The structural frame - The Hempcrete Topic: Designing and Building with Hemp-lime - page 253

There are three likely options for the frame:
Steel. The main consideration with steel is the risk of corrosion, owing to the alkaline
nature of the lime binder in the hempcrete. Ideally, the two materials should be kept
separate. Where the frame does need to interact with the hempcrete, it should be pro-
tected with a painted coating; the same applies to any fixings, which could alternatively
be made from an alkali-resistant metal such as stainless steel.
Glulam. If the glulam is to be encased or partly encased in the hempcrete, check with
the manufacturer that the wet environment of the freshly placed hempcrete will not
have an adverse effect on the glues in the beams. If there is a risk that it will, a protect-
ive coating may need to be applied.
Steel and glulam interact in the frame of a large super-
store built using Lime Technology's Hembuild ® panels.