BAMBOO IN

CONSTRUCTION
BAMBOO
FACTS:
India has largest area under bamboo in the world, estimated about 11.36 million hectares. Recently
China has beat out India in terms of overall bamboo production and ranks number 1.
1500 species all around the world
India has 136 species across 22 genera
India taps only one tenth of its bamboo resources
4/5th of total bamboo growing stock in India comprises of
oDendrocalamus strictus
oBambusa arundanacea
oMelocanna baccifera

AN ANCIENT SOLUTION TO MODERN PROBLEMS:

o Renewable resource
oAbsorbs greenhouse gases
oAmazing growth rate
oVery little waste
oVersatility
oSoil protection
oEconomic development
oBamboo grows in a variety of conditions
oBamboo minimizes CO2 gases and generates up to 35% more oxygen than equivalent stand of
trees.
BAMBOO AS PLANT CLASSIFICATION
KINGDOM : Plantae
DIVISION : Magnoliophyta
CLASS : Liliopsida
SUBCLASS : Commelinidae
ORDER : Cyperales
FAMILY : Poaceae
SUBFAMILY : Bambusoideae
TRIBE : Bambuseae
SUBTRIBE : Bambusinae
BAMBOO TERMINOLOGIES
Bamboo is technically a form of grass, growing in clumps or forests of large tubular sections known
as culms. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth; it has been measured surging
skyward as fast as 100 cm (39 in) in a 24-hour period, and can also reach maximal growth rate
exceeding one meter (39 inches) per hour for short periods of time.
Bamboo can be broadly divided into two groups: running and
clumping. Clumping species sprout their new shoots close to the
base of existing culms whilst running varieties may send out
shoots as far as 30m from an existing culm, potentially as far as the
culms are tall. Most tropical species such as those found in
Indonesia are of the clumping variety, whilst running varieties are
largely confined to colder northern regions such as China.

BAMBOO TERMINOLOGY CLUMPING SPECIES/ RUNNING SPECIES/

SYMPODIAL MONOPODIAL
IDENTIFICATION OF BAMBOO SPECIES
Identification of bamboo
species are dependent
on various factors like
RHIZOMES
CULMS
Spacing of culms
Size of culms
Occurrence of
nodes, etc
CULM SHEATHS
Color
Texture, etc
BRANCHES
Number and
alignment
Posture, etc
LEAVES
Size and shape
Vein structure, etc RHIZOMES CULMS
FLOWERING partially
IDENTIFICATION OF BAMBOO SPECIES

BRANCHES FLOWERING CULM SHEATH

BAMBOO SPECIES
Some of the most common species in INDIAN STATES that have bamboo species:
India: GUJARAT: Bambusa arundinacea (Katas or Thorny
Bambusa balcooa bamboo) and Dendrocalamus strictus (Manvel or
Bambusa bambos Solid bamboo).
Bambusa nutans ANDHRA PRADESH: Dendrocalamus strictus,
Bambusa pallida Bambusa bambos and Dendrocalamus hamiltonii.
Bambusa polymorpha KERALA: 22 different species
Bambusa tulda UTTARANCHAL: Drepanostachyum falcatum,
Bambusa vulgaris Himalayacalamus falconeri, Thamnocalamus
Dendrocalamus brandisii spathiflorus, Thamnocalamus jaunsarensis
Dendrocalamus giganteus ORISSA: 12 different species
Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Other states like karnataka, maharashtra, etc also
Dendrocalamus strictus have bamboo species.
Oxytenanthera stocksii
Melocanna bambusoides WORLD WIDE:
Ochlandra travancorica Columbia, Asia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Europe, Africa,
Schizostachyum dullooa etc are some of the countries which have been
Thyrostachys oliveri blessed with bamboo naturally.

These bamboo have a diameter that varies

between 1 to 5 in general.
BAMBOO CULTIVATION - METHODS
Seed
Horizontal cuttings
Clump separation
Bamboo rhizome propagation

Bamboo may be grown either directly

from seed, through cuttings, or by
divisions of clumps. Smaller plant
varieties are easily handled and therefore COMMON METHODS OF BAMBOO PROPAGATION:
commonly cultivated through clump CLUMP SEPARATION AND CUTTINGS
separation, whilst larger varieties are
generally propagated through cuttings.

A common commercial method of

propagating woody bamboo species
involves horizontally burying cuttings
that are 34 nodes in length around six
inches below ground prior to onset of the
rainy season. Holes are cut midway
between nodes, with each segment then BAMBOO SECTIONS FILLED WITH WATER THEN
filled with water prior to burial. New BURIED FOR SPROUTING
shoots then form from the nodal joints.
BAMBOO CULTIVATION - METHODS
SEED HARVESTING PROCESS

RHIZOME PROPAGATION
TREATMENT OF BAMBOO NATURAL METHODS
AIR CURING NATURAL SMOKING
Bamboo can be aircured by leaving the TREATMENT:
branches and leaves on for two to three Smoke from burning timber
days after cutting. This allows the bamboo or bamboo contains a range
to consume the remaining sugars and of preservative and
starches within the culm reducing its protective chemicals that
attractiveness to pests. Branches should be can make bamboo
kept free of ground contact throughout significantly less attractive
this period. to a range of pests.
Additionally, the heating
WATER LEACHING process kills off existing
Curing bamboo through leaching the sap pest infiltrations.
from within the culm removes the sugars
and starches that attract most pests. This
relatively simple process is undertaken as
quickly after harvesting as possible
because cells within the culm begin to
close after 23 days. Commonly bamboo is
immersed in flowing water for 412 weeks
(depending on the species), with stone
weights applied to keep the bamboo fully WATER LEACHING NATURAL SMOKING
immersed.
TREATMENT OF BAMBOO CHEMICAL METHODS
COAL TAR CREOSOTE OIL:
Creosote oil is poisonous and health hazard.
The preservative was injected in each inter
node of bamboo. Oil dispenser (an injecting
pot) could be used to inject the oil into the
poles.
1000litres) is filled with water and then 36kg of
borax and 24kg of boric acid is mixed into the
water tank. Bamboo poles/strips are immersed
within and a stone ledge is placed over it to ensure
complete immersion.

HOLES DRILLED

THE PICTURE SHOWS

DRILLING & INJECTION OF PRESERVATIVES
THE STONE LEDGE
BORIC AND BORAX METHOD: PLACED OVER THE
Initially holes are drilled into the bamboo BAMBOO POLES TO SMALL PIECES
poles to allow the chemical to percolate ENSURE COMPLETE IMMERSED
within. The treatment tank(capacity IMMERSION
BAMBOO TREATMENT AND PROPERTIES
SMOKING:
Smoking is carried out in chambers. This produces
toxic agents and heat which destroy starch in
bamboo thus making them immune to insect
attack and also blackens .CCB is a broad spectrum
chemical bamboo preservative and less effective
with a lower degree of fixation, because of the
boron component.
PROPERTIES:
Tensile strength:
The fibers of the bamboo run axial. In
the outer zone are highly elastic
vascular bundle, that have a high
tensile strength. The tensile strength of
these fibers is higher than that of steel.
Elasticity:
The enormous elasticity of bamboo
makes it to a very good building
material for earth-quake endangered
areas.
Another advantage of bamboo is its
low weight. It can be transported and
worked easily.
Bamboo has a better tensile strength
when compared to compression.
PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO

STRUCTURAL TESTING CROSS SECTION OF A BAMBOO WALL

Properties of Bamboo:
Twice the compressive strength of concrete
Bamboo is stronger than steel by strength to weight ratio.
Its hollow tube shape gives a strength factor of 1.9 over the
equivalent solid
Bamboo is stronger on its outer wall when compared to its
inner wall. As can be seen from the arrangement of cellulose
fibers that varies from the outer wall to inner wall.
TOOLS

KNIFE KNIFE SMOOTHER

FILE BAMBOO HOLDER MACHINE CUTTER MACHINE SPLITTER

TOOLS - VIDEO
1. CLEANING SCALES OF BAMBOO
2. MANUAL SPLITTING OF BAMBOO
3. CIRCULAR OPENINGS
4. MACHNINE SPLITTER AND KNOT REMOVAL
BAMBOO COMPOSITE BOARD -PROCESS INVOLVED
PRIMARY PROCESSING
SPLITTING OF BAMBOO
KNOT REMOVAL
SILVER MAKING
MAT WEAVING AND STORAGE
TREATMENT
BAMBOO MAT BOARD
SILVER MAKING MAT WEAVING
RESIN APPLICATION
SQUEEZED AND DRIED
PRESSING
TRIMMING
BAMBOO MAT VENEER COMPOSITE
Extensive research using Bamboo Mat in combination
with plantation wood for sheet material has resulted in
development of Bamboo mat Veneer composites. RESIN APPLICATION CHAMBER DRYING

SPLITTING KNOT REMOVAL PRESSING TRIMMING

BAMBOO COMPOSITE BOARD - VIDEO
1. MACHINE DRYING
2. PLACING BOP FILM SHEETS
BAMBOO COMPOSITE BOARD - APPLICATIONS
BAMBOO JOINERIES NUT & BOLT AND RESIN JOINT

LINEAR JOINT SYSTEM WOODEN PLUG INSERTED AND THEN BOLTED

CROSS JOINT HALF CUTS AND BOLTED

RESIN JOINT OVER EXPOSED

LINEAR JOINTS FOR BETTER
TYING WITH STEEL WIRES FISH MOUTH JOINTS - BOLTED
STRENGTH
BAMBOO JOINERIES ACCROS THE WORLD

FERRO CEMENT JOINT CHICKEN BALL JOINT SCREWED AT ONE

MESH & BOLTED JUNCTION ROPE JOINT

PEGGING BAMBOO PEGS BAMBOO BOARDS USED AT

USED INSTEAD OF BOLTS JOINTS TO AVOID BUCKLING
TWO STORIED BAMBOO STRUCTURE GUEST HOUSE

PLINTH : BRICK WORK WITH PITS

FOR BAMBOO TO REST WITHIN

BAMBOO WALL FRAME IS INSERTED INTO THE BRICK PITS AND

LEVELLED . THE LOWER END OF THE POLES ARE COATED WITH
RESIN AS A METHOD OF WATERPROOFING AGAINST THE
CONCRETE WORK.
BRICK PITS ARE CEMENTED
GUEST HOUSE - BEAMS

BAMBOO BEAMS ARE ALIGNED

BAMBOO BEAMS ARE PLACED 2 CENTRE TO CENTRE AND

ARE 9 IN DEPTH. THE BEAMS REST OVER THE WALL FRAME.

BRICK WORK TO HOLD BEAMS IN PLACE

GUEST HOUSE FLOOR SLAB

CHICKEN MESH AS MILD REINFORCEMENT

HALF CUT BAMBOO ARE PLACED OVER THE BEAMS PCC LAID OVER HALF CUT BAMBOO
GUEST HOUSE WALL PLASTERING

BAMBOO STRIPS ARE WOVEN BETWEEN

THE POLES AND IS THEN PLASTERED
WITH ADOBE AND A FINAL COAT OF
COW DUNG IS APPLIED OVER
GUEST HOUSE FIRST FLOOR AND ROOFING

BAMBOO POLES
EXTEND TO THE FIRST
FLOOR FROM THE
WALL FRAME AND ACT
AS COLUMNS.

HALF SPLIT BAMBOOS

ARE LAID OVER
TRUSSES TO HOLD THE
COUNTRY TILES.
GUEST HOUSE STAIRACSE AND INNER VIEWS
COLUMN MAKING PROCESS

MARKING WOODEN PEG INSERTED DRILLING AND BOLTING T - SECTION

APPLICATION OF RESIN FINAL COAT

COVERING GAPS PLASTIC FIBRE

CAHEW NUT OIL COAT DRYING MEMBERS

BAMBOO ECO SANITATION
WHAT IS ECO SANITATION?
The ECOSAN Toilet is a waterless
system that provides a safe, non-
polluting and cost effective
solution to the worldwide
sanitation problem.
It has two chambers for
Feces and
urine
The system does not utilize any
water for flushing feces but
decomposes it to useful
manure/fertilizer for the fields or
gardens with the aid of charcoal.
Charcoal absorbs all the moisture
content and hence avoids all the
bad odor and stops it from
decaying further. The collected
urine gets mixed with water in
1:10 ratio and also serves as a
liquid fertilizer.
BAMBOO ECO SANITATION
BAMBOO WORKSHOP
BAMBOO FENCING, ARCHWAY & PERGOLA
HANDMADE SCHOOL @ BANGLADESH BY ANNA HERINGER
BAMBOO BAR @ VIETNAM
BAMBOO INTERIORS
ROOFING MATERIALS
THATCH REED THATCH
Thatching is the craft of
building a roof with dry
vegetation such as straw, water
reed, sedge , rushes,
or heather, layering the
vegetation so as to shed water
away from the inner roof. It is a
very old roofing method and
has been used in both tropical
and temperate climates.

Different types of thatches are

used namely:
Properties :
1. Reed thatch
1. Excellent thermal efficiency,
2. Palm thatch
2. rot and mildew resistance,
3. Elephant grass thatch
3. wind resistance,
4. Brushwood thatch
4. this thatch is virtually maintenance free.
5. The life expectancy averages 10 years.
Each panel is 31" long by 17" in height, the end
bonding ends are 1" to 1.25" thick.
PALM THATCH ELEPHANT GRASS THATCH

Palm
grass thatch
is made
of traditional The traditional elephant grass is
palm with longer and heavier than the regular
hand bound palm thatch, its leaves are wider,
grass stem thicker and longer. It have been used
doubled for generations in tropical regions for
over a nylon webbing. Easy installation, roof thatching,. It is abundant in the
no experience required. Minimum tropical region and will regrow to
recommended pitch is 30 degrees, maturity in one year.
longevity will increase as the pitch
increases.
BRUSHWOOD THATCH

Our brushwood or tharf pine thatch is made of traditional brushwood. Easy installation,
no experience required. Minimum recommended pitch is 30 degrees, longevity will
increase as the pitch increases. The new brushwood thatch in roll will have a slight
shade of green, and will eventually turn to all silver grey after exposed in outdoor use.

SHOW VIDEO OF THATCHING PROCESS

GREEN SCHOOL @ BALI BY P.T.BAMBU
GROUP EXERCISE :
Each group has to design a fancy bamboo
structure that has a wall component, roof
component and a floor component.

Time : 7 mins

Ex: A kiosk / pavilion / tree house

An overall view
Detail out wall , roof and floor
Courtesy:
Habitat for Humanity , Nepal
Wondergrass pvt ltd
World wide web

Prepared by
M.Gangotri
Architect