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

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.