Timber frame construction utilizing IsoHemp hemp-lime masonry blocks for carbon-negative, vapor-permeable thermal insulation.

See photos 5

IsoHemp – Hempcrete Insulation Blocks

Name: IsoHemp – Hempcrete Insulation Blocks
Address: Fernelmont, Belgium

Go Back

The Material: IsoHemp blocks are bio-composite masonry units manufactured from a mixture of natural hemp hurd (shiv), water, and a specialized lime-based binder. Designed strictly as non-load-bearing infill or continuous insulation cladding, they provide exceptional thermal and acoustic regulation. The material exhibits a thermal conductivity (lambda) of approximately 0.07 W/mK and high specific heat capacity, effectively dampening temperature fluctuations through thermal mass. Due to the high porosity of both the hemp and the lime, the blocks are highly vapor-permeable (mu ~ 3), actively regulating indoor humidity without the need for synthetic vapor barriers. Through the biogenic carbon stored in the hemp plant during growth and the carbonation of the lime during curing, the blocks achieve a net-negative embodied carbon footprint.
The Company & The Story: Founded in 2011 and based in Fernelmont, Belgium, IsoHemp operates one of the most advanced, automated hemp block manufacturing facilities in Europe. Sourcing raw hemp directly from local agricultural networks, the company ensures a highly localized, low-emission supply chain (Scope 3). Their production relies on a cold-pressing technique, eliminating the high-temperature firing processes associated with conventional clay bricks or the energy-intensive expansion processes of synthetic petroleum-based insulation.
Technical & Commercial Summary: Commercially supplied as standardized palletized blocks in various thicknesses (ranging from 7cm to 36cm), IsoHemp is utilized for exterior envelope infill in timber frame structures, interior partition walls, and thermal retrofitting of existing masonry. Installed using a proprietary thin-joint lime adhesive, it acts as a direct drop-in replacement for highly polluting aerated concrete blocks (AAC) or rigid EPS/PIR insulation boards.

Thermal Conductivity: lambda = 0.07 W/mK, delivering consistent insulation and eliminating thermal bridging.

Biogenic Carbon Storage: Sequesters approximately 100 kg of CO2 equivalent per cubic meter of material.

Compressive Strength: ~ 0.2 MPa, optimized for insulation and infill applications, not primary structural loading.

Vapor Permeability: Highly breathable matrix (mu = 3) prevents interstitial condensation and mold proliferation.

Fire Performance: Achieves Euroclass B-s1, d0 fire rating due to the mineralizing effect of the lime binder, requiring no toxic chemical fire retardants.

Verified Sustainability

Certifications & Accolades: Holds comprehensive Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certification, and conforms to strict European structural and fire safety standards.

Environmental & Bio-Technical Analysis: [Biolisty Auditor Note]: IsoHemp bypasses the catastrophic End-of-Life scenario of synthetic insulations (PUR/EPS). By combining rapid-growth agricultural hemp with natural lime, it completely avoids Portland cement (clinker). The material is 100% circular; at the end of a building's lifecycle, the blocks can be safely crushed. The lime serves to de-acidify local soils while the hemp decomposes, meeting our strictest criteria for passive circularity.

Biolisty Status: Verified by Biolisty. 🟢

End-of-Life

On-Site Mulchable

Scratch Resistance

Low / Scratches Easily

Hygiene & Antimicrobial

Moderate / Bacteriostatic

Surface Texture

Rough / Unfinished

International Shipping & Export

Universally Approved / Easy Export

Supplied Format

Solid Panels / Blocks