Hemp-Lime (Hempcrete) Construction
Hempcrete (hemp-lime) is a building material made from the byproduct of a crop that was federally illegal until 2018. VSE was the lead engineer for the first Hemp-Lime (Hempcrete) appendix in the International Residential Code and is a national leader in hemp engineering.
Hempcrete uses hemp hurds mixed with a lime-based binder to create a non-structural biocomposite insulation and functions as a vapor-open assembly. Lateral loads from wind and earthquakes are resisted through code-compliant solutions such as let-in bracing or prefabricated metal shear walls.
VSE has assisted clients in permit acquisition across the country.