Indicative detailing - The Hempcrete Topic: Designing and Building with Hemp-lime - page 536

with a free-draining foundation, this build-up would not require any PVC damp-proof
course or membrane. A similar detail is pictured on page 153 .
Figure 22. Recycled glass foam is probably the best load-bearing plinth insulation available cur-
rently.
Plinth with no inherent insulation value
If the plinth is narrower than the total wall thickness, a material with high thermal perform-
ance can be utilized to make up the difference in width. Although thinner than the hemp-
crete wall above it, a high-performing insulation should be capable of providing a similar
level of insulation to the hempcrete. Unfortunately, many materials that suggest themselves
for use in this situation are not sustainable, being mostly petrochemical-based. Sustainable
solutions do exist, however - for example, loose-fill cellulose insulation. In this situation,
a permanent internal shuttering board has to be used to give a continuous background for
internal finishes, and it is wise to use either a loose-fill or spray-applied insulation to en-
sure complete filling of the void between the board and the plinth (see Figure 23 ).