Bamboo Effect

Ar. Prem Nath,
Prem Nath & Associates

Ar. S P Anchuri,
Anchuri & Anchuri

An article on Bamboo as building material and its acceptance and scope in construction industry

Today people have become more “Green” oriented when it comes to construction of a building. This is because there is more demand for sustainable building material which helps in maintaining a healthy environment by reducing emissions. If observed bamboos are notably known for its major use in construction industry and as there is demand for the vertical growth and perhaps due to more bend towards using 'green' products bamboo can be a better option for the future construction. To boost the bamboo sector, the government has allocated a whooping Rs 1,290 crore which has ultimately raised a vibe of optimism in the bamboo sector. Today, India has the second largest reserves of bamboo in the world. North-east part of India contributes the major chunk of about 67 per cent to India's bamboo sector. By considering all these factors, there seems to be a huge scope for the use of bamboo in the construction industry but on the other hand there is a possibility that it might hamper the growth of other building material. With this context let us see what will be the 'Effect of Bamboo' on the construction industry?

Why a whooping Rs 1,290 crore to promote bamboo sector?
Briefing on why the government has allocated a whooping Rs 1,290 crore to promote bamboo sector Ar. S P Anchuri, Anchuri and Anchuri says, “Diverse stakeholders are concerned in the lifecycle of bamboo. These incorporate the government sector, private sector, research institutes, financial institutes as well as consumers and they play different roles in promoting the use of bamboo based materials in construction application through various advancement in technologies. The government of India has a major role in promoting and regulating use and the market. However, the support of research, financial and civil society organisations is essential to build and strengthen the value sequence for bamboo.”

Ar. Prem Nath, Prem Nath & Associates believes the investment must be done on the basis that bamboo has been discovered to be one of the most user friendly green material; bamboo plantations is known to be easy to grow and has short growth life, thus quick and extensive farming opportunity; Bamboo, today, is replacing wood at various stages and uses - as it is versatile, strong, renewable.

Use of bamboo in the construction
For any type of the construction there are five very important elements and stages which includes planning, designing, execution, operation and maintenance. Based on the function of the space one need to consider these elements to achieve desirable life cycle. In bamboo structures too this is applicable as it is essential as other regular structural systems. As one know about diminishing wood resource and restrictions imposed on felling in natural forests, particularly in the tropics, have focused world attention on the need to identify a substitute building material that should be renewable, environment friendly and widely available. In view of its rapid growth, a ready adaptability to most climatic conditions and properties, superior to most juvenile fast growing wood, bamboo emerges as a very suitable alternative. “India having the largest reserves of bamboo in the world is dealing with the shortage of bamboo as a raw material in its industries. Presently it is underutilised and found in abundance,” states Ar. Anchuri.

Knowing main properties and the major uses of bamboo and its culms right from functional planning to structural design, constructability knowledge of various preservation techniques to be adopted in order to enhance the durability is a must.

On noticing designing of the bamboo is essential Ar. Anchuri says, “Today bamboo is one of the important construction materials that are renewable, environmentally gracious and broadly obtainable. It has long been used in various projects, ranging from impermanent, easily assembled and rectilinear structures to complex freeform pavilions. Design with bamboo has never been easy to architects and engineers due to its irregular shape and round section. This prompts the need to develop a new design process that can accommodate those properties that hinder bamboo to be used by designers. We need to take a close look at freeform structure design and specifically we should understand how systematically and algorithmically parametric modeling can be used to tackle bamboo material irregularities and bamboo jointing challenges.”

Ar. Anchuri adds, “There is the need for market establishment of bamboo products, with product testing for quality being a necessity which will ultimately lead to market acceptability. Bureau of Indian Standards has come out with the standards relevant for utilisation of bamboo and bamboo composite material in structural application like IS 13958: 1994 Specification for bamboo mat board for general purposes, IS 14588: 1999 Specification for bamboo mat veneer composites for general purposes, IS-15476: 2004 Bamboo mat corrugated sheets, IS 8242:1976 Methods of tests for split bamboos, etc.”

Bamboo, today, has emerged as one of the most important non-timber forest resources because of the high socio-economic benefits of bamboo based products; today in construction industry, bamboo can be recombined into useful products and elements such as flooring, ceiling, walls, partitions walls, trusses, domes, etc, apart from its use during construction as scaffolding, says Ar. Prem Nath.

Is bamboo economical enough?
Sharing views whether bamboo are economical building materials Ar. Prem Nath says, “ Bamboo surely ends up being economical, in a long run - Bamboo has good engineering properties and it is a feasible substitute to various other materials; Bamboo is highly tensile, very good in strength to weight ratio - thus bamboo
and components made from bamboo are not only environmentally friendly and energy efficient but cost
effective too.”

Ar. Anchuri also agrees that bamboo is economic building material, as bamboo's rate of productivity and cycle of annual harvest outstrips any other naturally growing resource, if today you plant three or four structural bamboo plants, then in four or five years later you will have mature clumps, and in eight years you will have enough mature material to build a comfortable, low cost house.

What's the bamboo effect on construction industry?
Technology advancement in bamboo sector is steadily increasing the involvement of manufacturers. Lots of manufacturers are coming up with new and innovative bamboo based materials in the market to create a demand for these materials.

They are promoting and selling bamboo based materials through trades, exhibition, and online portals and by directly contacting customers. Urban phenomenon like green ratings have also helped in creating a demand for bamboo based materials among the building professionals. “Further, there is a need for market establishment with product testing for quality being a necessity which will ultimately lead to market acceptability.

There is a need to set up technology institute in order to train people about new and advanced bamboo technology,” explains Ar. Anchuri.Any new material and its benefits always have affected the construction industry in a positive way - India innovates - today what seems 'useful' - shall further be ideated and end up becoming 'more useful' with numerous bamboo based products being introduced as construction materials, avers Ar. Prem Nath.

Scope for bamboo in construction
'The home with difference' can be a high demand concept if youth of our country understand the concept. Today the mind set of mankind in this smart world we can easily shift our focus to bamboo structures which
is cool for mind, affordable for all, flexible for design, upgradable as its degradable, completely sustainable. “Since our ancient days right from mythological period bamboo is well known,
I think it's being eco friendly surely the concept will come back and bring revolution in construction Industry in India like YOGA in coming days,” states an optimistic Ar. Anchuri.

On the other hand Ar. Prem Nath points out, “While, there seems a lot of scope for bamboo to be sued in construction material - there are a few demerits of bamboo that yet need to be resolved (which is probably being done) with reference to the natural durability, possible attack from fungi and insects, etc, one shall have to wait and watch, as to what is in store for this promising green natural resource.“

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