Material Cultures
Material Cultures

Material Archive: Recycled Plastic

 

Material Cultures

Family

Polymer

Source  

Recycled Plastic

Origin

United Kingdom

 

Material Cultures

Hempcrete or hemplime is biocomposite material, a mixture of hemp hurds and lime, sand, or pozzolans, which is used as a material for construction and insulation. It is marketed under names like Hempcrete, Canobiote, Canosmose, Isochanvre and IsoHemp.

Hempcrete is easier to work with than traditional lime mixes and acts as an insulator and moisture regulator. It lacks the brittleness of concrete and consequently does not need expansion joints. The result is a lightweight insulating material ideal for most climates as it combines insulation and thermal mass.

Hempcrete or hemplime is biocomposite material, a mixture of hemp hurds and lime, sand, or pozzolans, which is used as a material for construction and insulation. It is marketed under names like Hempcrete, Canobiote, Canosmose, Isochanvre and IsoHemp.

Material Cultures

Where is the material sourced and produced?

 

The timber is grown across 70-80 forests in Poland, and the products are produced in two polish factories. How sustainable is it? The timber is sourced from FSC certified forests. The main timber species used are Picea Abies and Pinus Sylvestris Following manufacture in Poland, the timber products were sourced from Alsford Timber in Kent.

Fire resistance

 

Straw bales are tightly packed and covered with a skin of render. Fire can’t burn without oxygen, and the dense walls provide a nearly airless environment, so the fire resistance of compacted straw is very good. Strawbale homes survived Californian bush fires that destroyed conventional structures.

Sound insulation

 

Straw bales also provide cost effective sound insulation, which contributes to the liveability of this kind of construction and can be quite marked. Even walking into the space created by an unfinished strawbale structure, one can appreciate the quietness and hear the difference from conventional buildings.

Maintenance

 

Timber I-Joists should be protected from the elements and particularly protected from excessive exposure to moisture. They should then be installed internally.

 

Cost
£6.55 / metre 60x400x12000mm
£5.80 / metre 60x240x12000mm