bamboo

a building material

Sudhanva kolhatkar
Bamboo a plant of utilitarian value since ancient times

The first direct reference to bamboo in our literature

Rig-Veda (circa 3000 B.C.)

An eco friendly material
The fastest growth rate
Reputedly the fastest grower of the living
world, bamboo has clocked a record of 1.19
meters of vertical growth in 24 hours. It also
ranks second in energy conservation rate with
the mature ‘Timber’ yields within five years of
plantation
A general description of bamboo
Within the broad geometry of a noded
pipe (It used to be called ‘hollow timber’
by the 15th century Germans before they
‘imported’ the word bamboo from India)
bamboo stems possess shapes, sizes and
colours in enormous diversity.
Among the 125 bamboo species of India
there are some Himalayan ones which
equal a human finger in diameter and
measure up to the human height on full
growth
On the other hand, WORRA is a species
which at times measures 30 cm in
diameter and over 30 meters in height.
Colour: As a rule Bamboos start their life
green in colour, some light and some dark.
As they mature, they start turning yellow. A
gardener's favourite striated variety shows
off brilliant green vertical lines like a bar
code. There is a bamboo having dark
(almost black) green hue or another one
with panther spots on it known as tiger
bamboo.
Shape: Usually hollow cylindrical although
some are almost solid with a very small
hollow. Some display a serpentine curve or
there is another one –the Buddha Bamboo
with each internodes plumping out.
The Rhizome

The bamboo shoot that we see

growing above the ground is in
technical terms a branch while the
real trunk lies under ground, formed
by hundreds of ginger shaped
elements attached to each other.

The Sympodial trunk:

All tropical bamboo varieties have
this multiple ginger shaped trunk
arrangement. This bamboo grows in
the form of an expanding circle above
ground to maximize the exposure to
sun.

The Monopodial trunk:

In the frost prone temporal zones of
the Bamboo world like parts of China
and Japan, one comes across a type
of bamboo that has a trunk growing
horizontally below ground and looks
similar to the branches rising up. The
growth is in a straight line and is also
known as ‘Military Bamboo’ in
popular slang.
 Some common Indian Bamboos:

Name of Culm Length Dia. (cm) Internodes Habitat Properties Uses

Bamboo (m) (cm)
Bambusa 15-30 4-7 25-45 Large parts of Thin walls, Hard Woven products.
Arundinacea India. Kerala, swollen nodes, Structural timber
Karnataka, Great hollows (used as whole)
Maharashtra, lower gross
Orissa, Bengal, density and
Assam and increase
Manipur transportation
cost
Bambusa Balcoa 16-23 8-15 20-45 Nagaland, Thick walls, only Building timber,
Meghalaya, 1/3rd hollows, Scaffolding
Tripura, Assam, Vulnerable to material
Bengal, Bihar, borer attacks so
Utter Pradesh. one year curing
in water
immediately
after felling is a
must
Bambusa 2-4 1.5-3.5 20-40 North east, Very dense Furniture making,
Multiplex Assam Natural live fence

Bambusa Nutans 6-13 4-7 25-45 Tarais and Straight culms Craft work as
Gangetic Belt, with medium well as building
East of Yamuna, thick walls timber
Orissa

Bambusa Pallida 13-20 5-8 15-70 Above 700 to Soft nodes, Variety of uses
2000 mtr. Straight culms
altitude;
Mizoram,
Meghalaya,
Nagaland, Sikkim,
Tripura, Bhutan
 Some common Indian Bamboos:

Name of Culm Length Dia. (cm) Internodes Habitat Properties Uses

Bamboo (m) (cm)
Bambusa 16-26 8-15 40-60 Forest species: Outstanding Any general
Polimorpha Arunachal, Engineering application
Meghalaya, Tripura properties

Bambusa Tulda 7-23 5-10 40-70 Assam, Meghalaya, Vulnerable to Building timber,
Mizoram, Tripura, borer attacks so Scaffolding
Bihar and Bengal one year curing in material
water immediately
after felling is a
must
Bambusa Vulgaris 8-20 5-10 30-45 North eastern Prefers moisture Construction
states and nutrient soil. material,
Considered Scaffolding,
equivalent to the Fencing
most durable of
timbers
Dendrocalamus 19-33 13-20 30-40 Manipur , Large size makes it Construction
Brandisi Andaman, Coorg, favourite of house material,
Kerala builders Handicrafts
Dendrocalamus 24-30 20-30 35-90 Arunachal, Assam, Large size offers Housing timber,
Giganteus Manipur, various possibilities Masts of ships and
Nagaland, West many other uses
Bengal, Coorg

Gigantochloa 5-8 2-5 20-30 Assam, Meghalaya, General Purpose

Rostrata Mizoram, Tripura, Bamboo
Bihar, Madhya
Pradesh,
Maharashtra

Melocanna 10-20 3-7 20-50 North eastern Rod like Culm Weaving, fine
Baccifera states work, windows,
doors and grills
Pseudo- 9m 2.5- 4 15-30 North west General Purpose
Oxytenanthera Karnataka, Konkan Bamboo
Stocksii and Goa region
Anatomy Once out of the soil cover, Bamboo
shoot goes up as a speed unrivalled
in the organic world. During this
growth phase of 2-3 months it rises
30-60 cm over a day to reach its full
height, which may in some species
exceed 30m.

The culm attains its full growth within

a period of 1 to 3 months with all the
branches and leaves. As illustrated
(1,2,3,4), the culm tapers towards the
top to answer the stresses it has to
withstand swaying on high winds.
The wall also goes on thinning
towards the top to reduce the weight
and thereby the incidental bending
stresses the bottom internodes have
to negotiate. Nature compensates
this thinness of wall sections by
relatively extra strong fibers.

Sheath is an extremely hard, paper

thin membrane on the inner nodes
protecting the shoot when it moves
through the soil till it emerges into
the open. A sheath is used as an
important and reliable indicator of
the age of the culm.
Anatomy A node is an invariable feature,
characteristic of bamboo. At the
node, a diaphragm connects the
inside of the tube where the fibers
from the two internodes intertwine
into each other. The diaphragm
strengthens the pipe with an
appropriate counter structure in
order to take bending stresses
induced by the cantilever load of
branches. Some species have
prominent and swollen nodes while
in the case of a few favoured species,
they are barely visible.
The lowest quarter of the bamboo culm has the highest density of fibers which
get distributed in the branches. Whenever one wants a high strength
performance one goes for sections with high fiber density.

The skin: Unlike trees, bamboos do not have any bark but has a skin that protects
the culm from the elements, insects and animals. Fortified by silica, the skin has a
glass like gloss and waxy smoothness which protect the culm from those hazards.
However it takes years for the skin to harden and in the first year one can
conveniently mark the birth year of the culm by one’s finger nails.

All the fibers and veins in bamboo run straight except at

the nodes. This makes it very easy to work the bamboo
on one hand and on the other to push water or
treatment liquids through it.
Some Traditional Uses of Bamboo

Acupuncture Needles Windows

Airplanes Kites
Animal Pens Kanvar
Baskets Ladders
Bamboo Beer/ Wine Looms
Beer Mugs / Cups Manure
Blow guns Medicine
Bone setting Musical Instruments
Bridges Paper
Brushes Raclks
Bullock Carts Rayon
Buckets Retaining Walls for open wells
Candle stands River Bank Protectors
Chicken Coops Roofing tiles
Comb Room Dividers
Cooking Vessels Scare Crows
Crutches Scaffolding
Cutlery Screens
Dry Cells Silk worm rearing
Fans Toys
Fencing Gotam
Flute Crackers
Food Bow Catapult
Fishing Trays
Furniture Tube Wells
Garden Stakes Water Lifting
Grain Storage Water supply
Hats, caps Wind Chime
House Construction Winnowers
Walls Wind Mills
Doors
Traditional Houses in Bamboo

Typical Mizo house is stilted on bamboo

stilts. Walls, floors, roofing, doors
windows, Railings etc are all made in
bamboo.

Typical walls

Typical Mizo door

Traditional Houses in Bamboo

Typical ‘Assam House’ –a colonial

adaptation is a frame structure with
main beams and columns of timber
while infill panels in bamboo mat and
lime or mud plaster from both sides of
mats

Traditional Assamese house is much

different from so called Assam house
The plinth is about 25 to 30 cm above
the surroundings. Bamboo verticals are
stacked about 75 cm apart all along the
external wall to take the roof load.
Usually another row of bamboos is
added to form the verandah which is
the soul space of a tropical house. Thick
stripped bamboo mats are then
mounted on the vertical duly braced by
stiffeners on either side and bound by
ropes. The roof is usually made out of
‘Pre-fab’ panels. The panels are formed
of straw sandwiched between bamboo
slivers. These prefabricated panels are
then mounted over the bamboo rafters
and tied to them.
Traditional Houses in Bamboo
Gandhiji’s house at
Sevagram Ashram

Gandhiji understood the

importance of tradition
much beyond nostalgic
parochialism. He
encouraged the Seva
gram ashram to be built
with ingenious
innovations.

The window shutter

shown below also
doubles up as a sun
The lightness and high strength of bamboo culm shade
receive appreciation from local building tradition.
The door shown below is seen in Kolam houses all
around. It is an intelligent use of hollow core of
bamboo.
 Comparative Engineering Indices

Item Density Moisture % Moment of Modulus of Max. Crushing Reference

Resistance Elasticity strength
2 2 2
kg/cm kg/cm kg/cm
Bamboo Species
D. Strictus 0.719 10.7 1184 159490 645 Shekhar &
Gulati 1973

B. Bambos 0.651 15.5 674 65000 483 Gulati & Singh

1989

B. Nutans 0.716 16.0 545 85000 508

B. Tulda 0.82 10.0 1448 176000 - Hek 1956

Timber Species
Teak 0.604 12.0 959 119600 532
Saal 0.707 12.0 1318 162045 641

Mild steel 7.8 0 1650 2100000 4250

In case of a whole bamboo culm, owing to its tubular cross section, the actual mechanical
strength goes up ever more. After all it is a natural ‘pipe’ and one knows that a pipe is
stronger than a solid section of the same weight in any material.
 Comparative Energy Expenditure to carry the same field load

Material Density Energy required in Mega Field stress carried Energy Index
3 2
Kg/m Joules Kg/cm
MJ/Kg
1 2 1x2= 3 4 3/4 = 5

Concrete 2400 8.0 19200 80 24.00

Mild Steel 7800 30.0 234000 1600 146.25

Timber 600 1.0 600 15 40.00

Bamboo 600 0.5 300 120 2.50

Source: Dr. Jules Janssen’s paper ‘Mechanical Properties of Bamboos’ International Bamboo workshop,
1985, China.
The Table shows clearly the extremely low expenditure of energy in bamboo production to carry the
same field stress. These figures have been drawn from energy intensive bamboo farming practices of the
West and would become ridiculously low under Indian conditions

Comparison of some engineering materials: Strength to Weight Ratios & Stiffness factors
Material Density Compressive Strength Strength/ Weight Stiffness Factor
2
Kg/ltr Kg/cm Ratio
1 2 2/1=3

Bamboo 0.719 645 897 33

Teak Wood 0.604 532 880 18

Mild Steel 7.800 4250 544 27

 If the engineering properties of bamboo are as good as
Bamboo
that of mild steel then is it possible to use it as a
Reinforced reinforcement in reinforced cement concrete?
Concrete
For the last 50 years people have thought this possible as a
revolutionary invention. Especially during the second
world war when steel and cement were a black market
commodity, the idea of replacing mild steel with high
tensile strength bamboo took shape.

The idea almost hypnotized people.

But almost all the experiments failed under field

conditions.

The reasons for failure are simple scientific facts.

Bamboo and Concrete fail as a composite material
because:

• Unlike mild steel, Bamboo strips posses no natural

bond with concrete.
• This can be partially countered by keeping the node
pieces intact
• When bamboo strips stay submerged in green
concrete, it expands with high moisture absorption.
• When curing is over and the concrete dries out,
bamboo shrinks differentially breaking whatever bond
has formed.
• This causes cracks through which water enters under
external application and matters go simply out of
hand.
Preservation of Bamboo is an organic material containing starch.
It can decay and is vulnerable to various pest attacks
Bamboo
Common agents of destruction are:

•Fungi
•Borer Beetles
•Termites

The main reason for the decay or pest attack on bamboo is

the presence of starch in the culm.The removal of starch
(known as seasoning) can be done in various ways-
Kinks in the armour:
The skin of bamboo
does not allow free
Water seasoning: Submerging
access to insects or
microbes. The agents under flowing water for 3 months
of decay/ destruction immediately after felling.
enter through: Cross
sectional exposure and
the branching points. If
one can seal these
accesses after bringing
Heat Treatment: A preservation technique
about a gradual drop
of moisture to a safe using castor-seed oil before scorching to an
12%, there should not even brown on a wood fire.
be much to worry
about for whole culm
users.

Smoke Seasoning: Not very

common, smoke seasoning is done
by some tribes using special herbs
Preservation of Bamboo
Chemical Treatment: Most natural preservation methods offer some protection from
borers but only marginally against fungus and none against termites.

For construction purpose where intimate contact with earth is unavoidable, chemical
treatment is a must. Location of use, green colour (or otherwise) of the stems and
ultimate application are important determinants of particular process choice.
Chemical Treatment is done either by smearing or by penetration

Smearing is done best on dry bamboos. The materials used for smearing are:
•Lime
•Tar (Molten / Dissolved)
•Creosote
•Acid chrome copper / copper chrome Boron, 2.4% solution.

Penetration is done in different ways. Bamboo veins are straight. Liquid at a pressure
moves along the stem at an unbelievable speed, reaching each tissue. There are three
methods to achieve penetration:
Steeping : The stems with branches and foliage intact are made to stand vertically up
in a drum in a sun lit location. The chemical solution in the drum is absorbed by the
tree in the process of photosynthesis.
Dipping : If freshly cut bamboos are immersed in the solution in a tub for sufficient
time, similar penetration can be affected.

Boucherie : The preservative solution

takes the gravity path instead of
depending entirely upon the rather
weak bio-pumps. In freshly felled
bamboos, the distribution gets achieved
in two hours flat.
Some typical joinery details of bamboo:

Joints using nut and

bolt fasteners

Ladder Joinery

Do not nail bamboo, instead use drill

for drilling a hole

Joints using nut and

bolt fasteners
Some typical joinery details of bamboo:

Using wood joint Bamboo to bamboo Using M.S. pipes

Bamboo to bamboo Bamboo dowels Bicycle rivetting

FRP Bandage FRP Bandage

Some traditional joinery details of
bamboo:
SOME TYPICAL ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATIONS
National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
NMBA has designed classroom structures for NIFT
National Institute of Fashion Technology has opened a centre at Kangra,
Himachal Pradesh. In this regard NMBA has erected classroom structures at
their centre at Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, by using engineered bamboo
products in their premises.

On the basis of their requirement NMBA has designed twelve class room
structures of size 32’x26’ incl 6’ verandah having bamboo composite
framework & engineered bamboo based false ceiling & wall panels. These
structures have been well appreciated by NIFT authorities and are already in
regular use.

SOUTH CAMPUS (DELHI UNIVERSITY)

NMBA has designed a canteen structure for Delhi University.

Delhi University is in process of massive expansion of infrastructure like

classrooms, hostels, cafeteria and other facilities. In this regard on
demonstration basis NMBA has erected a canteen structure at South
Campus by using engineered bamboo products in their premises for the
showcase. On the basis of their requirement NMBA has designed a canteen
structure of size 32’x84’ having steel framework, Bamboo jute composite
roofing sheets & engineered bamboo based false ceiling & double wall
panels.

This structure has been well appreciated by Delhi University authorities and
become a attraction for the outside personal visiting the place. Delhi
University Now decided to maintain the surrounding area of canteen by using
the bamboo and bamboo based material. They want to have incorporated
Bamboo flooring tiles for canteen flooring with bamboo fUrniture, which is
under progress.
STRUCTURES FOR 96TH INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS, SHILLONG

96th Indian Science Congress had been held from 3rd Jan. to 7th Jan. 2009
at North Eastern Hills University, Shillong, Meghalaya for which 50 nos. of
one room set (22'x12'), 50 nos. of two room set (32'x24') & 10 nos. of
dormitories (60'x20') had been constructed in cluster by using Engineered
bamboo based materials for the accommodation of 550 delegates for the
conference. These structures will be utilized for the accommodation for the
future upcoming conferences/seminars and faculty.
SOME TYPICAL ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATIONS
BAMBOO BASED POLYHOUSE (Sikkim)
Use of polyhouses to ensure controlled environmental condition for growing
flowers and vegetables, is on the rise during last few years. Using bamboo as
structural material in polyhouses is new application segment, which we are
trying to be modeled on our experience, gained by using whole bamboo in
various buildings erected throughout the country. The use of whole bamboo
with necessary emphasis on treatment, jointing and aesthetics were to be
highlighted. This segment has potential for value added applications of
bamboo by utilizing its inherent structural strength as well as by ensuring cost
competitiveness vis-à-vis steel based polyhouses.
An innovative design using natural material like Bamboos slashes the setup
costs of green house by half. As a renewable resource like Bamboo is used
instead of steel, the polyhouses so built help mitigate global climate change.
The use of Bamboo also provides income to the rural economy.
NMBA has collaborated with M/s Thousand Petals for the construction of
bamboo based polyhouses at many places. 2000 sq mt size polyhouse has
been constructed at G.B.Pant University, Pantnagar. Various sizes of Bamboo
based polyhouses has also been constructed for demonstration in Sikkim and
West Bengal.

BOAT HOUSE RESORT (KUDAL, Maharshtra)

An innovative use of bamboo and their by product has been shown for the
construction of Boat house at Kudal, district Sindhudurg in Maharashtra. In the
structure vide variety of structural application of bamboo (whole, split and
engineered bamboo products) can be seen having architectural innovative
ideas. The structure has been built by KONBAC

TYPICAL INTERIOR
APPLICATIONS

BAMBOO BLINDS
BAMBOO FLOORING
BAMBOO BOARDS
Agencies
Mr. Rahul Saksena
Chief Executive BASERA
Add: Basera, Kerwa Dam Road
Bhopal,
Tel: 0755-5234731
Fax: 0755-2696832
Email:rahulsaksena@hotmail.co
m
Mr. S Kumar, President
Mr. Madan, Vice President
Mobile: 9418089248
Mr. K Dutt, Secretay
Dhauladhar Public Education
Society
Add: Yol Cantt, Dharamshala
Distt-Kangra, H.P.
Tel: 01892-236600, 236273
Email: ajit@123himachal.com
dpes04@rediffmail.com
Mr. R.N. Mahapatra
Rural Women’s Building Center
Add: Gruhanirman Bhawan,
Gandhi Vihar, Po-Arikama
Dist.-Khurda, Orissa
Pin: 752064
Mobile: 09437012290
Tel: 0674-2332290
Email:
mkgsamity@mkgsamity.org
Mr. Suneel Deshpande
Secretary
Sampoorna Bamboo Kendra
Add: Lavada, District Dharani
Maharastra
Tel: 091-7226-24662/ 24522
Fax: 091-7226-24391
National Mission On Bamboo Applications
Vishwakarma Bhawan
Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg
New Delhi - 110016
Tel: +91-11- 26566778
Fax: +91-11- 26962267
e-mail: bamboo@bambootech.org
INBAR/CIBART
Centre for Indian Bamboo
Resource and Technology
Add: 200, Jor Bagh
New Delhi 110003
Tel: 24604404/34
Fax: 24648303
E-mail: indira@inbar.int
Mr. Subhendu Mitra
General Secretary
Forum of Scientists,
Engineers & Technologists
Add: 15N, Nelli
Sengupta Sarani,
New CMC Building (5th Floor)
Kolkata-700087
Tel: 033-22529675
Fax: 033-22520521
Email: foset@redifmail.com
Mr. Vinai Sharma
Coordinator (Projects)
Vasundhra Rural Building
Centre
Add: 319, Teachers’ Colony,
Faridpur (Bareilly)-243503 U.P.
Site Add: 286 KM, Mile Stone,
NH-24 Faridpur (Bareilly) U.P.
Tel: 05821-224306,
011-26941626
Ms. Niharika Singh
Vice president
Raghvendra Rural
Development
and Research Organization
Add: 17 Kaiserbagh
Lucknow-226001, (U.P.)
Tel: 011-26592770
I.S.Codes for structural use of bamboo
Code of Practice for preservation of
1. IS 1902:1993 bamboo and cane for non-structural
purposes
2. IS 6874:1973 Methods of test for round bamboos
3. IS7344:1974 Specification for bamboo tent bamboos
4. IS 8242:1976 Methods of tests for split bamboos
IS 8295 (Part Specification for bamboo
5.
1): 1976 chicks: Part 1 Fine
IS 8295 (Part Specification for bamboo chicks:
6.
2): 1976 Part 2 Coarse
Code of practice for preservation of
7. IS 9096: 1979
bamboo for structural purposes.
Specification for bamboo supports for
8. IS 10145:1982
camouflaging Equipment.
Specification for bamboo mat board
9. IS 13958: 1994
for general purposes
Specification for bamboo mat veneer
10. IS 14588: 1999
composites for general purposes
11. IS-15476: 2004 Bamboo mat corrugated sheets
Durability including water absorption,
12. IS 5913: impermeability, load bearing capacity,
density, frost cracking etc.
13. IS 4908: 1968 Random sampling.
IS 459: 1992/
14. Standard for accelerated aging.
ASTM-D1037
Lamp UV-B Cycle: 4 hours exposure
UV Resistance
15. at 60°C followed by 4 hrs humidity
test
exposure at 50°C.
16. IS 4990: 1993 Ply wood for concrete shuttering.
ISO 22156:
17. Bamboo structural design
2004
ISO 22157:
18. Bamboo physical and mech properties.
2004
1. Activated carbon specification
(granular).
IS 2752: 1995
2. Activated carbon specification
19. IS 8366: 1989
(Powder)
IS 877: 1989
3. Sampling and test of activated
carbon.
Present pricing of bamboo flooring

The price of a bamboo unfinished floor will often appear to be very cheap on
the face of things, and typically such floors may start at prices around the Rs.
75.0 s/f level. One thing to bear in mind with this type is the fact that the cost
of finishing the floor and the extra labor involved is likely to add a hefty sum to
the final total, regardless of whether or not you carry out the install yourself.
This is due to the cost of the additional materials needed, and possibly tools, to
sand, stain and coat the flooring.

Next on the price scale will be standard finished bamboo flooring. This is a very
broad range with a lot of choices and prices that vary from around Rs.100 to Rs.
300 per s/f. The main factors that will influence the price you pay are the
quality of the finishing, the length of the warranty and whether the floor is a
snap lock one or a straight edged plank floor.

The Affect that the Coating has on the Price… Some coatings, such as Klumpp,
are certified to be low in formaldehyde but they do cost more to produce. It is
important that you don't simply choose a bamboo floor because it has the
lowest price especially if the coating on it is likely to adversely affect your
health in the long term.

Bamboo flooring planks that have been manufactured with click lock or snap
lock joints may well be priced higher than those without. The amount of work
you are prepared to put into the installation will be the deciding factor in this
regard. Clearly snap lock floors are much faster to lay and may well be worth
paying a slightly higher price for.
Conclusions
Bamboo is one of the world’s best engineering materials

Bamboo is one of the world’s most eco-friendly construction

materials.

Bamboo is the world’s fastest grower

Bamboo is the world’s second best photo converter and at a much

less water cost than the first

Bamboo plantation enriches the soil, arrests soil erosion and

tames flash floods

Bamboo offers stakes to trees, fodder to animals and food to

humans

Bamboo is recurringly harvestable with first mature stems in 5-6

years of plantation

Credits: Venu Bharati by Vinoo Kaley