Research and practice has shown hemp lime products to be highly durable, fire resistant and pest resistant, providing safe and resilient buildings in a wide range of applications, including domestic, commercial and industrial. Main applications to date include:

solid wall construction in timber frame buildings,

loft and roof insulation,

under-floor insulation                                                                                                                                                                  © reproduced by permission of Lhoist UK

prefabricated non-loadbearing blocks.

internal decorative and insulating renders and plasters

Further applications, including low rise loadbearing applications, are under development.

True vapour permeability of hemp-lime construction provides two key benefits from built-in regulation of humidity:

• within the materials this avoids trapped moisture and associated deterioration                                                             © reproduced by permission of Lhoist UK

• within the building the atmosphere is more healthy and natural and reduces the need for air conditioning.

Whilst hemp lime products have gained wide acceptance in France in recent years there has also been a steadily growing number of completed projects in the UK, including the widely publicised Suffolk Housing Society properties in Haverhill. The new warehouse and distribution centre under construction by Adnams in Suffolk will become the UK's and possibly the world's, greenest warehouse.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      © reproduced by permission of Lhoist UK