Humanitarian Bamboo Project

Report on work in Indonesia by Sarbjit Singh, Director RedR India, 3rd July, 2008

Background: The Humanitarian Bamboo project’s aim is to draw together the knowledge from
Bamboo experts and humanitarian response specialists, to produce best practice guidelines and
technical briefs on how to use bamboo effectively in post disaster humanitarian response. A one
day (26th June’08, Jogja) consultative forum on the use of bamboo in humanitarian response got
desired response from bamboo experts and Humanitarians. Bamboo project funded by Oxfam in
Indonesia offered an opportunity for RedR India and me to be part of this forum and as a follow-
up I did a small study around Jogja and Bali. Some of the important actors consulted included;
Sahabat Bamboo (a supplier of treated Bamboo), Bamboo foundation in Bali and Hardy
foundation based at Bali. Some of the key learning on construction using bamboo as a structural
material were:

Fastening System:
Bolts and dowels joints are the most preferred fastening system with the bamboo experts of
Indonesia. They are almost divided into camps based on the fastening system they use.
The traditional joining system based on dowels is being practiced by some of the frontline
Bamboo experts (designers and builders) in Indonesia. It is one of their preferred jointing system.
In joints where dowel joint is subjected to tension, the joints are reinforced with rope lashing.
Rope lashing along with dowel is a very potent joint for most of the structurally critical joints.

Mild steel bolts replace dowels where the joint is subject to excessive tensile forces. In practice,
most bolted Bamboo joints have concrete infill to reduce chances of crushing of Bamboo due to
over tightening of nuts.

Use of glues is an area that still needs more information. Hardy foundation in Bali has been using
glue along with dowels.

Jointing of structural members:

Over lap was found to be most preferred joinery detail for engineered bamboo structures, eg.
University of Gajamada built training centre in a village and many other examples in Bamboo
foundation at Bali. Overlap joints normally use M.S. nut bolts or dowels as fasteners.

Use of butt joint with variety of fasteners like rope, strips of tyres, diagonal dowels etc. are also
deployed but with less confidence compared to lap joints.

Jointing of wall panels, windows is an area seems to be getting less attention even when expert
organizations construct buildings using Bamboo, though use of thin/fine dowels by Hardy
foundation for securing glass panels in the pivoted windows was exceptional display of skill.

Industrial bamboo products: Building materials engineered out of Bamboo have emerged in
certain parts of the market though still not widely available. They invariably offer improved
workability and structural performance. This trend is expected to grow and can be an important
source of building materials for humanitarian response. It would be useful to do country wise
mapping of products, manufacturers/suppliers/research institutions. Humanitarian organisation
can work with these suppliers and may have long term agreement with some of these
manufacturers, particularly in highly disaster prone regions like Indonesia.
Many of these products have improved properties and are capable of replacing materials that
have high carbon foot print.

Design: Bamboo can be used as whole round section or shredded down to last fiber, this
versatility is being used by bamboo practitioner to create varied forms that for various reasons
appeal to the elite class. Experiments in Indonesia by Bamboo experts suggest that bamboo as a
material offers continuous design opportunities and lends itself to varied form. It could be an
opportunity in the hands of a sensitive humanitarian shelter person who has capacity to design
the shelter and settlement option along with the affected men, women and children or it might
become a problem area if the designer makes exhibition of his/her creativity the number one
preference. The opportunity essentially needs to be utilized for timely delivery of humanitarian
responsibility while maintaining a realistic responsibility on environmental issues.

Traditional architecture uses bamboo mixed with other building materials without any dogma
while experts try to maintain a puritan stance- Bamboo means only Bamboo. Such decisions in
post disaster situation can stretch the supply capacity of the region leading to concerns of
environmental degradation. In the Humanitarian Bamboo manual it would be useful to give
adequate guidance on use of other material along with bamboo. At times use of other material
enhances the performance of bamboo structures.

Tools: Tool for working bamboo need more investigation.

Treatment: Knowledge and information about treatment is being shared with a lot of caution by
Indonesian bamboo experts. Part of the reason is that most of them have a share in the market of
treated bamboo. On other hand the common place knowledge of borax being the best treatment
chemical was reinforced by experts like Mr. Arif of Bamboo foundation who has a unique
expertise in bamboo as well as applied chemistry. Borax being one of the smallest molecules acts
very fast. One or two day treatment too could be enough to achieve desired lifespan for the
transitional shelter made with bamboo is an hypothesis which needs to be checked with other
experts.

Soaking of bamboo in a horizontal tank filled with 10% borax and boric acid solution is a very
workable and effective solution. 10% solution means 1 part chemicals (borax and boric acid
mixed in 7:5 ratios) and 10 parts of water by volume. Availability of borax and boric acid can be
challenging in certain counties as is in Indonesia.

Well treated bamboo can have a life expectancy up to 30to 40 years.

Harvesting: Experts in Indonesia believe that 3 to 4 year old bamboo is best for structural use.
Hence any younger bamboo culms need to be protected though advocacy with various actors.
Harvesting in dry season and at dawn or dusk during the day is recommended. Some of the
Bamboo practitioners were seen to have liking for bamboo calm cut very close to the roots, which
is not very popular with environmentalists. Guidance notes should clearly state the best practice.

Link between species and use: Essential message was that species selection has to be as per
performance needs. E.g. There is no point in using black bamboo ( a very strong Indonesian
Variety used for making furniture) for making temporary shelter.

Maintenance: Like any other material, bamboo structures have their maintenance needs. It may
range from refastening to replacement of defective elements. Some documentation of traditional
practices of maintenance would be useful.