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Re: GBlist: Hemp Insulation?




In a message dated 6/13/97 9:57:15 PM, sullivan@crest.org (Bruce Sullivan)
wrote:

<<Okay, I'm ready for the snickers and sarcastic comments. Let me have 'em.

I received information from a French company that makes insulation and 
other building materials out of hemp fiber. From what I can understand it 
can mineralized with lime or cement or used "raw." 

Canobiote seems to be a loose fill material. In one place the specs say 
the density is 110 Kg/m3 and the thermal conductivity is 0.048 W/m K. In 
another place it says the density is 350-500 Kg/m3 and the thermal 
conductivity is 0.13 W/m K. I can't find a metric conversion for 
U-values, so I have no idea how this compares to fiberglass, cellulose, 
etc.

Canosmose is used in a plaster for wall, roof and slab insulation. The 
information says it's "replusive to rodents." (I guess they don't like to 
party.)

First question, can anyone convert the metric thermal conducivity? Is 
there a web site with this conversion. (I've found several sites with the 
typical conversion factors, but none with this one.)

Second. What's the general impression of this product? 

You can find more info at their web site: www.marisy.fr/chanvriere/

Have a nice weekend.

Bruce S.>>

Hi Bruce,

Ahhhh, the hippopotamus of metrics flicks it's ears in the primordial swamp
of my brain.  At last years of studying physics pays off.  Here's my thoughts
on the metric heat transfer units.  W/m*K is the same as W*m/m2*C, so it is
an energy flux through an area.  K and C are the same when it is a
temperature difference.  Working the arcane secrets of non-relativistic
physics, I conclude that 1 W/m*K = 6.938 BTU*in/hr*ft2*F.  The low density
hemp should be a U of 0.333 BTU/hr*ft2*F for an inch thick layer (R3, eh?)
and the high density stuff should be a U of 0.83 BTU/hr*ft2*F for an inch
thick layer (R1.2).  God, it's great when the trivia I can't get out of my
head is useful for a few brief moments.

Onward, can I get some of the stuff?  I'd kinda like to test it, see it. -
Terry
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