this data was apparently collected, the site team were unable to locate it at a later date
and the authors late involvement in the project made its collection impossible. The common thread
running through these case studies is the delay caused by placement of the LHC late in the season,
resulting in lengthy delays in drying the product. This suggests that the product is not suitable for UK
use in its in-situ form in the colder months on projects which are time constrained.
The Carleton School project suffered from a lack of good advice and research into the product
before the project started. Even without considering the academic work reviewed above, there was
ample information available in the form of the Haverhill case study (Yates, 2002) and the guide
Hemp Lime Construction (Bevan & Wooley, 2008). Reviewing these publications could have
prevented most of the issues that arose on the project and in view of the contractors liability under
the design and build contract it is surprising that they relied so heavily on the advice of the supplier.
A little independent research could have easily avoided:
Late placement resulting in excessive drying times;
Dense finished product caused by over-tamping the mixture;
Excessive hire fees for external scaffolding/ internal ventilation;
Delays to rendering/ external works;
Extra expenditure on work-arounds such as dry-lined bulkheads and plywood mounts for
dado trunking.
That said, it seems that the supplier failed to effectively manage the expectations of the contractor,
and could have warned them more explicitly about the problems of placing the product so late in the
year. The supplier would have been well placed to advise the use of pre-cast cassettes or panels if
the build had to be scheduled during the winter months. This application could potentially have
retained all the environmental benefits of LHC without the uncertainty of the drying process. In fact,
Lime Technology now advise that the in-situ application of Hemcrete is suitable:
For use where the Tradical Hemcrete will be installed between the
beginning of March and the end of July.
For use where the programme is relaxed (e.g. self-build projects).
For use where a programme over-run does not have severe penalties.
(Lime Technology Ltd, 2012)
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And conversely, for off-site application:
For use where the construction takes place all year round.
For use where programme certainty is critical.
For use where time on-site needs to be minimised. (Lime Technology Ltd,
2012)
Clearly the construction of a school by a main contractor would fall in the latter group, and as such,
the pre-cured method of construction may have been more suitable. The above advice has been
added to the supplier website since the Carleton project commenced, so it is possible that the
supplier was not aware of the impact of poor weather conditions.
The ventilation issue and the associated dampness was, it would seem, a combination of a design
issue (in the case of the rooms with no ventilation at all), and a systems control issue. In this case the
problem was easily overcome, but did involve additional expenditure in the form of extra fan units
and additional ventilation. This could probably have been avoided by better research at the design
stage and better advice from the supplier.
The issue of the deposition of lime scale on the brick plinth and fenestration is one that has not been
raised by other case studies, and it is possible that the carbonation of the lime in the render will
harden it significantly over a number of months. There is currently only one approved system of
render for Hemcrete, but further research could investigate the possibility of using an existing
breathable non-lime based system, such as the organic resin/ silicone based K-Rend (Kilwaughter
Chemical Company Ltd, 2012). This could potentially eliminate the problem of extended curing times
and associated deposition, while still maintaining a breathable, self-coloured coating.
Future projects wishing to use LHC in its in-situ form should consider carefully whether their
programme will allow its placement in the warmer months of the year, and whether delays are likely
to push the drying period into the colder months. If delays could affect the placement then an off-
site system should be seriously considered in place of the in-situ method. Any prospective developer
should ensure that their design, planning and site teams are well educated in the use and constraints
of the product well in advance of the design and planning stages. Earlier involvement of the supplier
with the project design team could help to insure that the appropriate format of the product is used,
and ensure that the clients requirements are fully understood at the outset.

20

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