RILEM 275-HDB: Testing Methods for Determnation of the Hygrothermal nad Capillary of Vegetal Concrete

In less than 10 years, the construction of houses in the world using plant based materials has exited the field of a limited use by a few environmentalists and emerged as a valuable concept for healthy, ecological and comfortable habitat (moisture management, thermics and acoustics). The introduction of a high concentration of bio-aggregate-building material in the construction design is the fundamental principle of this concept. The use of crushed hemp (shiv), flax and other plants associated to mineral binder represents the most popular solution adopted in the beginning of this revolution in building materials. Global warming, energy savings, and life cycle analysis issues are factors that have contributed to the rapid expansion of plant-based materials for buildings, which can be qualified as environmental-friendly and efficient multifunctional materials. Concerning energy savings, COP 21 requires that from 2020 on, all new buildings meet the positive energy criteria in many countries. This improvement of energy performance of buildings induces modifications in the distribution of environmental impacts, and places the manufacture of the building materials as the most important phase when the energy consumption decreases from 200 to 15 kWh/m²/yr. So, to reduce these impacts, it makes sense to go on moving towards plant-based materials, whose impacts are very limited, and can even be positive on the environment.