Compressed hemp block (dry-molded, distinct from cast hempcrete)

Dry-molded, air-dried hemp shiv and lime block laid like masonry as infill between a post-and-beam frame, distinct from cast/sprayed hempcrete infill already in this catalog. Roughly a quarter the production energy of fired brick or cellular concrete; thermal conductivity around 0.067 W/mK.

Cost

Medium

Upkeep

None

Skill to build

Intermediate

Lifespan

Similar range to cast hempcrete, 100+ years if kept dry, same binder chemistry, different forming method

Embodied carbon

Low

Space / material use

Medium

Output timing

None

Skill to repair

Basic

Regulation (FR example)

New construction falls under RE2020, which sets thermal and carbon performance thresholds for the building as a whole rather than approving individual materials.

Note: Cost, carbon and footprint are rated against the other options for this same need, not in absolute terms.

Inputs

none

Outputs

none

Sources

• Hempcrete durability literature (Encyclopedia MDPI hempcrete properties entry)

What this page does not tell you

No sizing or quantities: how much a technique yields, and how much a household needs, both depend on the build and the people, so the catalogue compares options rather than dimensioning them. It carries no bill of materials and no build sequence, and it is written for an oceanic, clay-soil climate (Normandy, France). Regulatory notes are indicative and need confirming locally.