Hempcrete Submitted for Certification in US Building Codes

LOS ANGELES–The professional association representing the US hemp building industry announced that hemp and lime (hempcrete) insulation will be certified in US building codes.

On Jan. 10, the US Hemp Building Foundation, the non-profit arm of the US Hemp Building Association, submitted hempcrete as an appendix to the International Residential Codes. The goal is to familiarize US construction permitting departments with the material, which is new to the US following hemp’s legalization under the 2018 Farm Bill.

“These documents will show a pathway for using hempcrete as a building material,” USHBA President Jacob Waddell told HempBuildMag. “The goal is to allow you to build with hempcrete without needing an alternative material variance,” he added.

The paperwork for submission to the Multinational Code Council was created by an international group of hemp construction professionals and proponents. Experts from the International Residential Code will review the documents in March and again in September to determine whether hemp + lime may be used as a natural construction material.

Since October, about a dozen hemp experts and hempcrete builders have labored countless hours to prepare the application papers, according to reporting in

Waddell believes that inclusion in the IRC will eventually “enable hempcrete to be accessible to the average individual to construct with.”When put up to 1 foot thick in wall assemblies, hempcrete, a non-structural insulation comprised of hemp hurd (shiv) and lime binder, provides outstanding insulation. It’s vapor-permeable, thermally regulating, fire-resistant, and mold and pest-resistant.

This story first appeared in Hemp Build Magazine. Find the whole story here.