WHY BAMBOO?

ENTERPRENEURSHIP Ar. S K Negi

Chief Scientist & Head
Development Construction & Extension
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE

LIVELIHOOD SECURITY

ENERGY EFFICIENT

SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY

ECOLOGICAL SECURITY

NATURAL GROWING
 BAMBOO AS A BUILDING MATERIAL (at present)
• 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 easily bend giving 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.
• Locally available material to some areas, •Scaffolding •Walling
which tries to carry the local tradition & •Reinforcement •Doors & Windows
vernacular architecture. •Roofing
BAMBOO RESOURCES IN INDIA

Source : national bamboo mission

➢ India is home to almost 45 % of world's bamboo forests

➢ 4.5 M tons annually produced from 8.96 m ha.
PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION AREA UNDER BAMBOO
PLANTATION

Source : FSI (Forest Survey of India). 2011. India state of forest report. Dehradun, Forest Survey of India. 286p
 STATUS OF BAMBOO RESOURCES IN NORTH-EASTERN
REGION
State Bamboo Growing Area Bamboo Stock
(Sq.Km.) (Million tons)
Mizoram 9210 10.89
Assam 8213 13.41
Arunachal Pradesh 4590 9.84
Manipur 3692 11.47
Meghalaya 3102 4.41
Tripura 939 0.86
Nagaland 758 3.66
Total 30504 54.53
Source : FSI (Forest Survey of India). 2010. Manual for national forest inventory of India. 2010. Dehradun, Forest Survey of India. 167p
 SEGREGATION OF BAMBOO
Structural Group A and Group B Species

Special Grade: 70mm < diameter < 100m

Grade I 50mm < diameter < 70m
Grade II 30mm < diameter < 50m
Grade III Diameter < 30m

Structural Group C
Special grade I 80mm < diameter < 100m
II 60mm < diameter < 80m
III Diameter < 60m

Taper : shall not be > 5.8 mm/m may be length in any grade.
Curvature : max. curvature shall not be >75mm in length of 6m of any grades.
Wall thickness: Minimum wall thickness ofc 8mm for load bearing members.
Defects: Dead and immature bamboo, bore/GHOON, holes, decay, collapse, checks
more then 3 mm in depth shall be avoided.
Source : FSI (Forest Survey of India). 2011. India state of forest report. Dehradun, Forest Survey of India. 286p
 SPECIES OF BAMBOO FOR CONSTRUCTION

Source: CED 13(7702) Structural Design using Bamboo - Code of Practice

 INDIAN SPECIFICATIONS FOR BAMBOO & BAMBOO PRODUCTS

• IS 14588:1999 Specification for Bamboo Mat Veneer Composite for General Purposes

• IS 13958: 1994 Specification for Bamboo Mat Board for General Purposes

• IS 1902: 1993 Code of Practice for Preservation of bamboo & Cane for non-structural

• IS 10145 : 1982 Specification for Bamboo Supports for Camouflaging Equipment

• IS 9096 : 1979 Code of Practice for Preservation of Bamboo and Cane for structural

• IS 8242 :1976 Method of Tests for Split Bamboo

• IS 8295 :1976 Specification for Bamboo Chicks ; Part 1 Fine, Part 2 Coarse

• IS 7344 : 1974 Specification for Bamboo Tent Pole

• IS 6874 : 1973 Method of Tests for Round Bamboo

• IS 15476 : 2004 Specification for Bamboo Mat Corrugated Sheets

 COMPARISON- ENERGY REQUIREMENT
A comparison of the energy requirement for production of various building
materials confirms that bamboo is a material with the lowest embedded, grey and
induced energy requirement.

Materials Energy for Weight per Energy for

Production Volume Production
MJ/Kg Kg/m3 Kg/m3

Concrete 8 2400 1920

Steel 30 7800 234000
Wood 1 600 600
Bamboo .5 600 300

Source : T. Gutu “A Study on the Mechanical Strength Properties of Bamboo to Enhance Its Diversification on Its Utilization” International Journal
of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering(IJITEE) Volume 2, Issue 5, April 2013 ISSN: 2278-3075
 COMPARISON-SUSTAINIBILITY
A 1000 sq ft Bamboo House is executed with a two-bedroom house with simple plan
with bamboo columns. .A Comparison of the energy requirement [Embodied energy]
of this building with a building with the same plan but built with conventional
materials is done.
Materials Energy For Bamboo House Conventional House
production
[joule] Qty. of Total Qty. of Total
Material energy Materials [joule]
requirement
Concrete 1920 30 70080 175 864000
Steel 234000 .6 140400 3 702000
Wood 600 2 1200 2 1200
Bamboo 300 30 9000 0 000
Total 220680 1567200

The bamboo house needed 7.1.times less energy than a conventional house
and hence is as many times more sustainable.
Source :Jigar K. Sivalia, Nirav Siddhpura, Chetan Agrawal, Deep Shah, Jai Kapadia , “Study on Bamboo as Reinforcement in Cement Concrete”,
International Journal of Engineering research and Applications, Volume 3, Isuue 2 March- April 2013, ISSN: 22489622
 COMPARISON OF PROPERTIES

Properties Bamboo Concrete Steel(0.06% C)

ULTIMATE TENSILE 335.23 N/mm2 5 N/mm2 540.13 N/mm2
STRENGTH

COMPRESSIVE 79 N/mm2 69 N/mm2 800 N/mm2

STRENGTH
0.66 g/cm3 2.5 g/cm3 7.9 g/cm3
DENSITY
20 GPa 48 GPa 58 GPa
TENSILE MODULUS
1.5 MJ/kg 5-7 MJ/kg 20 MJ/kg
EMBODIED ENERGY

Source : T. Gutu “A Study on the Mechanical Strength Properties of Bamboo to Enhance Its Diversification on Its Utilization” International Journal of Innovative Technology
and Exploring Engineering(IJITEE) Volume 2, Issue 5, April 2013 ISSN: 2278-3075
 COMPARISON

BAMBOO CONVENTIONAL CONSTRUCTION

1. Present in abundance naturally Huge cost of inputs for production

2. Highly energy efficient and Creates pollution and depletion of

environment friendly natural resources

3. Reducing the carbon footprints Huge amounts of carbon added to

environment
4. Easy construction techniques and High cost of production and
cost effective maintenance

5. Promotes the vernacular architecture More focus on dense concrete jungle

6. Creates local employment and More transportation cost and

sociological impact monotony in construction
Source : self
PRESERVATION

IS9096:2006 : Code of Practice Covers : Type of preservations,

for preservation of bamboo for Treatment procedure for structural purposes
structural purpose like post, scaffolding, walls, trusses etc.

Bamboo has lower natural Preservatives Recommended

durability against attack of ▪ Coal Tar Creosote
fungi and insects. It requires ▪ Copper – chrome - arsenic
treatment to increase compositions
durability difficult to be ▪ Acid- cupric – chromate
treated by normal composition
preservative methods in dry
conditions. ▪ Copper – chrome- born
composition
Best carried out in green ▪ Boni Acid – boxes
conditions. ▪ Copper zinc – napthanate
Abietates
Source :“Bamboo Construction Source Book”, by Community Architects Network (CAN), May 2013
PROCESS OF PRESERVATION
IS 401:2001 Code of Practice for Preservation of Timber

1. SURFACE APPLICATION ( BRUSHING, DIPPING)

2. HOT & COLD METHOD
3. BOUCHEIRE PROCESS
4. DIFFUSION PROCESS
5. INTER NODAL INJECTION

Boucheire Process . Inter Nodal Injection Hot & Cold Method

WALLING PATTERNS OF NORTH EASTERN REGIONS

source : B. K. Pandey, Y.C. Tripathi & P. Hazarika, 2008, “A hand book of propagation, cultivation &
management of bamboo”, Van Vigyan Kendra, Rain Forest Research Institute (ICFRE), Jorhat, Assam.
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF ASSAM
IKRA HOUSE
▪ Ikra house, commonly referred to as the
“Assam type house” is common throughout
the Northeast India

▪ These houses are built with light weight locally

available materials like bamboos, wooden
planks, thatch etc.

▪ Such houses have a proper system of

bamboo/wooden beam-column and fulfil the
earthquake safety requirements of
rectangularity and simplicity.

▪ Ikra houses are single-storey structures

consisting of brick or stone masonry walls up Source :Atreya, S.K., Mahapatra, & S. Singh M.K. (2008)
Bioclimatism and vernacular architecture of north-east India.
Building and Environment [Online] [Accessed on 10 September
to about 1 m above the plinth. 2015
 VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF ASSAM
Mud house
▪ Mud is a mixture of water and some
combination of soil, silt and clay.

▪ The typical plan dimensions of these

buildings are: lengths between 5 and
10 meters, and widths between 3 and
5meters.

▪ The building has 1 to 2 storey(s).

Chang house
▪ This house on raised stilts is an age old
structure originating in the Himalayan
ranges.

▪ These houses and the flight of 5-7 stairs

leading to these houses have religious and
social beliefs and practices attached to it.

▪ The house on stilts is a big hall with a central

Source :Atreya, S.K., Mahapatra, & S. Singh M.K. (2008) Bioclimatism and
kitchen for a large joint family vernacular architecture of north-east India. Building and Environment [Online]
[Accessed on 10 September 2015
ON-GOING BAMBOO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN CSIR - CBRI,

• A Demonstration house is being

constructed in CSIR-CBRI Campus using
Bamboo as structural material (Beam,
Column, Flooring, Walling, Staricase)

• Total Plan area of House is 55.94 Sq.m

• Various tests ranging from Connection

strength, to life cycle will be performed
on this building

• A performance analysis too will be done

on this building to understand its
behaviour during events such as thermal
comfort, and rainfall effects etc.

DEMONSTRATION HOUSE - BAMBOO

3/11/2021
ON-GOING BAMBOO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN CSIR - CBRI,

Improved Traditional Joints

• Form joints at or near nodes

• Minimise on holes
• Use seasoned culms
• Reinforce against splitting and
crushing
• Improve durability

3/11/2021
ON-GOING BAMBOO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN CSIR - CBRI

• Plan Area of each shed is

12.5m x 22.5m

• 3 different combinations
have been designed for 3
structures

• Drawings and Estimates have

been submitted for all 3
structures

• Techniques tested at
Bamboo Test House (CBRI
Campus) will be
implemented at Harda

• Each Bamboo carry 2.96 Ton

of Load from 100 mm outer
dia. and 80 mm Inner DIa.

• All Structure are been

analysed in Software

Godown, Raw Material and Working Shed near Harda (M.P.)

3/11/2021
ON-GOING BAMBOO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN CSIR - CBRI,

OCTAGONAL TRUSS BAMBOO STRUCTURE - GOWDOWN, HARDA

3/11/2021
ON-GOING BAMBOO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN CSIR - CBRI,

• In BRC Structure, we have

provided 14 bamboo as
reinforcement in place of
steel .

• The Column Size is 600 x 500

MM

BAMBOO REINFORCEMENT CONCRETE – RAW MATERIAL SHED, HARDA

3/11/2021
ON-GOING BAMBOO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN CSIR - CBRI,

STRAIGHT COLUMN TYPE STRUCTRE – WORKING SHED

3/11/2021
BAMBOO TESTING SYSTEM-TO BE TAKEN BY CBRI

The testing system has been designed to test the bamboo strength
and the loads it can bear to its maximum flexural strength.
PROBLEMS STILL PREVALENT IN BAMBOO CONSTRUCTION

• Sustainability

• Resistance to fire

• Sagging effect

• Gradual change in diameter

• No nailing or drilling of hole

 BARRIERS IN BAMBOO CONSTRUCTION

• Limited knowledge of bamboo and lack of expertise to use it

• Lack of knowledge in bamboo detailing

• Lack of management skill in the use of bamboo

• Less durable if not treated for permanent use

• Treated bamboo is expensive

• Competition from other building materials

• Problem of social acceptability (bamboo is considered for the poor)

• Inadequate bamboo processing companies

Source :self
 PRECAUTIONS IN BAMBOO CONSTRUCTION

• Poor resistance to fungi and bacteria. It is sensitive to

attack from insects. So it must be treated against
them, otherwise, the material has a very short life.
• No use of green, fresh cut bamboo. Bamboo has to be
completely dry before using it in construction. Air dried
is the best way to dry bamboo
• Bamboo which is less than 3 years of age should not
be used. Only use mature bamboo of 4-6 years.
• Important to use bamboo nodes because it is the
strong point of a bamboo pole. If a bamboo column or
beams do not have a node at both ends, the bamboo
may crush.

Source :self
 TODAY’S NEED FOR BAMBOO TO USE AS CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL
▪ Bamboo construction technologies well
demonstrated & proven.
▪ Growing interest in bamboo construction from
research community.
▪ Adapting bamboo as material into existing
architectural/ engineering practices crucial for
acceptance and uptake.
▪ Urgent need to develop strength grading
methods for round bamboo + building codes
for engineered bamboo
▪ Bamboo in construction offers opportunities for
local employment and income generation
Source :self
 CHALLENGES AHEAD

• Increasing Durability.
• Developing efficient Jointing system.
• Developing Prefab system.
• Developing composite system to deal with
natural hazards.
• Study of other bamboo which are available but
not used in construction.
• Capacity building of artisans.

Source :self
 CONCLUSIONS
➢ Scientific and technological inputs are very much desirable in the
present scenario since bamboo is still being traditionally used without
any engineered design solution.
➢ Formation of a group of esteemed players who have been
researching and working in this field –IITs, CSIR labs and other
structural groups that coherently make a nodal solution regarding
codes, joints and sustainability of bamboo.
➢ Adopting improved bamboo designs and utilising the local craft of
bamboo to make commercial and residential buildings of bamboo
more aesthetically appealing to make its societal acceptance in
urban areas.
➢ Besides bamboo, use of other local material like stone ,cane can
provide a good hybrid solution that can increase the sustainability to
a much greater extent.

➢ Awareness among the Students and others so that people start

accept Bamboo as a construction material at School & Collage.

Source :self
THANK YOU