Hemp insulation

hygroscopic

couln'r resit taht :pac:

sculptor wrote: »

Thanks Syd, Nothing like an excuse to go into town for a few hours.
Not like I'm busy I have to wait another week for the steel channels to go in, thats another thing. Are steel channels a cold bridge? I will have two each side of the room should I lag them and case in composite board?

bigtime

most definatley

Hi, have build a wood frame, hemp and lime garden room over the last year. Got my hemp and an awful lot of help from a guy in Kerry. If you want details, I can PM them to you.

Builderfromhell wrote: »

Does Hemp insulation have an IAB cert.? If not I expect it would be difficult to get a BER cert rating. or indeed a cert of compliance.

Suffolk Housing Society built a couple of hemp houses, so there is a precedent, at least in the UK. That I know of, there is one new build hemp house finished in Ireland and at least two refurbishments.
There is an architect in Dublin who has spoken at a few things re hemp building. His name escapes me right now but if he is prepared to design, he should be prepared to certify.
From my experience, the problem with hemp plaster is that it is slow and weather is a big issue. But it is certainly not as toxic (speaking personally) as plasterboard and skim, although I still wear a mask and lime burns like hell!!

sculptor wrote: »

Had a look at that display, nice organic feel to it.
Next question, what happens to the moisture that penetrates the solid wall and reaches the breather membrane?
Does it trickle down and if so where does it go?
How do you fix the membrane without causing ingress and rusting your fixings?
If you take out a hilti nail thats been in a damp wall for a few years you know what I mean.
Someone tell me to shut up if I'm getting too tedious.

not too tedious - tenacious but that all to the good

if the walls are very damp and waiting to dry them out is not parctical , then use pvc anchors to fix the battens . hilti the counter battens to the battens

a victorian red brick ought not be remain very damp - ensure

effective dpc is instatlled - dublin city council have banned chemical dpcs in protected structures which limits options

ensure footapths are 150mm below adjacent floor level to all places - use french drains if this is not possible

all pointing is sound ( lime mortar )

roof overhangs parapapets rain water goods are kept in perfect condition

windows cills are fully intact ( not cracked ) and intact dpcs under

to be very cautious i would seriously condider a temp insertion of timber frame type vertical joint vents - say for two years after refurb to allow absorbed dampness to migrate to atmosphre. remove and point with lime mortar then

keep it breathable . you can't beat pu's for thermal performance , but this is not the only factor . because they don't breath you may well get nasty moulds behind them in this application .

hemp , rockwool , cellulose would be much better