How a natural building material regulate moisture

‍Did you know that temperature isn’t the gold standard for warmth or comfort?

It’s actually moisture..

That's right, the moisture levels in your house dictate whether your house feels like a cosy sanctuary, a home and not Like a Tupperware container.

Ok, But what's this got to do with moisture?

You simply become colder a lot faster when moisture is present. Ever notice how quickly you freeze after leaving the pool or the shower? The more moisture present, the quicker heat conducts away from you.

The reason your body sweats is to evacuate heat. We are subconsciously aware of this as we describe spaces as comfortable and tranquil, and rooms with moisture issues as stuffy or damp.

One of the gifts of Hempcrete to the industry is passive (automatic) moisture management.

It protects us from the moisture spikes that modern houses are known for.

Hempcrete makes for a healthy, comfortable and stable temperature at home.

In a nutshell: Hempcrete actively absorbs and diffuses excess moisture in the internal living environment.

But why is modern housing plagued by moisture issues?

Because they’re essentially sealed units. The problem is that so many moisture-generating activities occur inside our houses. From cooking and bathing to human respiration; often with the moisture becoming trapped. Many of us do not realise that air conditioning systems are designed in part to remove excess moisture. Without mechanical intervention, mould will occur.

A good analogy to describe the issue is to think about what happens when you close a fridge and turn it off for a week. Not pleasant…

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So moisture is an issue, but how much moisture are we talking about?

Humans alone, generate 115 to 270 grams of water per hour (2.8 to 6.5 kg per day) through respiration and perspiration (B.K. Kreiger and W.V. Srubar, 2019). Combined with the common issues of rising dampness and condensation, mould can begin to take root. This is catastrophic to the building fabric over time, in fact, it is the number one cause of building failure today.

The holistic moisture regulation abilities of Hempcrete allow the house to take care of you, and itself, without mechanical intervention. It allows internal enclosures to sit at a relative humidity between 40% to 60%, a range within which humans have evolved to find comfort.

Thanks again for your time. We spend a great deal of time writing about Hempcrete. That’s because our purpose at RespiraBuilt is to help as many people as possible to insulate our homes with a naturally grown, carbon-sequestering carbon-based lifeform that not only provides the best thermal comfort but also has a genuine positive impact on the environment, and our bank accounts!

See you in the next blog post - Pillar #3: Hempcrete, a fireproof wonder material.

Talk soon,

Will

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