4th MODULE

BAMBOO AS A BUILDING
MATERIAL
 SYLLABUS – 4th MODULE
• Bamboo as a building material -types, properties, application.
• Comparison of bamboo with wood. Strength and workability
as criteria.
• Various steps involved in working with bamboo, required sizes
of members.
• Methods of joining bamboo for various applications
• Drawings- Joining details of bamboo for various Applications.
• Construction of bamboo joints in construction yard and
documenting and presentation in portfolio
 BAMBOO AS A BUILDING MATERIAL
• Bamboo has been in wide usage since ancient times as a
low-cost material for houses, bridges etc.
• Recently started appearing in designer homes as flooring,
walling and panelling material
• Bamboo is a renewable and versatile resource,
characterized by high strength and low weight.
• Natural material with a high strength- to-weight ratio.
• Various structural shapes may be made by training the
bamboo to assume them as it grows.
• Bamboo is a traditional building material throughout the
world’s tropical and sub-tropical regions.
• Bamboo is a renewable and versatile resource, with high
strength and low weight. That’s why it is widely used in
different forms of construction, particularly for housing in
rural areas.
• It can also be used to make traps, cages, tools, weapons,
bridges, rafts, towers, fences, water wheels, irrigation pipe,
and thousands of other items
• It is widely recognized as one of the most important non-
timber forest resources due to the high socioeconomic
benefits from bamboo based products.
• It is estimated that there are 1200 species of bamboo. Most of
them grow in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
• Industrial treated bamboos have shown great potential for
production of composite Materials and components which are
cost effective and can be successfully utilised for structural &
non-structural applications in construction
• Bamboo grows three times faster than most other species.
Species of bamboo which are commercially used usually
mature in four or five years time, after which multiple
harvests are possible every second year, for up to 120 years in
some species and indefinitely in others.
• Bamboo is also good in biomass production. It is often
introduced into the banks or streams or in other vulnerable
areas, for rapid control of soil erosion; one bamboo plants
closely matted roots can bind up to six cubic metre of soil.
• Uses of bamboos in construction: footing, trusses , walls ,
scaffolding ,tile roofing, reinforcement etc.

Bamboo Steel Footing Bamboo Truss Bamboo Wall

Bamboo Scaffolding Bamboo Tile roofing Bamboo Reinforcement

• Advantages of using bamboo:
• Strong natural fibre, versatile material, extremely flexible,
lightweight in comparison to other conventional bldg.
material, sustainable & renewable ,cost effective ,
construction can be done with simple tools, controls soil
erosion ,
• Bamboo consumes high quantities of nitrogen so it reduces
water pollution, as the urban spaces are surrounded by
industries it is essential to grow bamboo alongside industrial
area where it converts waste water into nutrients for its own
growth.
• Enhancement in organic farming, it is also known to
desalinate sea water ,its natural waxy surface doesn’t require
painting making it safe from health hazards caused by
paints(they contain toxic substances) ,out of all the bldg.
materials bamboo is least hazardous in terms of waste as it
can be recycled & does not have disposal problems
• Bamboo has higher compressive
strength than wood brick / concrete
& tensile strength that rivals steel &
for height.

• Bamboo can resist forces created by

high velocity wind and earthquakes .

• This is a substitute building material

which is renewable, environment
friendly & widely available, as the
wood resources are diminishing &
restrictions are imposed on felling
the natural forests
• Limitations
• Bamboo is prone to insect & fungal invasion ,so hazardous
pesticides are used on it but not in its cultivation
• Special fastening techniques are required while joining pieces
of bamboo.,
• Special skill is required in designing and constructing with
bamboos.

The realisation that bamboo is the most

potentially important non timber
resource and rapid growing woody
biomass, has evoked keen interest in the
processing, reservation, utilisation and
the promotion of bamboo has an
alternative to wood and as building
material in creating healthy and inclusive
urban environment.
WHY BAMBOO IS USED AS A BUILDING
MATERIAL?
Housing is a basic need for human being, and is now
becoming a burden for low and medium income group. Thus,
we need cost effective housing and bamboo is the best
building material, result for that as:

• It is fastest-growing renewable natural building material.

• The material is easily available & Eco friendly.
• Bamboo is a viable, alternative for steel, concrete and
masonry as an independent building material.
• It is cost effective and easy to work.
• It can be easily bend, give desired shape and can provide
joints to suit the construction.
• Its enormous elasticity makes it a very useful building material
in areas with very high risks of earthquakes.
• Local available material to some areas, which tries to carry the
local tradition & vernacular architecture of that place.

The Green School- Indonesia

MAIN PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO
As discussed before that Bamboo is a viable alternative for steel,
concrete and masonry, it is so because of its properties which
are clearly mention below.
• TENSILE STRENGTH
Bamboo is able to resist more tension than compression. The
fibers of bamboo run axially are of highly elastic vascular
bundle that has a high tensile strength.
• COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
Compared to the bigger tubes, slimmer ones have got, in relation
to their cross-section, a higher compressive strength value.
The slimmer tubes possess better material properties due to
the fact that bigger tubes have got a minor part of the outer
skin, which is very resistant in tension
• ELASTIC MODULUS
The accumulation of highly strong fibers in the outer parts of the
tube wall also work positive in connection with the elastic
modulus like it does for the tension, shear and bending
strength.
The higher the elastic modulus, the higher is the quality of the
bamboo.
Enormous elasticity makes it a very useful building material in
areas with very high risks of earthquakes.
• SHRINKAGE
Bamboo shrinks more than wood when it loses water. The canes
can tear apart at the nodes. Bamboo shrinks in a cross section
of 10-16 % and a wall thickness of 15-17 %. Therefore it is
necessary to take necessary measures to prevent water loss
when used as a building material.
• FIRE RESISTANCE
The fire resistance is very good because of the high content of
silicate acid.
Filled up with water, it can stand a temperature of 400° C while
the water cooks inside.
BAMBOO AS A BUILDING MATERIAL
• Bamboo is a versatile material because of its high strength-to
weight ratio, easy workability and availability.
• Bamboo needs to be chemically treated due to their low
natural durability.
• It can be used in different ways for roof structure as purlins,
rafters and reapers, for flooring, doors and windows, walling,
ceiling, man-hole covers etc.
1 Bamboo Trusses
• The bamboo has strength comparable to that of Teak and Sal.
• A bamboo truss is a frame made of bamboo poles.
• Poles connected to each other in a particular form typically it
takes the shape of the roof.
2. Bamboo Roofs Skeleton
• It consists of bamboo truss or rafters
over which solid bamboo purlins are
laid and lashed to the rafter by
means of G.I. wire.
• A mesh of halved bamboo is made
and is lashed to the purlins to cover
the roof.
• Bamboo trusses can be adopted for
roofing.
• Bamboo tile roofing can also be used
wherein the bamboo culms are split
in two and used with its convex side
up alternately.
• A layer of bitumen can be applied
between the two bamboo panels to
form a more water-resistant panel
• The roof offers protection against
extremes of weather including
rain, sun and wind, and to provide
shelter, clear and usable space
beneath the canopy.
• The simplest form consists of a
bamboo purlin and beams,
supported on perimeter posts.
• Corrugated sheets made out of Simplest Form
bamboo are also used commonly as
roof covering. Corrugated Sheets

• A layer of bitumen is sandwiched between two mats

of bamboo forming a semi rigid panel.
• Plastered bamboo: A cement plaster,with or without
the addition of organic fibres, is traditionally applied
to bamboo roofs, to get stronger roof coverings.
Bituminised Bamboo Mats
[Link] walling/ceiling
• As the bamboo material is light in weight it is beneficial for
earthquake prone areas as its chances of falling are very less
due to flexibility and even if it falls it can be re-erected easily
with less human and property loss with least efforts and
minimum cost.
• Bamboo walls can be constructed in different ways .
• The exterior wall needs to be protected from atmospheric
vagaries like rain, heat etc. and hence infill walls (grid of split
bamboo covered in a wire mesh and cement mortar) must be
used.
• Halved bamboo or its strips may be used to make bamboo
mats which can be plastered with cement or lime on both
sides can also be used.
• The interior walls can be made of a single layer of bamboo
strips
• Whole stem halved or strips of bamboo can nailed to one or
both the sides of the bamboo frame.
• Split bamboo mats can be fastened to the bamboo posts or
mats can be woven, mud can also be applied to both sides of
such mats.
• Bamboo strips nailed to bamboo frame or posts for interior
walling.
• Cement or lime plastering can be done on the mud covering
for better appearance and hygiene. It has been found that the
bamboo in the vertical position is more durable than in
horizontal direction.
• For partition walls only single layer of bamboo strips are used.
 WOVEN VERTICAL
BAMBOO WALL HALVED CULMS BAJAREQUE

WHOLE BAMBOO
CULMS
[Link] Doors and Windows
• Bamboo frames can replace timber frames appropriate to
function.
• Bamboo mat shutters fixed to bamboo frame which is
hinged with wall can be used as door.
• Small bamboo frame hinged to the top in the wall can serve
as windows.
5 Bamboo Flooring
• Bamboo can be used material due to its better wear and tear
resistance resilience properties.
• Whole culms act and the floor covering is done using bamboo
boards, mats etc by means of wire to the frame.
• Split bamboo, flattened bamboo or bamboo mats can be
used.
• In split bamboo flooring the bamboo culms are split with a
certain specific width and then joined while in flattened
bamboo flooring the split bamboos are flattened so as to have
a uniform and plane surface.
• Very thin strips of bamboo are joined with each other to form
a mat and then laid as flooring
The floors may be at ground level, and
therefore consists only of compacted earth,
with or without a covering of bamboo
matting.
The various types used are:
Bamboo Cane Floor Decking

Small bamboo culms:

They are directly tied and nailed together.

Split bamboo:
Culms are split along their length
into strips, several centimeters wide. Split Bamboo Floor Decking

Flattened bamboo:
Formed by splitting green bamboo
culms removing the diaphragms, then
rolling and flattening them.

Flattened Bamboo Floor Decking

Bamboo mats:
•The slivers are woven into mats of
different sizes according to the available
hot-press plates and user’s demands.
•In construction using bamboo mats,
phenolic resins are employed. Bamboo mat

Bamboo plastic composites:

•It is an innovative technology in which
bamboo fiber is the raw material and
compounded with plastic as the core
material of the flooring.
•The ratio of plastic should be over 30%
for higher water resistance and Bamboo plastic composites
dimensional stability.
6. Reed Boards
• Reed boards are made by reed at high
temperatures.
• These reed boards elements like flooring, walls,
ceiling and can also be used for partitions, doors,
windows.

Bamboo Ceilings- Reed board Bamboo Walls- Reed board

7 Scaffolding
• Bamboo poles lashed together have been used as scaffolding
in high rise structures due to their strength and resilience.
• The timber planks can be replaced with bamboo culms and
these can be lashed to the vertical culms.

Bamboo Scaffolding
• Because of the favourable relationship
between load-bearing capacity and weight,
bamboo can be used for the scaffoldings even
for very tall buildings.

• The cane extension is carried out by lashing the

cane ends together with several ties.

• The vertical and horizontal canes used for

scaffolding are almost exclusively joined using
soft lashing.

• This technique has the great advantage that

the joints can be re-tensioned to the right
degree without difficulty and also quickly
released again.
Bamboo Scaffolding
8 Foundations
• For use as foundation, the
bamboo poles are directly
driven into the however,
be pre-treated for
protection from rot and
fungi.
• This prolongs the life of
the foundation beyond
that of an untreated
bamboo pole.
• Bamboo in direct ground contact.

• For strength and stability, large diameter

and thick walled sections of bamboo with
closely spaced nodes should be used.
footings
• 1. Bamboo on rock or preformed concrete
footings :
• Where bamboo is being used for bearings,
it should be placed out of ground contact
on footings of either rock or concrete. 1. Bamboo - concrete
• 2. Bamboo incorporated in to
concrete footings : The poles are
directly fit into concrete
[Link] can be single post and
strip footing.

2 Strip Footing 2 Single Post footing

• 3 Composite bamboo/concrete
columns: a concrete extension
is given to a bamboo post using
a plastic /steel tube of the same
diameter.
3 Composite bamboo/concrete
columns
• 4. Bamboo piles: It is used to
stabilize soft soils and reduce
building settlement.

4 Bamboo Piles
ADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO:
The various advantages of bamboo are as follows:
1. It is Light, strong and versatile.
2. It is Environment friendly.
3. Easily Accessible to the poor.
4. Self renewing resource of nature.
5. Speedily growing
6. Highly productive.
7. Low Cost Material
DISADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO
The major disadvantages of bamboo are as follows:
• It requires preservation.
• Shaped by nature
• Durability- bamboo is subjected to attack by fungi, insects;
for this reason, untreated bamboo structures are viewed as
temporary with an expected life of not more than 5 years.
• Jointing- although many jointing techniques exist, their
structural efficiency is low.
• Lack of design guidance and codes.
• Prone to catch fire very fast by the friction among the culms
during wind, and is seen to cause forest fires.
DIFFICULTIES IN BAMBOO CONSTRUCTION
Bamboo has immense applications in the construction works
and can suitably be used as a low cost sustainable material
but it has to overcome certain drawbacks as insect infestation,
natural shape, jointing etc.
1. Insect Infesation
• Selection of the bamboo plays a vital role in decreasing the
chances of an insect infestation.
• Mature bamboo between 3 to 5 years is selected for
construction as it has very low sugar and starch content and
hence has the least chance for an infestation.
• The bamboo must be treated first.
2. Shape:
• Bamboo grows naturally and hence it is not possible that it
would be exactly straight.
• Also it would not have the same cross sectional area
throughout its length. Hence such limitations need to be
considered while building a bamboo house.
• Although bamboo can be forced to grow in a particular
shape if a mould of that shape is used during it growth, but
would require planning years ahead of actual construction.
• If a bamboo element has to be bent to a particular shape it
has to be inserted with a steel bar and some vapour holes
must be created. Now on applying heat we can bend the
bamboo and when cooled it would gain the bent shape.
3. Jointing:
• The traditional practice involves tying a rope around the joint
but such joints lack stiffness and has very low efficiency.
• With the advancement in bamboo construction techniques
lap joints and butt joints can also be seen in bamboo
structures.
• Even plywood or timber gusset plates fixed to the bamboo
with bolts may be used.
COMPARISON OF BAMBOO WITH WOOD
• Bamboo is very much like wood, but it's not wood. Technically
speaking, it's a tree-like grass that grows extremely fast,
making it among the fastest-growing plants in the world.
• Bamboo is relatively hard compared to most wood flooring choices
• Generally speaking, bamboo flooring is cheaper than
wood flooring
• Bamboo is easily accessible
COMPARISON OF BAMBOO AND STEEL
• The strength of bamboo is greater thansteel.
• Bamboo is easily accessible
• Bamboo lowers the cost of construction
• Bamboo can crack and deflect more than steel reinforcement.
APPLICATIONS
The following are some of the applications of bamboo and it
has an ability to offer much more when used in congruence
with latest science and technology
• Use in Bridge Construction

Hanging Bamboo Bridges on the Siang River | Along,

Arunchal Pradesh
• Bamboo Amenities
Bamboo Busstop Bamboo Benches
Use of Bamboo In Various Housing Components
• Bamboo has very good mechanical properties so it can be
used in buildings as a structural component like columns and
beams.
• It can also be used for roofing and flooring

Layered Bamboo Columns Beam Column Joint

 Roof- The Arc by Ibuku

Bamboo Truss Bamboo House

Video watch-
[Link]