Draft2,2009

HUMANITARIANBAMBOOAmanualonthehumanitarianuseofbambooinIndonesia

Building

FOREWORD

TheseguidelineshavebeendevelopedasaNOLOGOproject,withthegeneroussupportofOxfamGreatBritain’sPRIMEprojectinJogjakarta,Indonesia.TheprojecthasbeenmanagedbybyDaveHodgkinfromBenchmarkConsulting.Contributionsandassistancehavebeenreceivedfromnumerousbambooanddisasterresponseexperts,bothinIndonesiaandIndia,andShelterClusterparticipantsglobally.

Thefirstdraftoftheseguidelinesprovidedagenerallayoutofthedocumentalongwithsomebriefcommentaryabouteachpotentialsection.Thisseconddraftprovidesthefirstoveralldocumentreadyfortechnicalverificationfromkeyadvisorsaswellasforuseinthefield.ThethirddraftwillincludeanyfurtherrecommendationsandwillbemadeavailableinbothIndonesianandEnglishlanguageversions.

TheseconddraftisalsoavailableontheHumanitarianBamboowebsiteatwww.humanitarianbamboo.org

Anyfeedbackorinputintothefurtherdevelopmentofthisdocumentismuchappreciated.Allcommentsshouldbesentto:

DaveHodgkinBenchmarkConsultingRt06Rw04Tembi,Sewondave.hodgkin@gmail.com+6281392099666

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TheauthorwouldliketoacknowledgethefinancialassistanceofOxfamGreatBritain’sPRIMEprojectinJogjakarta,Indonesia,andwouldparticularlyliketothankAleAidid,KimWilliamsonandLorenLockwoodfortheirassistanceinresearchandediting,andAntoHamid,SebastianFesneauandtherestoftheteamfromOxfamGBIndonesiafortheirsupport.

Productionofthisdocumentwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthegenerousassistanceofthefollowingcontributorsandtheirrespectiveorganizations:

HUMANITARIANADVICE

• Ashley,Cleo,Manfred,TimoandstafffromtheInternationalOrganisationforMigration,Jogjakarta• KellyandstafffromCHF• BillMarsdenandhisstafffromIFRC• LorenLockwood,CaritasSwitzerland• JoeAshmorefromAshmoreConsultingandhumanitariantimber.org• SarbjitSingh,PradeepandstafffromRedRIndia• RetnoandstafffromUNDPJogjakarta• ArimbiandSatriofromDeJaRup• ParticipantsattheconsultativeforumsonbothYogyakartaandPuneIndia• OthermembersoftheYogyakartaEarthquakeResponseShelterCluster.

BAMBOOTECHNICALADVICE

• AriefandLindaGarlandfromtheEnvironmentalBambooFoundationinBali• ThestaffofSahabatBamboo• BenBrownfromMangroveActionProjectandIshwaraEnvironmentalInstitute• JatmikaSurybrataandhisteamatUniversityofGadjaMada,Jogjakarta• PakMarissoandteam• PakPurwitofromDepartmentofPublcWorksResearchCentreinBandung• AntonandJohnHardyfromP.TBambuinBali• JulesJohansenandothermembersoftheINBARBambooHousingForum.

EDITINGANDPROOFING

• Ruth,Kim,Thor,Ben,Ale,Baktiandmanyothers.Theabove list is far fromcompleteasmany individuals andorganisations, both local and internationalhave provided valuable input into the development of this document. The author apologises for anyomissions.

SectionA

Introduction1. Introductiontothemanual

2. Introductiontobamboo

3. Decidingtousebamboo

SECTIONDESCRIPTION

SectionB

Sourcing1. Cropmanagement

andharvesting

2. Treatment

3. Procurement

4. Logistics

5. Logistics

SectionC

Building1. Design

2. Construction

3. Maintenance

4. Otheruses

SectionD

Support1. Programmingtools

2. Furtherresources

3. Appendix

1

Building

TableofContentsFOREWORD IACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IISECTIONDESCRIPTION IIIGLOSSARYOFTERMS 2A.1INTRODUCTIONTOTHEMANUAL 4

A.1.1.Outlineandstructure 4A.1.2Rationale 4A.1.3Process 4A.1.4Targetaudience 5A.1.5Disclaimer 5

A.2INTRODUCTIONTOBAMBOO 6A.2.1Bambootheplant 6A.2.2Introductiontobambooinhumanitarianconstruction 9

A.3TOUSEORNOTTOUSEBAMBOO 10B.1MATERIALSOURCINGANDSPECIFYING 12

B.1.1Selectionandgrading 13B.2CROPMANAGEMENTANDSUSTAINABLEHARVESTING 18

B.2.1Harvesting 19B.3TREATMENT 21

B.3.1Totreatornottotreat 21B.3.2Protectionwithouttreatment 22B.3.3Protectionthroughtreatment 25

B.4LOGISTICSANDHANDLING 29C.1DESIGNINGAPROGRAMTHATUSESBAMBOO 31C.2DESIGNINGWITHBAMBOO 32

C.2.1Comparativecharacteristicsofcommonconstructionmaterials 32C.2.2Designprinciples 33

C.3CONSTRUCTION 37C.3.1Stagingconstruction 38C.3.2Jointingsystemtypes 39C.3.3Examplesofcommonjoints 40C.3.4Walling 41C.3.5Flooring 45C.3.6Roofing 46

D.1FURTHERRESOURCES 48D.1.1Internetresources 48D.1.2Organisations 48D.1.3Books 49

D.2FURTHERUSESOFBAMBOOINHUMANITARIANPROGRAMMING 50D.2.1Prepositioningtreatedbamboostocks 50D.2.2Designingwithcurvedelements 50D.2.3Bamboocompositeconstructionproducts 51

D.4DISTRIBUTIONMAPSOFBAMBOOININDONESIA 53

2

GLOSSARYOFTERMS

TERM MEANINGBeams Majorhorizontalstructuralelementsofabuilding.

Bracing Elementsincorporatedintoabuildingtostopthebuildingfromracking(rocking)underchangingloads.

Clump Agroupofculmsformingoneindividualbambooplant.

Clumpingspecies

Oneoftwomajorgroupingsofbamboo,technicallyknownasleptomorphsormonopodialspecies,inwhichnewrhizomesformfromthebaseofexistingculms,resultinginacloseknitstand.Thefibresofclumpingspeciesaregenerallymoreintertwinedthanthoseofrunningspecies.Thevastmajorityofallequatorialbambooareclumpingvarieties.

Columns Majorverticalstructuralelementsofabuilding.

Culm Thecommontermforoneindividualstickofbamboowithinaclump.

Eaves Theelementofaroofthathangovertheexternalwalls.

Fishplate Abridgingelementappliedtothesideofoneortwobuildingelementstoprovidereinforcingandstrengtheningacrossaweakpointinconstruction

Inter‐nodalspace Thehollowsectionoftubebetweenanytwonodesinabambooculm.

Joists Horizontalstructuralelementsthatflooringorroofingisattachedto.

Lintels Horizontalstructuralelementsaboveanopening(e.g.adoorwayorwindow),designedtoensuretransferoftheloadtoeithersideoftheopening.

Node Thesolidsectionthatregularlybreaksupthehollowtubularsectionofaculm.

Nogs Smallspacingelementsplacedbetweenlargerconstructionelements(suchasstudsorrafters)topreventthemfrombucklingortwisting.

Pegordowel Smallconstructionelements,commonlymadeoftimberorbamboo,driventhroughholesinadjoiningpiecesoftimberorbambootopinthetwopiecestogether.

Racking Swayingorwarpingofastructurewhenhorizontalloadsareapplied.

Rafter Structuralroofingpiecesthatextendfromtheridgeoftheroofdowntotheexternalwalls,orbeyondtheexternalwallstocreateeaves.

Rhizome Thebelow‐groundshootthatformsthestartingpointforthedevelopmentofanewculm.

Rhizomebud Thenewlyformedrhizomeasitbranchesawayfromthemainclump.

Ridge Thehorizontalconstructionelementthatformsthehighestpointoftwoormoreintersectingroofplanes.

Runningspecies

Oneoftwomajorgroupingsofbamboo,technicallyknownassympodialorpachymorphbamboos.Rhizomesformfromundergroundrunnersupto30metresfromthelastculm,allowingthebambootospreadoveraneverincreasingarea.Thefibresofrunningvarietiesaregenerallymuchstraighterthanthoseofclumpingspecies.ThesespeciesmainlyoccurfurtherfromtheequatorincoldernorthernclimatessuchasChina.

Shoot Theearlysectionofanewlyemergingculmasitfirstappearsabovetheground.Thissectionofthebambooishighlynutritiousandedibleforbothhumansandlivestock.

Underpurlin Horizontalstructuralelementsthatsupportraftersorjoists.

Warpage Twistingandbendingofbambooortimberovertime,commonlycausedbyexposuretoadverseconditions,suchasheavyloadsorbrightsunlight.

3

KeyPoints

• Thissectionoftheguidelinesintroducethekeyissuesinvolvedwithusingbambooinpost‐disasterhumanitarianshelterprogramming,andaimstobringtogetherhumanitarianworkers’understandingofemergencyresponseandbambooexperts’technicalknowledgeofbambooconstruction.

• Bambooisanidealresourceforuseinhumanitarianshelterprogrammingduetoitshighstrength,lowcost,rapidgrowthandhighavailabilityacrossmanydisaster‐proneregions.

• Whendecidingwhethertousebamboo,anumberoffactorsshouldbeconsideredincludingavailabilityofskillsandresources,aswellastheacceptabilityofbambootothecommunity.

SectionA

Introduction1. Introductiontothemanual

2. Introductiontobamboo

3. Decidingtousebamboo

4

A.1INTRODUCTIONTOTHEMANUAL

A.1.1.OUTLINEANDSTRUCTURE

Thismanualcomprisesfoursections:

• SectionAintroducesbambooandbambooconstruction,includingimportantconsiderationswhendecidingwhethertousebambooinhumanitarianprogramming.

• SectionBoutlinesissuesrelatedtosourcingbamboo,includingcropmanagement,harvesting,treatmentandprocurement.

• SectionClooksatbuildingwithbamboo,includingdesign,constructionandmaintenanceconsiderations.

• SectionDprovidesalistofadditionalresources.

A.1.2RATIONALE

Inresponsetothe2006Jogjakartaearthquake,over70,00024m2bambootransitionalshelters,withanaveragecostof$US100‐200,wereerectedover9months.Theconstructionoftheseshelterswasoneofthelargestandmostrapidpost‐disastershelterresponsesinrecenthistory,atrelativelylowunitcostandwithminimalenvironmentalimpact.

FromtheJogjakartaearthquakeresponse,itbecamecleartomanyagenciesthatalthoughbambooisacost‐effective,strong,cheap,rapidlyconstructedandreadilyavailablematerial,manyhumanitarianworkerslackexperienceinusingbambooandlackclearguidanceonbestpracticeinbambooconstruction.Therefore,theseguidelineshavebeenproducedtohelphumanitarianworkersmakebetterinformeddecisionsaboutwhenandhowtousebambooinpost‐disastershelterresponses.Theguidelinesaimtoprovideanopensource,“nologo”bridgebetweenthetechnicalknowledgeofbambooexpertsandthedisasterresponseexperienceofhumanitarianworkers.Theguidelinesaimtoprovideageneralintroductiontobestpractice,whileprovidingspecificexamplesfromtheIndonesiancontext.

A.1.3PROCESS

Theseguidelinesarebeingdevelopedinconjunctionwiththewebsitewww.humanitarianbamboo.orgtoprovideinitialguidancetoworkerswhoareconsideringusingbambooinpost‐disasterresponse.Theguidelinesareinnowaycomprehensive;practitionersshouldseektheadviceoftechnicalexpertsandlocaltradespeopletoprovidemorespecificadviceontheirindividualprograms.

Theproductionoftheseguidelineshasbeenbrokenintoanumberofsteps:

ConsultativeworkshopswereconductedinJogjakarta,IndonesiaandPune,Indiatoprovideadviceoncontent.

Indonesia‐specificguidelineswereproduced,withthefirstdraftwritteninEnglishandtranslatedinto

5

Indonesian.

Awebsiteisbeingdevelopedasarepositoryofinformationaboutbambooprogramming.

Amoreinternationalsetofguidelinesmaybedeveloped,dependingonacceptanceandrelevanceoftheseinitialguidelines,andthewebsitecouldalsobeexpandedtoprovidealargercollectionofinternationalinformation.

A.1.4TARGETAUDIENCE

Thismanualisprimarilyforhumanitarianpractitionersinthefield,providingthemwithguidanceonbestpracticeinbamboouseandconstruction.Otheraudiencesmayinclude:

• Membersofdisaster‐affectedcommunitieswhoarelookingforguidanceonwhattoexpectfromhumanitarianworkers,orforguidanceontheirownbambooprojects.

• Donorswhoarelookingforguidanceonbestpracticeinthesector,orwhowouldlikeassistanceinassessingfundingproposalsforprojectsusingbamboo.

A.1.5DISCLAIMER

Itisalmostimpossibletoproduceasetofguidelinesshortenoughtobereadinthelimitedtimeavailabletoemergencyworkersbutdetailedenoughtoprovidecleartechnicaladviceonallaspectsofbamboouse.Thereforethismanualintroducesthereadertothekeyissuesofbamboouseinpost‐disastershelterprograms,andprovidesawebsitewithadditionalreferencesandsourcesforthoserequiringfurtherinformation.

Post‐disastershelterprogramsaimtoassistfamiliesalongthepathfrompost‐disasterhomelessnesstoadequatesheltersecurity.Thedesignofsuchprogramsmustthereforeincludeextensiveinputfromthelocalcommunity.Bambooconstructionmethodologyisintricatelylinkedtolocalcultureandvariesgreatlyfromplacetoplace—qualityprogrammingwillintegratetheprinciplesfromtheseguidelineswithlocalwisdom.

Theinformationpresentedinthismanualisforgeneralguidanceonly,aswithanyhumanitarianprogramalladviceshouldbecheckedagainstlocalknowledgeandtechnicalexpertisebeforeapplyingittoaspecificsituation.

6

A.2INTRODUCTIONTOBAMBOO

A.2.1BAMBOOTHEPLANT

Bambooisoneofthemostusefulplantsknowntohumanity.Allpartsoftheplantareused:shootsprovidenutritiousfood,leavesprovidefodderandstalksprovideconstructionmaterials.Bambooisusedinmorethanathousandways,includingpostandbeamconstruction,formwork,food,fodder,musicalinstruments,piping,walling,flooring,mats,baskets,roofing,cookingutensils,medicineandcharcoal.

Bambooisahighlyversatile,strongandrenewableresource,anditisusedthroughouttheworld.InIndonesia,forexample,bambooisanintrinsicpartofdailylife:homesarebuiltfrombamboo,floorsandwallsarecoveredwithbamboo,bamboobasketsandpotsadornhousesandcountlessbamboobridgescrosssmallstreamsandrivers.

Morethan1000speciesofbamboohavebeenidentified,andmorethan100specieshavebeenclassifiedas‘woodyspecies’suitableforconstruction.InIndonesiaalonetherearemorethan140knownspecies,ofwhichatleast16arecommonlyusedinconstruction.

GROWTHPATTERNOFBAMBOO

Bambooistechnicallyaformofgrass,growinginclumpsorforestsoflargetubularsectionsknownasculms.Bamboocanbebroadlydividedintotwogroups:runningandclumping.Clumpingspeciessprouttheirnewshootsclosetothebaseofexistingculmswhilstrunningvarietiesmaysendoutshootsasfaras30mfromanexistingculm,potentiallyasfarastheculmsaretall.MosttropicalspeciessuchasthosefoundinIndonesiaareoftheclumpingvariety,whilstrunningvarietiesarelargelyconfinedtocoldernorthernregionssuchasChina.

Bamboodiffersgreatlyfromtimberbothingrowthpatternandstructure.Unliketimber,individualbambooculmsgrowtotheirfullheightandgirthinasinglegrowingseason,whilsttheoverallclumpreachespeakproductionataround7yearsandcanmaintainregularcroppingofaround20‐25%throughoutitsproductivelifecycle,untiltheplantfinallyflowersandthendiesoff.

Youcanwatchitgrow!Thetallestbamboocangrowatup

to1–2mperday,reachingheightsofover35minonegrowingseason.

That’s15–20cmoverlunch.

7

BAMBOOLIFECYCLEFROMSHOOTTOCULM

LIFECYCLE

Thelifecycleofthebambooplantcommenceslikeanyotherplant,sproutingforthfromaseedandsendingupitsfirstshoottoformanewculm,whichsproutsleavestocommence

photosynthesis.Thefirstculmsinanewclumparelimitedinsizebythephotosyntheticcapacityofthenewclumpresultingin

smallerculmsuntilsufficientculmsexistfornewculmstoreachfullheight.

Asthewetseasonapproaches,newrhizomesbudsformunderground.Thenasrainscommence,therhizomesform

newshootsthatsproutintothatseasons’culms,reachingtheirfullheightandwidthoverthefirstrainyseasonofonly3‐4months.Duringthefirstseason,culmsaresobusyshootingupthatitisonlyoverthenextyearthattheythencommencetosendoutbranchesandbegintophotosynthesize.Intheirfirstyear,bambooculmsdependentirelyonthehealthoftheclumpinthefirstyeartoreachtheirfullheight.

Overthenext2‐3yearsculmsdryoutandtoughenup,reachingtheirfullstrengthandmaturityataround4‐5years.By6‐7yearsfungalattack,rotandagebegintosetinandtheculmsfinallysuccumbfallingtothegroundtorotandprovidefeedandprotectionfornewlyformingshoots.

Thelifecycleofindividualculmsmeansthatanewclumpreachesfullmaturityandmaximumproductioncapacityataround7‐10years.Theplantthencontinuesonuntileventuallyfloweringandthendyingoff.Thefulllifecycleofaculmvariesgreatlyfromspeciestospecies.Smallornamentalspeciesmayfloweranddieoffannuallywhilstthelargerwoodyspeciesusedinconstructionmayhavealifecyclefrom60‐160years.

Manylargerwoodyspeciesdieoffinsuddenmassfloweringeventsthatmaycausegreathavoc

todependentcommunitieswhocanbeadverselyaffectedbyensuingplagues

ofanimalssuchasrodentsfeedingoffthemassseedsandthenbyfurtherplaguesof

predatorsfeedingonthem.

BamboomassfloweringInmanylargerbamboos,floweringoccursenmasseacrossaspecies,incyclesthatmaybeoncein100yrs+,Suchmassfloweringeventsmaycausegreatchangetoecosystemswreakinghavocincommunitiesthatdependonthebamboo,orwhomaybeheavilyaffectedbyensuingplaguesofseed‐eatingpestsandtheirpredatorssuchasratsandthensnakes.

Fullsizein3monthsUnliketimberwhichmaytaketensorhundredsofyearstoreachfullheight,aculmofbambooreachesitspinnacleinoneseason,onlytougheningupoverthenextyears.

8

BAMBOOSECTIONSFILLEDWITHWATERTHENBURIEDFOR

SPROUTING.

COMMONMETHODSOFBAMBOOPROPAGATION:CLUMPSEPARATIONANDCUTTINGS

CULTIVATION

Bamboomaybegrowneitherdirectlyfromseed,throughcuttings,orbydivisionsofclumps.Asmanywoodyspecieshavelongperiodsbetweenflowerings,withoftenlowratesofgerminationfromseed(below1%),thisistheleastcommonmethodofcultivation.Smallerplantvarietiesareeasilyhandledandthereforecommonlycultivatedthroughclumpseparation,whilstlargervarietiesaregenerallypropagatedthroughcuttings.

Acommoncommercialmethodofpropagatingwoodybamboospeciesinvolveshorizontallyburyingcuttingsthatare3‐4nodesinlengtharoundsixinchesbelowgroundpriortoonsetoftherainyseason.Holesarecutmidwaybetweennodes,witheachsegmentthenfilledwithwaterpriortoburial.Newshootsthenformfromthenodaljoints.

Concernabouttheimpactofmassbambooconstructionprojectsonlocalcommunitystocksmayleadagenciestoconsidercommunityreplantingprograms.BamboocultivationisoutsidetheprimaryfocusofthisdocumentbutformoreinformationpleaserefertotherecentlypublishedbookbytheEnvironmentalBambooFoundationontheharvestingandmanagementofbamboo.

DISTRIBUTION

Bamboogrowthislargelyconfinedtohighrainfall,tropicalregions,thoughitcangrowincoldertemperateorsub‐temperatezones.Bambooofdifferingspecies,qualityandquantityoccursacrossmostofIndonesia.

ForfurtherdetailondistributioninIndonesia,seeSectionD.3DistributionmapsofbambooinIndonesia.

9

A.2.2INTRODUCTIONTOBAMBOOINHUMANITARIANCONSTRUCTION

Bamboo’scombinationofhightensilestrengthandlightnessmakeitanidealmaterialforrapidconstructionofemergencyortemporaryhousing.Whenwell‐built,thehightensilestrengthandflexibilityofbamboomakesbamboosheltershighlyresistanttodamagebystrongwind,floodsandearthquakes.Thesefactors,combinedwithbamboo’slowcostandeaseofavailabilityinmostofthedisaster‐pronetropicalregionsmakebambooanidealmaterialforuseinmanyhumanitarianprojects.

BambooisusedforconstructionthroughouttheworldwithmajorresearchbasesinChina,India,Hawaii,Indonesia,Brazil,aswellasinEuropeandAmerica.Morethan200speciesofwoodybambooareusedinconstructingsuchdiverseobjectsasfurniture,houses,temples,watertanks,highrisebuildings,scaffolding,bicyclesandcutlery.Treatedandwell‐maintainedbamboostructureshaveaslongalifeexpectancyastheirtimberequivalent,withtheworld’soldestbamboostructuressurvivingthousandsofyears.

Bamboomaybeusedforalmostallaspectsofconstruction,fromroofingtoflooring,wallframingtowallandfloorcladding;evenpipingofwaterispossibleinbamboo.

Buildingwithbamboodoeshoweverposechallengestomanyaidworkerswhomayhavelittleexperienceofthisuniquematerial.Althoughsimilarinmanywaystobuildingwithtimber,utilizingthesametoolsandgeneralframingtechniques,bamboodesignandconstructiondoeshaveitsownparticularrequirements.Althoughasstrongasmildsteelinverticaltensionorcompression,bamboo’shollowtubularsectioniseasilycrushedbetweennodes;hencenodalplacementbecomeskeytothesuccessofanybamboostructure.Bambooculmsarealsomorepronetosplittingwhennailedorscrewed,hencearangeofotherfasteningmethodsneedtobeconsidered.

Itiscriticaltounderstandthatthedurabilityofbamboostructuresisdependentonanumberofkeyfactorsincludingthequalityandspeciesofbambooused,theweatherresistanceofthedesign,andthestrengthandstabilityofthestructuraljoints.Thisdocumentprovidesanintroductiontotheseissues,butlocalknowledgeandgoodtechnicaladviceshouldbesoughtonacasepercasebasis.

HousingtheworldAnestimated1billionpeople

acrosstheglobecurrentlyliveinhomesmadefrombamboo.

10

A.3TOUSEORNOTTOUSEBAMBOO

Theappropriatenessofbambooforagivenhumanitarianprogramneedstobecarefullythoughtout.Factorsthatmustbeconsideredarediverseandcomplex.

NEEDTOINTERVENENEEDFORASSISTANCE=(DAMAGELEVELSXLIKELYHEALTHIMPACTS)MINUS

COMMUNITY+GOVTCAPACITYTOASSIST

CONSTRUCTIONSKILLS

DOESTHECOMMUNITYHAVEDEMONSTRATED

KNOWLEDGEOFBAMBOO

CONSTRUCTION?

BAMBOOSUPPLYARETHERESUFFICIENTBAMBOORESOURCESIN

THEAREA?ARETHESERESOURCES

ADEQUATELYMANAGED?

TREATMENTWILLTHEBAMBOONEEDTOBETREATEDPRIORTOUSE?

ISTREATEDBAMBOOAVAILABLE,ORWILL

BUILDINGATREATMENTFACILITYBEREQUIRED?

MOSTAPPROPRIATERESOURCE

ISBAMBOOTHEMOSTAVAILABLEAND

APPROPRIATERESOURCE?HAVECOCONUTWOOD,CONCRETE,TIMBEROROTHERRESOURCESBEEN

CONSIDERED?

PROCUREMENTWHOWILLUNDERTAKE

PROCUREMENT?THECOMMUNITY,ORTHEAGENCY?

HOWWILLBULKPROCUREMENTIMPACTINTHEAFFECTED

COMMUNITYANDITSRESOURCES?DOESPROCUREMENTFURTHER

AFIELDNEEDTOBECONSIDERED?

TRAININGWILLTECHNICALTRAINING

BEREQUIRED?ISITFEASIBLEAND

APPROPRIATE?CANWEFINDLOCALTRAINERSORWILLWENEEDTOBRING

THEMINFROMELSEWHERE?

ACCEPTABILITYTHELOCALGOVERNMENT,

DONORSANDORTHEAFFECTEDCOMMUNITYMAYPERCIEVEBAMBOOASALOWSTANDARDMATERIAL.HAVETHEYBEENCONSULTED?CANWESUPPLYINFORMATIONON

QUAILTYBAMBOOCONSTRUTION?

DURABILITYWILLTEMPORARY

BAMBOOSTRUCTRESBEDURABLEENOUGHUNTILLPERMANENTSOLUTIONS

ARRIVE?

AIDEQUITYWHATAREOTHERSHELTER

ACTORSPLANNING?CANTHISPROJECTSUPPLYANEQUIVALENT‐VALUE

SOLUTION?

?

11

Introduction

SectionBSourcing

Building

Support

Building

KeyPoints

Theimportanceofbambooasalocalcommunityresourcemakesitessentialthathumanitarianworkersconsidertheeffectoflarge‐scaleprocurementonregionalbamboostocks,andsetinplacesystemsthataddresspotentialnegativeimpacts.

Totreatornottotreatbambooisanoverarchingdecisionthatwillaffectalllevelsofprogrammingandneedstobeconsideredearlyoninprogramdesignandprocurement.

Bambooiscommonlyacommunityresource;hencethevoiceofthecommunityisimportantatallstagesofprocurementofbambooandbambooproducts.

SectionB

Sourcing1. Materialsourcingand

specifying2. Cropmanagementand

sustainableharvesting3. Treatment

4. Logisticsandhandling

12

B.1MATERIALSOURCINGANDSPECIFYING

Sourcingbambooinsufficientvolumeandqualityprovedtobeamajorchallengeformanyagenciesduringthe2006Jogjakartaearthquakeresponse,withsomeagenciesconsumingover10,000culmsadayattheirpeak.Itiscriticalwhendesigninglargescaleprogramstocarefullyconsidertheimpactofsuchlargescalepurchasingonboththeavailableresourceandthelocalmarket.

Relative merits of procurement options Community Local or regional National

Pros • Fundsinjectedatthelowestlevelintoacommunitycanproduceupto8timestheeconomicbenefitfortheaffectedpopulation.

• Qualitycontrolenforcedbythehomeowner.

• Increased“ownership”oftheprogram.

• Workswellwithruralcommunitieswhohaveagoodunderstandingofbambooselectionandconstruction.

• Easilycentrallycontrolled.• Inspectionofsuppliers,

sources,businesspremisesandstoragefacilitiescanbeeasilyconducted.

• Putsmoneyintolocalbusinesshelpingkick‐starttheeconomy.

• Potentiallylarger,moreprofessionalsuppliers.

• Potentiallyspreadstheenvironmentalimpactoveralargerarea.

• Reducestheimpactonlocalmarkets.

Cons

• Requireshigherlevelsoffinancialcontrol.

• Requirescommunitytrainingforqualitycontrol.

• Urbancommunitiesmayhavelittleornoexperienceinprocuringandconstructinginbamboo.

• Highpotentialforshorttermimpactonthelocalpriceofbamboo,potentiallypricingself‐recoverygroupsoutofthemarket.

• Potentialforhighlevelshort‐termandevenlongtermimpactonlocalbamboocrops.

• Moredifficulttoinspectoffices,storageandtransportfacilities.

• Hardertoregulateharvestingpractices,hencepotentialforincreasedenvironmentalimpact,albeitfurtherafield.

• Requiresstrictertenderingprocessesandcontrols,henceoftenslowertoinstigate.

NOTE:Thedecisiontousetreatedoruntreatedbamboomustbefullyintegratedintoprocurementplansasmanytreatmentsystemsrequirebambootobetreatedwithindaysofharvest,whilstthelifeexpectancyofnon‐treatedbambooisverydependentonhowandwhenitwasprocuredandhandled.SeeSectionB.3Treatment.

13

B.1.1SELECTIONANDGRADING

Thequalityofanygivenconstructionisonlyasgoodasthematerialitismadefrom.Alargerangeoffactorscanaffectthequalityofbamboo,includingwhenitisharvested,itsageetc.Thefollowinglistprovidessomeguidanceonbambooselection.Thisguidancecanneverreplacethewealthoflocalknowledgeregardinglocalmarketsandbamboospeciesandquality.

AGE

Mostspeciesofbambooachievetheirpeakstrengthbetween3and6yearsofgrowth.Henceitiscriticaltogoodprogrammingthattheageofculmsischeckedatthetimeofprocurement.Furthermore,theharvestingofimmaturebamboomayadverselyaffectcropproductivityformanyyearstocome.SeeSectionA.2Cropmanagementandsustainableharvesting.

Exactindicatorsofagevarygreatlyfromspeciestospecies,makingitisessentialtoworkwithlocalbambooexpertstodevelopasetofageindicatorsthatcanbeagreeduponasacceptablebyboththesuppliersandtheaffectedcommunity.Howeversomecommonindicatorsinclude:

• Duringthefirstyearsofgrowth,thejuvenileleavesthatformaseachbranchformsarestillvisiblyattachedtothemainstalkofbamboo.Asbambooagesthesefallaway.

• Asbambooagesitlosesitsfreshgreencolour,slowlydarkeningtopalebrown.• Asbambooagesthewallsbegintodryoutandharden,causingtheinternodalwallstoshrink,

showingwrinkles.• Perhapsthesuresttestofageisthesoundortonethebambooproduceswhenstruck.Bamboothat

istooyoungortoooldhasamuchflattertonethanthetoneproducedbythefirmercorrectlyagedbamboo.Asmallamountofpracticewillclarifythecorrecttoneforanygivenspecies.

Checking the age of bamboo

Too young Correct age Too old • First‐yeargrowthwillhaveno

signsatallofvestibulebrancheshavingformed.

• Thejuvenilesheathesthatformtoprotectnewlyemergingbranchesmaystillvisibleontheculm.

• Dulltoneanddampcoldfeel.• Whensliced,thebamboois

wet,sweetandsoft.

• Somecollapseinwidthbetweennodesandsomeminorwrinklingofskinsurface.

• Firmandtighttone(althoughhardtodescribe,thisoftenthesimplestandmosteffectivetestofsuitabilityforconstruction).

• Juvenilecracksandsplitsformingacrossnodes.

• Highlevelsofcollapseinwidthbetweennodesorhighlywrinkledsurfaces.

• Highlevelsofvisiblefungalattack.• Dulltonewhentapped.• Easilysnappedorcrushed.• Dullbrownincoloureventhough

freshlycut.

14

Sketchorphotoof

simplemeasuringtool

SIZE

Whenspecifyingbamboosizesinlargequantities,itisimportanttoconsidertheimpactthattheoftenlarge‐scalebulkprocurementinvolvedinhumanitarianworkcanhaveonlocalmarkets.Diversifyingthesizesandspeciesbeingprocuredcangreatlyreducetheimpactonanyoneresource.

Ideally,bamboohousesarebuiltusing3or4differentsizesandorspeciesofbamboo.Commonly,largersizedelements(6”andabove)areusedforposts,whilestructuralbeamsandtrussesmayuse3”or4”material.Raftersarecommonly2‐3”whilstbatonsmayonlyrequire1‐2”materialorsplitbamboos.Flooringorcladdingmaterialmayhaveyetdifferentrequirements.

Bambooiscommonlysoldinalimitednumberofpre‐setwidthsandlengths.Lengthsmayveryfromareatoareadependingontrucksizes,whilstcommonwidthsaremoreoftenbasedonspeciesavailabilityandmarketdemand.InIndonesia,bambooiscommonlysoldinlengthsof6mwithdiametersof5,7.5,10and15cm.

Whensettinginplaceprocurementprocedurestodetermineminimumandmaximumsizesofbamboo,asimpletoolcanbemadefromaflatplanwithtwoholescutintoit.Ifthesmallendofthebamboocanbeslippedintothesmallholethebambooistoosmallandifthelargeendofcannotbeslippedintothelargewholethenitistoolarge.Atoleranceof5‐10%acrossatruckloadmayallowforsomevariationinwhatisneededonsite,whilstreducingtheburdenonthesupplier.

STRAIGHTNESS

Forpredictabilityofstrengthloadsandreplicabilityofdesign,culmsshouldbeofareasonablelevelofstraightness.Acceptablelevelsof“sweep”and“crook”maybemeasuredusingastringlinestretchedfromthetiptothebuttoftheculm.Nopartoftheculmshouldfalloutsideofthelineofthestring.

Note:Mildlybentculmsmaybesuitableforuseasshortermemberssuchasnogsandbracing,whilstkeepingthestraightestsectionsforlongerapplicationssuchasraftersandpoles.

15

IDEALBAMBOOFORCONSTRUCTIONHASNODALSPACINGSOFBETWEEN30AND60CM

EXAMPLESOFSPECIESDIVERSITY:THIN‐WALLEDBAMBOOSUITABLE

FORRAFTERS,THICK‐WALLEDSUITEDTOPOLESANDSOLIDBAMBOOUSEDFORHAMMERHANDLES

TAPER

Foreaseofconstructionandconsistencyofstrength,culmsshouldbeselectedwithaminimalleveloftaperalongthelength.Amaximumtaperof10mmper3moflengthiscommonlyconsideredacceptable.

Overlytaperedculmsareonecommonsymptomofover‐croppingofaclumppriortofullmaturity.

NODES

Bambooisstraightbetweennodes,alteringdirectionslightlyatthenode.Hencebamboowithtightnodalspacingmaymakeforirregular‐shapedculmsthataremoredifficulttobuildwith.Widernodalspacing(30cm‐60cm)makesforstraighterbambooandthereforeeasierconstruction.Overlywidespacinglimitsthehorizontalstrengthoftheculm.

Thelengthofnodalspacingisgenerallyafeatureoftheparticularspecies,thoughnarrowspacingmaybecausedbyviralattackandstresswhengrowing.

Goodplanningandculmselectiononsitecanensurebestnodalplacementforimportantstructuraljoints.

SPECIES

Suitablespeciesforuseinhumanitarianprogrammingvarygreatlyfromareatoareaandapplicationtoapplication.Thevastvariationincharacteristicsandpropertiesbetweenspeciesmakesaccurateselectionessential.

Asageneralguide,speciesmostsuitedtomainpoleshavethickpulpywallswhilstspeciesforgeneralconstructionusesuchasrafters,havethinnerbutdenserwalls.Alargevarietyofspeciesareusedforwovensheetingandhandicraftsdependingontheexactneedsoftheproductbeingproduced.

Localadviceshouldalwaysbesoughtinanyareaforthemostappropriatespeciesforagivenapplication.

ACCEPTABLETAPER10MMPER3M

16

ADVANCEDFUNGALATTACKONBADLY‐MANAGEDBAMBOOCLUMP

PINHOLEBORERATTACKONAGINGBAMBOO

SHEETING

INSECTANDFUNGALATTACK

Bambooshouldbecheckedregularlyforsignsoffungaldecayorinsectattackduringpurchasing,storageandconstruction.Damagedmaterialshouldnotedandrejected.Mostsuchdamageisduetoexcessiveageoftheculmattimeofharvestorisanindicationofpoorstorage,handling

orclumpmanagement.procedures.

Themostcommonformsofinsectandfungalattackinbambooarefromthepinhole(orpowder)borerbeetle,fungus,wetrotandtermiteattack.Eachoftheseflawsinbamboocanbeeasilydetectedusingthefollowingtableofindicators.

Themajorityoffungalandinsectattackpriortoconstructionispreventablethroughacombinationofimprovedharvestingandsapleachingtoreducehowediblebamboois,alongwithimprovedhandlingandstorage.Postconstructionpestissuesmayalsobecausedbypoordesignallowingexcessexposuretohumidityandgroundcontact.

INDICATORS NOTES

POWDERBORER

• 1‐3mmboreholes(exitholes)occurringsporadicallyoverthesurfaceofthebamboo.Exitholesusuallybeginatthenode.

• Smallpilesofveryfinedustonthegroundbelowthebamboo.

• Entranceatnodalpointsandends.

• Powderborerisperhapsthemostcommoncauseofdamageinbamboo.

• Harvestbambooattimeswhensugarlevelislowestinthesapwillreduceitsattractivenesstopowderborers,particularlyindryseasons.

FUNGALATTACK

• Mould‐likesporescanbeseengrowingontheoutsideofthebamboo.

• Bamboodevelopsadampmushroom‐likesmellandculmwallsbecomesoft.

• Fungalattackoccursduetoprolongedexposuretoexcessivehumidity.

• Rotatebambooregularlywhenstoredandstoreinwell‐ventilatedenvironment.

WETROT

• Weakeningofthesidewallofthebamboocommonlyatornearends.

• Rotiscausedbyexcessiveexposuretowater.Keepbamboofreefromgroundcontact,exposuretorain,andkeepareawelldrained.

TERMITEATTACK

• Sidewallsofbambooareeatenout,leavingbehindaweakhoneycomb‐likestructure.

• Coarserpilesofdustmaybeseenonthegroundbelowbamboo.

• Oncebrokenopen,termitesareoftenclearlyvisibleinsidethestructure.

• Generallyoccursovertimeafterconstruction.• Mosttermiteattackiscausedbysubterraneantermites,whoenterthroughdirectgroundcontact.

• Ensurethereisaphysicalbarrierbetweenthebambooandtheground.

• Removedamagedbambooandspottreatwithpoisonsthatworkertermitescancarrybacktothequeen.

17

MINORSPLITTING,MAJORSPLITTINGANDENDSPLITTING

SPLITTING

ThemajorityofAsianclumpingbamboospeciesasusedinconstructioninIndonesiaarepronetosplitting.Althoughthisprovesagreatbenefitforthemanufactureofhandicraftsandwovensheeting,excessivesplittingcangreatlyweakenthestrengthofbambooinconstruction.Excessivesplittinginbambooiscommonlyasignofpoorhandlingandstorage,excessiveageoftheculm,oroverlyrapiddryinginthecaseoffreshlybambooleftfortoolongindirectsunlight.

Excessivesplittingmaybeanimportantindicatorofotherproblemsinhandling,storage,seasoningandharvesting,andassuchoffersanopportunityforimprovingqualitycontrol.

• Avoidpurchasingbamboowheresplittingcontinuesthroughthenode.• Allowexcessateitherendoftheculmwhenorderingtoallowforthenaturaltendencyofend

splittinginbamboowhendrying.• Hairlinesplitsareacceptablebutshouldbeconsideredasawarningofpotentialproblemssuchin

storageandhandlingorexcessiveculmage.• Splitsinthecentreofsectionsofbamboomayindicatepoorhandlingandpoorfellingtechniques.

Itisimportanttodefineandstipulateanagreedlevelofsplittingbetweenbeneficiariesandsupplierstoensureaminimumstandardisachievedthatthecommunityissatisfiedwith.Randomcheckswithintruckloadsshouldoccurtoverifythisandotherpotentialqualityissues.

18

B.2CROPMANAGEMENTANDSUSTAINABLEHARVESTING

RecentresearchbytheEnvironmentalBambooFoundationinBalihasshownthatgoodcropmanagementpracticescanincrease

bamboocropyieldsbyupto400%,whilstpoorpractices(asarepronetooccurintherushofconstructionafteramajor

disaster)candevastatecropoutputformanyyears,orinsomecasespermanently.

Formanycommunities,bamboocropsperformessentialrolesindisasterriskreductionbystrengtheningriverbanks,bufferingstrongwindswithoutthehazardcausedbytreeswhenblownover,andshadingandcoolingthelocalenvironment.Trainingcommunitiesincropmanagementandtheresultantincreasedoutputcanprovidevaluableincomegenerationatavillagelevel,whilstalsoimprovingcommunityleveldisasterpreparedness.

The2008HumanitarianBambooConsultativeForuminJogjakartaidentifiedgoodcropmanagementasoneofthemostoverlookedaspectsofbamboousageintheJogjakartaearthquakeresponse.The

harvestingofmorethe20millionculmsofbamboofortemporaryhousingseriouslydepletedlocalbamboostocks.Theforum

recommendedthatallfuturebamboo‐basedhumanitarianprogramsshouldincludemeasurestoensuresustainable

harvestingandreplantingaspartoftheirprogramdesignandprocurementguidelines.

Growyourownprotection?Trainingcommunitiesingoodcropmanagementcangreatlyimprove

resilienceinfuturedisasters.Aswellasbeingavaluableresource,bamboo

providesanexcellentbufferforfloodsandstorms.

• CoolDiagramshowingaclumpofbamboonexttoariver,reinforcingriverbanks,transpiringwaterintotheair,shadingacommunityandprovidingwindbreaks

Growyourownhouse?Simplybymanagingcropsbetter,communitiescanincreasetheyieldoftheirbamboobyupto30%.Within3‐5years,familiescanquicklygrowanextensiontotheirshelter.

ProtectingcommunitiesOver90%ofhomelessnessthroughnaturaldisastersiscausedbywindandflood.Bambooplaysanimportantroleinacommunity’sresiliencetotheseevents.

BAMBOOPLANTSPERFORMANIMPORTANTROLEINDISASTERRISKREDUCTION,REINFORCINGTHERIVERBANK

ANDPROTECTINGAGAINSTFLOODS,WHILSTBUFFERINGSTRONGWINDSASWELLASPROVIDINGAVALUABLE

RESOURCEFORRAPIDPOST‐DISASTERSHELTER.

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B.2.1HARVESTING

Harvestingisoftentheonlytimethatcommunitiesengagewiththeirbamboostocks,henceprovidingthegreatestopportunityforcropmanagement.Althoughmanypractitionersagreethatinanemergency,bamboocropscanbeharvestedatanytimeofyear,itisclearthatharvestingatthecorrecttimeofyearandinthecorrectmannerwillgreatlyimprovebothbambooqualityandcropproduction,andmayincreasebamboo’susablelifespanbyuptotenfold.

WHENTOHARVEST

Inanemergencysituationbamboocanbeharvestedatanytimeorstageofitslifecycle.

However,thesusceptibilityofbambootopestinfiltrationishighlyinfluencedbysapsugarlevelsatthetimeofharvestandtherearepreferabletimesforharvest,withinthelifecycleofthebamboo,theannualcycleofgrowth,thetimeofthemonthaswellasthetimeoftheday.Forexample,harvestingduringtherainygrowthseasonshouldbeavoidedasitwilldamagenewlyemergingshoots,reducingoverallcropproductivity.Theguidelinesbelowshowhowtoincreasethelifeexpectancyofboththestructureandthecrop.

1) LIFECYCLE: Harvestculmsnoyoungerthan3yearsoldandnoolderthan5yearsold.2) ANNUALCYCLE: Harvestwelloutsidethegrowthphaseduringtherainyseason.3) MONTHLYCYCLE: Consultlocalknowledgeaboutthebesttimetoharvestbymooncycle.4) DAILYCYCLE: Harvestpreferablyatdawnwhenvisibilityissufficientbutsaplevelsarestill

low.

Best Worst

Harvest timing

20

EXAMPLEOFHORSESHOECROPMANAGEMENTSYSTEM

HOWTOHARVEST

Bestpracticeinbambooharvestingincludes:

• Toensureadequatefoliagetofeedthedevelopingclump,ideallynomorethan33%ofaclumpshouldbeharvestedatanytime

• Harvestculmsat3‐5yearsold(thereissomevariationbetweenspecies).• Cutculmsimmediatelyabovethesecondnodeabovethegroundtoreducepotentialfungalattack.• Ensurecutsareasneataspossibleandcleanupwastebambootoreducepestinfestation.• Prunetheclumptoallowingmorelightinandencouragenew

shootgrowth.Clearoutculmsthatareo toooldandhavebegintodecay.o diseased.o brokenoroverlybent.

• Bamboocellsbegintocollapseandclosewithin2‐3daysofharvest,afterwhichtimetheyarenolongercapableoftransportingwater.Treatmentsystemsthatmakeuseoftheplant’svascularsystemmustbeundertakenduringthisperiod.Storingfreshly‐cutbamboounderwaterasiscommoninsapleachingprocedureswillincreasethisinterval.

Anumberofbambooforestrypractitionersrecommendmanagingbambooclumpsintoahorseshoecrossorrotatingflowerconfiguration.Inthispractice,newshootsareencouragedtoformattheoutsideoftheclump,withasmallaccesscorridormaintainedtoallowaccesstothecenter.Theinnersectionoftheclumpwillcontainolderculmsreadyforharvestingwhiletheouterexpandingsectionisonlynewgrowth.

ROUGHANDUNCLEANCUTSWHENHARVESTINGBAMBOORESULTINGININCREASEDFUNGALATTACK

DEVASTATEDBAMBOOCLUMPINBANTUL,

YOGYAKARTAASARESULTOFAGGRESSIVEHARVESTINGPOST‐2006EARTHQUAKE

21

B.3TREATMENT

B.3.1TOTREATORNOTTOTREAT

Perhapsthegreatestdebateamongsthumanitarianworkersregardingtheuseofbambooiswhetherbambooshouldbetreatedornotpriortouseinpost‐disasterconstruction.Argumentsfortreatmentpointouttheobviousadvantagesofincreasedlongevityandtheensuingincreaseinbenefitfromassistanceprovidedtotheaffectedcommunity,whileproponentsagainsttreatmentpointoutsuchfactorsascost,potentialenvironmentalimpacts(notofconcernwithboraxtreatments),timedelaysinprocurementandsupply,andtheneedforincreasedtechnicalexpertise.

Thedecisiontotreatornottreatneedstobemadeonacasebycasebasis,andwillbebasedonarangeoffactorssuchastheforecastusagetimeofthestructuresbeingbuiltandtheavailabilityofsuitableskillsandequipment.Thisdecisionmustbebasedonaclearunderstandingoftheprofileofanygivendisasterandthesuitabilityofbambootreatmentsystemstotheintendedprogramdesign.

Inreality,indecidingwhetherornottochemicallytreatbamboo,thegreatestdefenseliesinhowbamboohasbeenhandledfromthemomentofharvest,orevenearlier,untilitseventualusageinshelterconstruction.Thebesttreatmentsystemsintheworldareeasilyunderminedthroughsimpleerrorsindesignandconstruction.Ontheotherhand,completelyuntreatedbamboo,correctlyharvested,cured,transportedandinstalledmaylastaslongastreatedbamboowhichhasbeenpoorlyhandled.

UntreatedbambooCheap,fast,effective:

buyittoday,useittoday.Biodegrades:lastsfor1‐3yearsdependingon

exposure.

TreatedbambooHasa20‐30yrslifeexpectancyifcorrectlyharvested,handledand

treated,andshelteredfromweatherinuse.Henceoffersagreatlyincreasedcontributiontocommunityresources.

22

THEBESTPROTECTIONFORBAMBOOISKEEPINGITDRY.ALLOW

ADEQUATEEAVES,GOODDRAINAGEANDKEEPBAMBOOFREE

FROMDIRECTGROUNDCONTACT

B.3.2PROTECTIONWITHOUTTREATMENT

Themostimportantdefenseforanybamboostructure,whethertreatedornot,ishowwellitisdesignedforprotectionfromtheelements.Untreatedbambooindirectcontactwithmoistgroundorrainmaycompletelybreakdowninlessthanayear,treatedbamboomayfairnobetter.

Toachievealonglifeexpectancyfromabamboostructureitisfirstlyessentialtofollowgoodharvestingpracticetoensureminimalsugarswithinthebamboo.SeeSectionB.2.1Harvesting.

Keydesignprinciples:

Protectstructurefromrain

Provideadequateventilation

Ensureadequatedrainage

Avoiddirectgroundcontact

23

COMPONENTSOFABAMBOOPROTECTIONSTRATEGY

24

AIRCURING

Bamboocanbeair‐curedbyleavingthebranchesandleavesonfortwotothreedaysaftercutting.Thisallowsthebambootoconsumetheremainingsugarsandstarcheswithintheculmreducingitsattractivenesstopests.Branchesshouldbekeptfreeofgroundcontactthroughoutthisperiod.

WATERLEACHING

Curingbamboothroughleachingthesapfromwithintheculmremovesthesugarsandstarchesthatattractmostpests.Thisrelativelysimpleprocessisundertakenasquicklyafterharvestingaspossiblebecausecellswithintheculmbegintocloseafter2‐3days.

Commonlybambooisimmersedinflowingwaterfor4‐12weeks(dependingonthespecies),withstoneweightsappliedtokeepthebamboofullyimmersed.Insomepartsoftheworldbambooisleachedinsaltwaterasthesaltoffersadditionalpestresistance.Generallythisisnotrecommendedassaltwatertakeslongertopenetratetheculm,andtheimbeddedsaltsalsoraisethehydroscopiccapacityofthefibersleadingtomorerapidrotting.

Analternativemethodofleachingoutsapsinvolvesstandingthebamboouprightinlargedrumsfullofwaterfor3‐4days,toallowthebambooplanttodrawinthewaterandclearoutititsownsap.Thismethodcanalsobeusedasalow‐techmethodforinjectingboraxtreatment.

AIRDRYINGVSKILNDRYING

Bamboothathasbeenproperlydriedpriortousewillhavemoreconsistentdurabilitythanbamboodriedinposition.Airdryingofbambootakesaround6‐12weeksdependingonspecieswhilstslowkilndryingtakes2‐3weeks.Solarkilnsthattrapandstoretheenergyfromthesun,offeralowenergycostcompromiseof3‐6weeks.Kilndryingmaybenecessaryduringtherainyseasonwhenbamboomaybegintobeaffectedbymouldwhilstdryingout.

Whendryingbamboo,careshouldbetakentoprovideregularsupportandallowsufficientspacearoundtheculmsforevaporation.Therateatwhichbamboocanbedriedvariesfromspeciestospecieswithsomespeciessplittingmorereadilythanothers.Speciespronetosplittingcanhavetheirdryingratesloweddownbytheapplicationofasealantsuchaspainttotheends.

WATERLEACHING

25

TRADITIONALLYHOUSEINPERU,SEALED

THENSMOKEDUPONCOMPLETION

B.3.3PROTECTIONTHROUGHTREATMENT

Thedurabilityofbamboocanbegreatlyextendedthroughtheapplicationofarangeoftreatments,rangingfromnaturalandlowtoxicitythroughtotheuseofpesticidesandpreservatives.Naturalandlowtoxicitytreatmentsaregenerallymostsuitedtohumanitarianprojectsandhencearecoveredhere.Informationonpesticidebasedtreatmentsisreadilyavailablefromcommercialmanufacturers.

NATURALTREATMENTS:SMOKING

Smokingisoneoftheoldesttraditionalmethodsofpreservingbamboo,withalongtraditionofusageinsuchareasasLatinAmerica,JapanandChina.Smokefromburningtimberorbamboocontainsarangeofpreservativeandprotectivechemicalssuchascreosoteandfuransthatcanmakebamboosignificantlylessattractivetoarangeofpests.Additionally,theheatingprocesskillsoffexistingpestinfiltrationswhilstinsomecasesalsopartiallyplasticizingthelignininthebambooandhenceincreasingitsdurability.

Thereareabroadrangeofmethodsforsmoke‐treatingbamboo,thesimplestinvolveplacingsmallitemsaboveanopenfireforextendedperiods,whilstthemostcomplexinvolvelargestackedsealedkilns.Insometraditionalcultures,completedhousesweresealedandsmokeduponcompletion.

ResearchinJapanandChinashowsthatthroughsmokingandsteamheatingbamboowithaprecisecombinationoftemperature,humidityandtiming,thecelluloseandligninwithinthecellularwallcanbemadetoplasticize,greatlyincreasingthebamboo’stubularstrengthanddurability.

Smokingbamboooveranopenfireisgenerallyonlysuitableforsmall‐scaleapplicationssuchashandicrafts.Itisoftentraditionallyusedforpreservingbamboostringsandspinesusedinthatchedroofing.Mildongoingopenfiresmokingmayalsobeusedtokeepstacksoffreshlycutbamboofreeofpestsbetweenthetimeofcuttingand

deliverytomarkets.

Largescalesmokingprojectswillrequirelargekilnsandarethereforemostappropriateforongoinghumanitarianordevelopmentprojects.Theseinvolveheatingbambootobetween120and200°Cforbetween12and48hoursdependingonthespecies.Aswithmosttreatments,flattenedbamboosectionssuchasthoseusedforflooringandwallingcanbetreatedmorerapidly.Punchingthroughnodescanalsoimprovesmokepenetration.Exacttimesandtemperaturesmayvarygreatlyfromspeciestospeciesandhencewillrequiresite‐specificresearch.

InLatinAmerica,multi‐functionalkilnshavebeenestablishedusingthewastebambootipsfromharvestingforfuelwhilstproducingbi‐productsofbamboovinegar,creosoteandfuelcharcoal.AtthetimeofwritingnoknownexamplesexistinAsia.

NATURALTREATMENTS:MUDANDSALT

26

OIL‐BASEDTREATMENTPRODUCTSAPPLIEDTOTHE

SURFACEORWOVENBAMBOOSHEETING

InmanytraditionalcommunitiessuchasinruralIndonesia,bambooistreatedbysoakingforprolongedperiodsineithermudorseawater.Bothsystemsrequireapproximatelyonemonthofimmersiontoleachthesugar‐ladensapfromwholeculms.Mud‐basedsolutionsofferanadditionalminorprotectionofanoutermudlayerwhilstthesaltinseawatermakesthebamboounpalatable.Neithersystemisconsideredhighlyreliableoreffectivebutmayworkwellenoughwhencombinedwithanoverallprotectionprogramthatincludesgooddesignetc.Note:saltsolutionswillincreasethepotentialforrotbyraisingthewickingcapacityofthebamboo.

CHEMICALTREATMENTS:EXTERNAL

Arangeofexternaltreatmentscanbeappliedtobambootoincreaseitsresistancetofungusandpestattack.Suchtreatmentsmayincludetheapplicationofkerosene,camphor,commercialpesticidesandvarnishorpaint.Thehighsilicacontentintheouterskinofbamboocommonlyresultsinlowabsorptionrates,withpestresistancebeingachievedmorethroughthebamboobecomingunattractivetopestsratherthanactuallybeingtoxic.Externaltreatmentsneedtobereappliedatregularintervals.Onceevery2‐3monthsiscommonforkeroseneoronceeverysixmonthsforvarnishes.

Ingeneral,externaltreatmentsarenotconsideredtobeveryeffective,althoughpaintorvarnishcanprotecttreatedbamboofromleachingwheresomeexposuretorainisunavoidable.

Treatmentssuchassumpoil,bituminoustarandcreosoteareoftenusedonbamboopolesinserteddirectlyintotheground.Whilstsuchtreatmentsdoincreasethepestresistanceofthepoles,mostbamboospecieshaveverylowdurabilitywhenindirectcontactwiththegroundandsuchtreatmentsprovidefarlessprotectionthanaraisedfooting.

PESTICIDES

Arangeofpesticidescanbeusedtoincreasethepestresistanceofbamboo.CommonlyusedpesticidesincludePCP,DDTandDieldren.Mostpesticidesprovidelittlegreaterprotectionthanboron‐basedtreatments,buthaveahighercostandincreasedenvironmentalandhealthrisks.Hencethesetreatmentsarenotrecommendedforhumanitarianprogramming.Oneexceptionmaybethegrowingmarketincommerciallypressuretreatedbambooproducts(using3rdgenerationpesticides),largelyfromChina.Theseproductsincludelaminatedbeamsandflooring,whichmaybeappropriateformoreindustrialhumanitarianapplications.

BORON‐BASEDTREATMENTSYSTEMS

27

BORONCRYSTALS

Themostcommonandwell‐documentedbambootreatmentsystemsinvolvedissolvingacombinationofboraxandborasicacidinwaterinconcentrationsofaround5‐10%andthensoakingthebamboointheliquiduntilthesolutionhaspenetratedcompletelythroughoutthebamboo.Penetrationtimevariesgreatlydependingonthesystem.Boraxisarelativelyharmlesscompoundwhoseminusculeparticlesizeallowsittoeasilypenetratethroughoutbamboowhendissolved.

Boraxandborasicacidarenaturallyoccurringboron‐basedcompoundscommonlyavailableassodiumborate,sodiumtetraborate,ordisodiumtetraborate.AcommoncommercialproductisTim‐bor.Boronsaresuppliedasawhitepowderconsistingofsoftcolorlesscrystalsthatdissolveeasilyinwater.Bambootreatmentsgenerallycombineamixtureofboronandborasicacidforpestresistancewiththeacidprovidinganaddedadvantageasafireretardant.

Thereareawiderangeofwell‐documentedsystemsforembeddingboraxandborasicintobamboo.Itisimportanttoweighuptherelativeadvantagesanddisadvantagesofeachsysteminrelationtotheprogramyouareplanning.Somesystemsarebettersuitedtolong‐termmassproductionwhilstothersarebettersuitedtoshort‐termcommunity‐levelproduction.

Boraxtreatmentsystemscanbebroadlybrokenintotwogroups:pressurefeedandsoakage‐basedsystems.Pressurefeedsystems,suchasthewell‐knowngravity‐fedBroucheriemethod,utilizethefluidtransportationsystemoftheplant,byattachingapipetooneendoftheculmandpumpingboraxsolutionthroughtheplantsvascularsystem.Pressuretreatmentmethodsareconductedwithinthefirstfewdaysofharvestbeforecellularcollapsesetsin.Thesesystemsoffertheaddedadvantageofpurgingtheremainingsapfromtheculm,thusreducingtheneedforleaching,withtheassociateddisadvantageofneedingtobeundertakensoonaftercutting.Perhapsthebestdocumentedpressure‐fedsystemsisthemodifiedBroucheriemethodinwhichapumpisusedtoforcesolutionfromthethickendofaculm.AlesserknownsystemthatisbettersuitedforvillagelevelproductionhasbeendevelopedbyARTIinIndia,usinghandpumpsattachedtothethinendoftheculm.

Soakagesystemsaregenerallysimplerthoughslowerthanpressurefedsystems,involvingtheimmersionofbambooforlongenoughthattheboraxsolutionpenetratesthroughouttheculm.Soakagesystemsrequirethepunchingoutofnodesorthedrillingofholesbetweennodestoallowcompletepenetrationoftheboraxsolution.Thesimplestsoakagesolutionsinvolvesoakingfor3+days,dependentonthespecies.PerhapsthebestdocumentedsysteminIndonesiaistheVerticalSoakDiffusion(VSD)systemaspracticedanddocumentedbytheEnvironmentalBambooFoundation,C.V.IndobambooandP.TBambuinBali.ForVSD,bambooculmsarestoodverticallywithallnodesexceptthebottomnodepunchedthrough.Theculmisthenkeptfilledwithboraxsolutionforanumberofdaysuntilfulldissipationhasoccurred.

28

29

B.4LOGISTICSANDHANDLING

Thecarewithwhichbambooishandledandtransportedfromthemomentofcuttingtofinalplacementwillhaveadirectbearingontheusablelifespanoftheendproduct.

TRANSPORTATIONANDHANDLING

Theneedforcarewhentransportingandhandlingbamboogrowsinimportancewiththedurationandcomplexityofthetrip.Bambooshouldbe:

• Coveredduringtransportationtopreventexcessivedryingandsplittingofuppermostculms.• Protectivesheathesshouldbeusedbetweenropesandbambootopreventdamage.• Thebottomlayerofbambooshouldbecheckedcarefullyforcrushing,todeterminemaximum

weightloading.Thelightweightnatureofbamboomeansthisisgenerallynotaproblem.

Tripsinvolvingtransportationbyseaneedtoincludeadequatestepstopreventmoulddamage.Bamboopackedinsidecontainersshouldincludesomeformofmoistureabsorptionstrategy,thesimplestofwhichistheinclusionofsacrificialsacksoflimeorcement.

Whenloadingandunloadingbamboo,careshouldbetakentoensurebambooisnotthrowntothegroundasthiswillcausecracking.Suchcracksmaynotbevisibleattimeofunloadingbutwillbroadenasthebamboodriesinsitu,weakeningthefinalstructure.

Thewaxylayerandfungusontheouterlayerofbamboomaycauseskinirritation.Workershandlingbamboocontinuouslyshouldbeprovidedwithgloves.

STORAGE

Bambooshouldbestored:

• Freeofgroundcontacttopreventpestinfestation.• Stackedhorizontallywithregularsupportat2‐3

nodeintervalstopreventwarping.• Undershadetopreventunduecracking.• Withadequateairflowaroundculmstopreventmould.

Storageyardsshouldbe:

• Keptcleanandfreeofsawdustandcuttingwastetopreventpestinfestation.• Stockshouldberotatedregularlythroughtheyardensuringnostockisleftforprolongedperiods.If

storingformorethan1‐2weeksbambooshouldbeturnedoverregularlytoensureevendryingandreducethepotentialformouldgrowthorpestinfestation.

Iscommunity‐basedprocurementpossible?

Directprocurementbythecommunitymayinjectupto8timesasmuchfunds

andcanreduceunnecessarystorageandhandling.Considerlogistics&

procurementtraining.

30

Building

KeyPoints

• Bambooisaverydistinctconstructionmaterialwithitsownuniquesetofpositiveandnegativecharacteristics.Agoodunderstandingofthefundamentaldifferencesbetweenbambooandotherconstructionmaterialsisessentialtotheimplementationofsuccessfulbambooprojects.

• Howwellabamboobuildingisdesigned,constructedandmaintainedwillgreatlyaffectthedurabilityofthestructure.

• Wovenbamboosheetingprovidesacheapefficientresourceforwallingandflooringmaterial.Communitiesneedtobeengagedtodefinequalitycriteria.

• Workingwithcommunitiestodefineongoingmaintenanceprocedurescangreatlyenhancethelifeexpectancyofanybamboostructure.

SectionC

Building1. Generaldesignprinciples2. Designingwithbamboo

3. Construction4. Wovensheeting5. Maintenance

31

C.1DESIGNINGAPROGRAMTHATUSESBAMBOO

Havingalreadymadethedecisiontousebamboo,anumberofkeyquestionsshouldbeaskedpriortocommencingdesignoftheprogram:

Howmuchbamboowilltheprogramneedandhowwillthisimpacttheaffectedcommunity’sresources?

• Cantheprogramincorporatereplanting?• Canprocurementbediversified?

Approximatelyhowlongarethebuildingsexpectedtobeinhabitedfor?

• Doesthebambooneedtobetreated?Ifso,whichsystemismostappropriate?• Isthedesigndurableenoughforthetimeframe?• Whatjointingsystemisappropriateforthetimeframe?

Whatfuturerisksarethebuildingslikelytofaceandhowcanwemitigatethoserisks?

• Adverseweathersuchasintenserain,coldorheat?• Futureclimaticevents?

Whatskillsandresourcesdoesthecommunityhavetobuildandmaintainthestructures?

• Willtheprogramneedtoincludecapacitybuildingortraining?• Willtheprogramneedtoincludesupplyoftoolsorongoingsupport?

Whatisthetimeperiodoftheprogram?

• Whatistheexitpoint?• Howrapidlydobuildingsneed

tobebuilt?

Improve

Monitor

Plan

Implement

32

C.2DESIGNINGWITHBAMBOO

Designingandbuildinginbamboorequiresanunderstandingofdifferentdesignandconstructionprinciplestothoseusedwithothercommonbuildingmaterialssuchastimber,steel,concreteorbricks.

Inlength,bambooprovideshightensileandcompressivestrength,whilstitstubularstructuremeansthatitismuchweakeracrossitswidthwhereitispronetocrushing,exceptatnodes.Bamboo’sflexibilityacrossitslengthallowsforhighlevelsofshockabsorption,whilstalsoprovidingrealpotentialforthedesignofcurvedelementsheldintension.Bamboopolesinconstructionwillsupporthighloadsaslongasthebuildingisconstructedsothepolecannotbuckle.

C.2.1COMPARATIVECHARACTERISTICSOFCOMMONCONSTRUCTIONMATERIALS

BAMBOO TIMBER STEEL MASONRY

STRENGTH• Tensilestrengthofmildsteel

• Weakinsidecompression

• Stronginsidecompression,tensionandlength

• Weakinlengthwisecompression

• Hightensilestrength

• Highcompressivestrength

• Lowtensilestrength

DURABILITY• Lowdurability(1‐2years)

• Unlesscuredortreated(10‐25years)

• Durabilitydependantonspeciesandexposure(from2‐3yearsto20‐30years)

• Highlydurable(10‐30years)

• Highlydurable(20‐50years)

FLEXIBLITY• Extremelyflexible,particularlyinsplitsections

• Limitedtosmallsectionsorcomplexsteambending

• Highlyflexible:canbeformedtowhatevershaperequired

• Inflexible

• Rigidstructure

JOINTING• Lowtechnology

• Boltingorpegging

• Lashingortying

• Nailinglimited• Simpleandlowcost

• Mediumleveltechnology

• Screwing,nailingandbolting

• Mediumcost

• Hightechnology

• Screw,weld,rivet

• Highcost

• Mortar

• Lowcost

SPPED• Extremelyfast• 1weekpershelter

• Medium• 1‐3weekspershelter

• Rapid• 1weekpershelter

• Slow

• 4‐6weeks

AVAILABILITY• Availableinlargequantitiesacrossmostdisaster‐pronetropicalareas

• Globallydiminishingresource

• Environmentalconcerninmanydisaster‐affectedcountries

• Highavailabilityalthoughmayfrequentlyneedtobeimportedtoarea

• Highlyavailableinmostareas

• Varietyofoptions

33

THEDEADLOADOFABUILDINGSWEIGHTVSTHELIVELOADTHATABUILDINGEXPERIENCESDURINGUSE

EFFECTOFWINDLOADONBUILDINGS

WITHANDWITHOUTBRACING

COST(BASEDON24M2

SHELTER)

• Extremelylowcost

• $100‐300

• Mediumcost

• $500‐1000

• Highcost

• $2000‐5000

• Mediumtohighcost

• $1000‐5000

C.2.2DESIGNPRINCIPLES

Anumberofkeydesignprinciplesneedtobeconsideredwhenplanningaprojectinbamboo.Tounderstandtheseprinciplesitisimportanttofirstunderstandsomebasicprinciplesofconstruction.

NOTE:Thismanualdoesnotintendtobeadesignbookforengineers,butratheraimstoprovideguidanceforhumanitarianworkerstoensuretheyhaveaskedthecorrectengineeringquestionsandincorporatedsimplegoodpracticeintotheirwork.Althoughingeneral,simpleemergencyandtransitionalsheltersolutionsdonotrequirecomplexengineering,itisclearlybestpracticetoensurethatsuchmassprogramshavebeencheckedbyaskilled(preferablylocal)professional.Wheresuchresourcesarenotavailableconsiderusingplansthathavealreadybeendesignedandtestedorseekmoredetailedtechnicaladvice.SeeSectionD.1Furtherresources.

LIVEANDDEADLOADS

Buildingsareexposedtotwomaintypesofforces,deadloadsandliveloads.Deadloadsarethestaticforcesthatapplysuchastheweightoftheroofbearingdownonthestructure,whilstliveloadsincludethedynamicchangingloadsthatabuildingwillhavetocopewithoveritslifespan,suchastheweightofthechangingnumberofpeopleinsideit,windforces,pressurecausedbygroundmovementinanearthquakeorwaterpressureinaflood.

Whendesigningabuilding,itisessentialtoconsidertherangeofliveloadsthebuildingwillbeexposedto.Thisisofparticularimportanceinwhenworkingindisasterproneareaswherethelikelihoodoffloods,highwindsorearthquakesmaygreatlyincreasethestressloadingsthatabuildingmayhavetocopewith.

MOMENTUMANDBRACING

Whenbuildingssuffersuddenloads,suchasthoseexperiencedinanearthquake,theymaytwistorwarp.Suchmovement,combinedwiththemassofthestructure,cancreatehighlevelsofmomentum,greatlyincreasingtheeffectiveweightorforceloadthatisappliedacrossthebuilding.Muchofthisforcewillbetransferredtothejointsofthebuilding,makingthem

34

Correct

DETAIL: Top plate with fish‐plate where posts intersectbetweennodes.

theweakpointinmoststructures.Thisisparticularlysointhecaseofbamboo.Theinclusionofbracingacrossinallplanesofthestructurereducesthepotentialloadonjoints.

DESIGNFORADAPTABILITY,REUSE,MAINTENAINCEANDDECONSTRCUTION

Whendesigninganybuilding,considerationshouldbegiventothefuturepotentialusageandlifecycleofthebuilding.Temporarysheltersbytheirverynaturehavealimitedlifeintheoriginaldesignformat.Itisimportanttoconsultwithcommunitiesabouthowsuchstructuresmaybeusedinalongertimeframeandtakethepossibilitiesintoconsiderationatthedesignstage.InmanycasessuchastheYogyakartaearthquakeresponse,transitionalshelterswentontoperformarangeofrolessuchasshops,stables,kitchensandsparerooms.Manyshelterswerealsodismantledforreuseinthepermanenthome.Temporarysheltersalsooftenbecomethecoreforapermanentconstruction.

Designfordeconstructionandreusecanbeachievedthroughtheuseofnonpermanentjointssuchasboltingandlashing.Wallscanbedesignedforfuturemasonryroofloadseventhoughanagencyisonlysupplyingtarpaulinroofing.Thedecisiontotreatbambooforframingmayencouragethereuseofsomeelementsoreventhewholeshelterinpermanentconstruction.

DESIGNINGFORBESTNODALPLACEMENT

Nodesarethestrongestpointinthecrosssectionoftheculmofbamboo,hencethecloserajointistoanodethestrongerthejointwillgenerallybe.Asaruleofthumbideallyjointsshouldbenofurtherfromanodethanthewidthofthebamboosectionsthatarebeingjoined.

Insayingthis,itisimportanttorecognizethatfastidiouslyselectingbambooforexactingnodalplacement,althoughcreatingastrongerstructure,mayconsumemuchmoretimeandpotentiallymorebamboo.Henceitisimportanttofocusonjointsofhigherstructuralpriority,ensuringnodesoccurascloseaspossibletothesejoints.

Anumberofstrategiescanbeengagedtoimprovejointstrengththroughbetternodalplacement:

Sheathing

Wherejointsdooccurbetweennodesitispossibletostrengthenthejointbyusingsheathesorfishplatestospreadtheloadacrossthespacingbetweennodes.

35

JOININGAFLOORJOISTORTOPPLATETOACOLUMN

ROOFTRUSSWITHJOINTSRUNNINGTOTHENEARESTNODE

SACRIFICIALFOOTING

Bearingontonodaljoints

Jointdesignscantakeadvantageofthestrengthofnodesbybearingmoredirectlyontothem.Notethetwodiagramstotherightwherepinsarecorrectlylocatedclosetonodes.

Note:Whenanalysingthediagramsbelow,considerwherethedownwardforcesapply.

Thenearestnodepastthejoint

Unlike whenworking withtimber,jointscan oftenbegreatly

36

strengthenedsimplybyallowingeachmemberofthejointtocontinuepastthejointtobeyondthenearestnodebeforecutting.

37

C.3CONSTRUCTION

GLU

EING

NAILED

SCREW

ED

WIRED

TIED

PEGGING

PEGGED

&

TIED

BOLTING

SKETCH

FILLED

&

BOLTED

SKETCH

Thefollowingchapteroutlinesthebroaderconceptsbehindconstructioninbamboocoveringjointingsystems,framing,walling,flooringandroofing.Therearemanyoptionsavailableforeachofthesecomponentsandthechoiceofwhichsolutionstouseishighlydependentontheneedsandabilitiesoftheaffectedcommunity.Hencethischapterdoesnotfocusonprovidinganyonesolutionbutratheranoverview.

38

C.3.1STAGINGCONSTRUCTION

Inplanningtheconstructionofanydwelling,anumberofissuesshouldbeconsidered:

Set‐outandsitepreparation

• Isthedrainageoffthesiteadequate?• Accesstosanitation• Safetyfromremnantbuildings• Safetyfromfurthereventssuchasfloodandlandslide• Considerimpactonfuturepermanentconstruction

Foundationsandfootings

• Isthereadequatetie‐downforwindloadandearthquakesinthearea?

Framing

• Ensureadequatetemporarybracingduringconstructionaswellaspermanentbracing• Istheframestrongenoughforfutureroofloadsandliveloads

Roofing

• Sufficienteavestoprotectwalls

Cladding,doorsandwindows

• Isthereadequatesecurityforreturntowork?• Isthereadequateventilationandprivacy?

39

C.3.2JOINTINGSYSTEMTYPES

Differentjointingsystemsofferdifferingrelativemerits(seebelowforcomparison).Thechoiceofjointingsystemshouldbebasedontherelativeimportanceofthesecharacteristicstotheprojectathand,aswellastakingintoconsiderationlocalskillsandconstructionknowledge.

Relativemeritsofbamboojointingsystems Strength Usability Cost

JointType Notes

Durab

ility

Rigidity

Streng

th

Flexibility

Easeofu

se

acrossjo

ints

Spee

d

Lowlabo

ur

Chea

pmaterial

Fewtoo

ls

Bolts • Crushingofthebamboomustbeavoided• Onlyasstrongasthebambootheypassthrough• Bestwhenbracedinalldirections

5 5 5 2 3 4 2 2 2

Fill&bolt • Createsaveryrigidjoint• Particularlywellsuitedtofootingconnections

andindustrialloads5 5 5 2 2 3 1 1 1

Glue • Theouterskinofbambooishighlyresistanttogluewhilsttheinnerlayersgluewell

• Particularlysuitedtolongitudinaljoints4 4 4 1 2 1 2 3 3

Rubberstrap • Arangeofre‐usedrubber(suchasoldinnertubes)canbeused,butbewarethattheymaybreakdownunderUVexposure

• Heavilydependentonhowitisattachedtothebamboo(oftenpoorlynailed)

• Hardtofindconsistentsupply

3 2 2 5 4 4 4 4 4

Nails • Pronetosplitting,particularlyinrunningspecies• Pre‐drillingorchisellingwillreducetendencyto

split• Bestsuitedtotemporarystructuresand

clumpingspecies

2 1 2 3 5 4 5 5 5

Pegs&rope • Seeseparatenotesunderpegsandropes• Labour‐intensive,strongandlowtech

4 3 4 4 2 5 2 3 2

Pegs(dowels)

• Commonlymaybetimberorbamboo• Requirepre‐drilling• Strengthdependentonnodetojointplacement

3 2 3 3 3 4 3 4 3

Plywood&bolts

• Commonlyfortrussesorstructuralload• Boltlocationsshouldstillaligntonodes

5 5 5 3 2 4 2 1 1

Ropeorrattan

• Oftenwellknownatvillagelevel• Arangeofmaterialscanbeused:seeklocal

advicefortraditionalmaterials3 2 3 5 3 4 4 5 5

Screws • Pronetosplitting‐requirespre‐drilling• Bestsuitedtojoiningbamboototimber

2 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 4

Wire • Pronetorustatendsandknots • Canbeimprovedbyprotective

painting• Will‘digin’underhighload

3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 4

Best Worst

40

40

Building

C.3.3EXAMPLESOFCOMMONJOINTS

FOUNDATION

Photo

POSTTOBOTTOMPLATEJOINT

POSTTOTOPPLATE

LINTELDETAIL

BRACINGDETAIL

SKETCH Photo SKETCH

RAFTERTOTOPPLATE

ROOFINGTO

BATON

SKETCH Photo SKETCH

41

C.3.4WALLING

Indesigningsimpletransitionaloremergencysheltersfrombamboo,arangeofwallingmaterialsareavailable.Thischapterintroducesthekeyconceptsregardingthemainwallingoptionsandprovidespointersonkeyissuestobeconsidered.

Keyconsiderations

• Isthewallingmaterialthatisbeingconsideredreadilyavailableinthequantityrequired?• Whateffectwillbulkprocurementhaveonthelocalandregionalenvironment?• Whatisthecapacityofthelocalcommunitytosupplyorcreatetheirownwallingmaterials?• Isthechosenwallingmaterialsmustbeculturallyandclimaticallyappropriate?• Canthematerialbereplacedorupgradedwhenitwearsout?

ARANGEOFBAMBOOCLADDINGONTEMPORARYSHELTERS

42

Materialandlifespan

Advantages Disadvantages Notes

Plasticsheeting

6‐18months

• Rapidlydeployedanderected• Lowcost• Water‐andwind‐resistant• Lowimpactonlocalnatural

resources

• Highenvironmentalcost• Littleornoeconomicinput• Lowcommunityparticipation• Shortlifespan• Can’tberepairedorextendedeasily

bythecommunity

• Standardofsheetingusedisimportant.Seeplasticsheetingguidelines

• Mayrequiredifferentplasticsfordifferentclimates

Flattenedbamboo2‐3yearsifprotectedfromtherainand

groundcontact

• Easilymanufactured• Rapidlyerected• Requiresfewspecialisttools• Well‐ventilated:goodforhot

humidclimates• Biodegradablenaturalmaterial• Communitylivelihoodactivity

• Maynotprovideadequateprivacy• Maynotprovideadequaterainand

windprotectionincoldclimates• Limitedlifeexpectancy• Increasedloadonbambooresources

(consideralternativespecies)

• Mustbeculturallyappropriatetothearea

• Mayrequireparticularspecies

• Flattenedbambooiseasilyleachedortreatedtoincreasedurability

WovenBamboo2‐3yearsifprotectedfromtherainand

groundcontact

• Increasedwindandrainprotectionoverflattenedsheeting

• Maysupportlocalhandicraftsindustryandstrengtheneconomicrecovery

• Livelihoodsopportunityfortheaffectedcommunity

• Morelabourintensivemanufacturingthanflattenedsheeting

• Oftendifficulttoprocureinbulkasiscommonlyproducedatvillagelevel

• Highlyvariableproduct,mustnegotiateminimumstandardswithaffectedcommunity

• Sheetingwovenfromouterskinofbambooismoredurablebutcoarser

• Manystylesandpatternsexist,communityconsultationisessentialtoselectappropriatestandards

CompositeSheetingIndefinite‐5‐20years,

dependingonquality

• Mayprovideinsulativecapacity• Livelihoodscreationproject• Maybehighlydurabledepending

ongluesandconstructionsystem• Maybestructural• Maybeplasterableorpaintable,

creatingpermanentstructures

• Complextoproduce• Timeconsumingtoproduce• Mayrequireextensivetrainingor

capitalexpenditureonequipment

• Probablynotsuitedtorapidresponse

• Mayrequireprepositioning

• Worthconsideringforongoinghumanitariansituationsincolderclimates

CementsheetingIndefinite:5‐20years,

dependingonquality

• Highlydurable• Canbeplasteredorpainted• Easilyfastened,repairedand

renovated• Relativelycheappermanent

material

• Extremelyhardtoensureasbestos‐freesheetinginmanydevelopingcountries(particularlyinIndonesia)

• Expensive,heavyandslowtoprocurecomparedtobambooproducts

• AsbestoscontentisamajorconcernwheneverdealingwithcementsheetinAsiaasitisnotbannedinmostAsiancountries.

CGISheetingIndefinite:5‐20years,

dependingonquality

• Highlydurable• Wallsonlyrequireaverylight

gaugematerial• Relativelycheappermanent

solution• Easytoprocureinbulk

• “Tinshed”feel• Energy‐intensivesolution• Highenvironmentalimpactatsource

andcreation• Relativelyexpensivecomparedto

bambooandothernaturalmaterials

• Highthermalconductivitycanbeproblematicinextremeclimates.

• Difficulttoattacheasilytobambooframing

Timbercladding

Indefinite:5‐20years,dependingonquality

• Durabilitydependantonspecies,butcanbehighlydurable

• Easytoworkwith,repair,extendandmaintain

• Oftenwellknownasamaterialbytheaffectedcommunity

• Potentiallyhighenvironmentalimpact

• Difficulttoprocureinbulk• Requiresexpertiseinspecifyingand

procuring

• SeeHumanitarianTimberguidelines

Alternativenaturalmaterials

Dependentonmaterial

• Widerangeofpotentiallyappropriatematerials

• Potentiallylowenvironmentalimpact

• Oftensupportslocalprocurementorcreationbyaffectedcommunity,speedingupeconomicrecovery

• Oftendifficulttoprocureinbulk• Canbedifficulttomeasurethe

environmentalimpact• Oftenoutsidethesphereof

knowledgeofprofessionalhumanitarianworkerssomayrequiretechnicalsupport

• Worthconsideringinlongertermhumanitariansituationstoreducetheloadonotherresources

• Mayincludesuchproductsasrattan,jute,leaves,grass,barketc.

43

FLATTENEDBAMBOOSHEETINGWALLS

PlasticsheetwallingontransitionalshelterinSewon,Indonesia

PLASTICSHEETING

Duringtheemergencyphaseofmanyhumanitarianresponses,largequantitiesofplasticsheetingarefrequentlydistributedasemergencysheltermaterials.Whencommencingatemporaryshelterprojectinbamboo,itmaybeappropriateforthismaterialtobeusedastemporarywallinguntilamorepermanentsolutioncanbefound.Onesolutionistheplanningofastagedinterventionprograminwhichaninitialplasticsheetingdistributionisthensupplementedwithbambooforbuildingashelterframe,followedbyroofingmaterials,atwhichpointplasticsheetingisusedorwalls,finallyfollowedbyatop‐upofmoredurablewallingmaterials.Suchprogramsassistcommunitiesontheirpathofrecoveryfromshelterinsecuritybacktopermanentshelterinaffordableandmanageablestages.

FLATTENEDBAMBOO

Bambooculmsthataresimplyflattenedprovideacommonandeasysolutiontobothwallingandflooring.Normallycommunitiesselectparticularspeciesforthisapplicationbasedontheeaseofsplittingandflattening,alongwithadesireforasuitablystrongwallthicknessandarelativelywideflattenedpanel.Communityconsultationisessentialinspecifyingtheappropriatebambooforthistask.

Somecommunitiesmayperceiveflattenedbambooasinadequateforwallingduetolackofprivacyorexcessiveventilationfortheclimate.

Theincreasedexposedsurfaceareainflattenedbamboomakesitidealfortreatmentthroughleachingorboraxsolutiontoincreaseitslifeexpectancyinconstruction.

44

PHOTO:WOVENBAMBOOSHEETINGWALLS

WOVENBAMBOOSHEETING

Ahugediversityofwovenbamboosheetsexistacrosstheworld.Thisdiversityreflectsnotonlytheintendeduseoftheproductbutalsothecharacteristicsofthebamboobeingusedandisoftenanexpressionofthecultureorbeliefsofthecommunityproducingthesheeting.

Thinnersheetsutilisingtheinnercoreoftheculmofbambooarecommonlyusedforinteriorwallsandfloormats,whilesheetswovenfromtheouterskinofferhighpestandrainresistanceandaremorecommonasoutdoorcladdingmaterials.Coarsewovensheetingmaybeusedforanimalenclosuresorfences.

Whenprocuringwovensheetingitiscriticaltoinvolvetheaffectedcommunityindetailingminimumspecifications.Arangeofcultural,historical,religiousandclimaticfactorsmayinfluencewhatacommunityfeelsisappropriateinawovensheeting.Incoldmountainclimates,tightnessofweavemaybecriticalwhilstincoastalcommunities,alooseweavebutamoredurableouterskinmaybemoreappropriate.Incolderclimates,wovensheetingwallscanbealsoplasteredwithcement,newspaper,plasterormudtomakeitwindproof.

45

C.3.5FLOORING

Thissectionisnotyetfinished.Updateswillbemadeavailableonthewebsite.

46

C.3.6ROOFING

Material Advantages Disadvantages Notes

Plasticsheet• Rapidlydeployed• Rapidlyerected• Lowcost• Waterandwindresistant

• Highenvironmentalcost• Littleornoeconomicinput• Lowcommunityparticipation• Shortlifespan• Can’tberepaired,extended

easilybythecommunity

• Standardofsheetingusedisimportant.Seeplasticsheetingguidelines

• Mayrequiredifferentplasticsfordifferentclimates

Thatching• Highcommunity

participation• Biodegradableand

renewable• Boostlocaleconomy• Costeffective,insulative

• Difficulttoprocureinbulk• Requiresspecialistknowledgeon

selectionandspecification• Highfireriskindense

applications• Potentialdeforestation

• Wellsuitedtoremoteareas,lessinurban/peri‐urban

• Largescalehumanitarianshelterplanswiththatchingmayrapidlydepletelocalresources

Corrugatediron• “Waterprooftopto

bottom”• Well‐suitedtobulk

procurement• Canbeverydurable

• Accentuatesheat• Rusts• Mayprovehazardousifpoorly

fastenedinhighwindareas• Limitedimpactonlocaleconomy• Highecologicalcost• Expensive

• Decisionmustfitlocalcommunityculturalpractice

• Sheetgaugeisakeyissueaffectingdurability,aslightweightsheetsarecommonlyavailable

• Appropriatetoolsandsafetyequipment

Rooftiles• Highlysuitedtolocalsmall

scaleproduction• Canoftenbeprocuredata

communityorregionallevel

• Maybesuitableasatopupprogramusingrecoveredtiles

• Easilymovedfromtemptopermanentshelter

• Relativelylowcost

• Asapatchworkofwaterproofelementstilesprovidealessreliableprotectionthancontinuousroofingmaterials

• Requireaminimumpitchof12+degrees

• Increaseddangerduringbuildingcollapse

• Thechoicebetweencementandclaytilesshouldbemadebasedonavailableaggregateandsoil

• Qualityvariesdramaticallybasedonproductionprocedures

• Environmentalimpactoffuelsourcemustbeconsideredforclaytiles

Cementsheeting• Lightweight• Easilytransported• Canbemadelocallyor

procuredinbulk• Easytoworkandhandle

• ManycountriesinAsiacontinuetosellhighlycarcinogenicasbestos‐reinforcedsheets.Inunder‐regulatedcountries“asbestosfreesheets”maywellstillcontainasbestos.

• Safehandlingequipmentandtoolsshouldbeincluded.

• TheuseofcementsheetingbyNGOsmayresultinincreaseduptakeofasbestossheetingbythesurroundingpopulation.Toavoidthis,strongpublicmessagesmaterialshouldbeincludedwithanyprogramusingcementsheet,orelsetheproductshouldbeavoided.

Bamboo• Well‐suitedtoremote

areaswithplentifulbamboosupply

• Costeffective• Suitedtolocal

procurementandjobcreation

• Mayconsumeexcessivebamboo• Simplelappedsectionsarenot

verydurable,thatchingandshinglesaremuchmoredurable

• Smokingmayimprovedurability,althoughboraxtreatmentwon’t

• Awiderangeofbambooroofingsolutionsexist.Theseinclude:

• Lappedbamboosections• Bambooshingles• Bamboostripthatching

Building

47

47

KeyPoints

Thisdocumentoffersonlyabriefintroductiontotheuseofbambooinhumanitarianshelterprogramming.

Toundertakealargescaleprogramitwillbeimportanttoseekmoredetailedinformationspecifictothecontextoftheprojectbeingundertaken.Thissectionoftheguidelinessuppliessomeadditionalresourcesorlinkagestothoseresources.

Therearearangeofotherusesforbamboothatmaybeworthconsideringinhumanitarianprogrammingsuchascompositepanelsandlaminatedbamboobeams.

Understandingwherebambooresourcesareavailablemayinfluencedecisionsregardingthesuitabilityofusingbambooinanygivenhumanitarianresponse.

SectionD

Support1. Furtherresources

2. Furtherusesofbambooinhumanitarianprogramming

3. BambooinIndonesia

48

D.1FURTHERRESOURCES

ArangeoffurtherresourcesareavailablefromtheHumanitarianBamboowebsiteatwww.humanitarianbamboo.org.Ifyouhaveanadditionalresourcesorlinksthatyoubelievemaybeofvaluetootherhumanitarianpractitionerspleasecontacttheprojectthroughthewebsite.

Resourcesavailableonthewebsiteincludephotographsofbambooprojects,bambooreferencedocumentsandlinks.

D.1.1INTERNETRESOURCES

BAMBOO‐RELATED• Globalorganisations

o www.inbar.org • BambooexpertsinIndonesia

o www.bamboofoundation.org• BambooplantstocksuppliesinIndonesia

o www.bambunusaverde.comSHELTER‐RELATED

• www.humanitariantimber.org• www.sheltercentre.org

D.1.2ORGANISATIONS

Abroadrangeoforganisationsexistthatmaybeabletosupplyadditionalinformationtohumanitarianpractitionersontheuseofbamboo.Theseinclude:

INDONESIA

• EnvironmentalBambooFoundation(EBF),Bali• C.V.Indobamboo,Bali• P.TBambu,Bali• DepartmentofEngineeringandArchitecture,UniversityofGajaMada,Jogyakarta• BandungInstituteofTechnology,Indonesia• DepartmentofPublicWorks,BuildingResearchcentre,Bandung

INTERNATIONAL

• INBAR,TheInternationalNetworkforBambooandRattan

49

D.1.3BOOKS

Hereisashortlistofsomeofthebooksusedinresearchingthismanual.

INBAR,andGovernmentofMizoram,2001.AffordableBambooHousinginEarthquakeProneAreas:AnInternationalWorkshopOrganisedbyCBTC,GovernmentofMizoran,andInternationalNetworkforBambooandRattan.India:CBTC.

AIS,AsociaciónColombianadeIngenieríaSísmica,2001.ManualdeconstrucciónsismoresistentedeviviendasenBaharequeEncementado,Bogota:EditorialCarrera.

Farrelly,David,1984.TheBookofBamboo:AComprehensiveGuideToThisRemarkablePlant,ItsUses,andItsHistory.SanFrancisco:SierraClubBooks.

Janssen,Jules,2007.BuildingWithBamboo:AHandbook.Warwickshire:ITDG.

Stulz,Roland,andKiranMukerji,1993.AppropriateBuildingMaterials:ACatalogofPotentialSolutions.Switzerland:SKATPublication.

VonVegesack,A.;Vélez,S;Kries,M.andVitraDesignMuseum,2000.GrowYourOwnHouse.VitraDesignMuseum.

Otto,F,1985.IL31Bambus/Bamboo.Stuttgart:TheInstituteofLightweightStructures.

India:BMTPC.BuildingMaterialsandTechnologyPromotionCouncil(BMTPC).Bamboo:amaterialforcosteffectiveanddisasterresistanthousing.NewDelhi:MinistryofUrbanDevelopment&PovertyAlleviation.

NationalMissiononBambooApplication,2004.TrainingManual:BuildingwithBamboo.NewDelhi:TulikaPrint.

EnvironmentalBambooFoundation,1994.PetunjukKerjaPengawetanDenganSistemBoucherie.JawaBarat:YayasanBambuLingkunganLestari.

50

Bangladesh,transientworkershuts

Wovenbamboobasketforchickens,showingbamboo’spotentialforemergencydomeshelters

D.2FURTHERUSESOFBAMBOOINHUMANITARIANPROGRAMMING

D.2.1PREPOSITIONINGTREATEDBAMBOOSTOCKS

Manyhumanitarianresponseagencieshaveprepositionedstocksoftarpaulins,tentsorotheremergencysheltermaterialsinstrategiclocationsacrossdisaster‐proneregions.Treatedbamboocomponentsforemergencytransitionalshelterscouldpotentiallybestoredinsuchamanner.

D.2.2DESIGNINGWITHCURVEDELEMENTS

Oneuniqueaspectofbamboowhencomparedtotimberisitscapacitytobebentandusedintension.Thisisparticularlytrueofsmalldiameterandsplitsectionsofbambooorbamboothathasbeensteamheated.

Unfortunately,littleinvestigationofthepotentialforthisinhumanitarianresponseappearstohavebeenundertaken.Bangladeshtransientworkers’sheltersconstructedmuchliketunneltentsasusedbytheRedCrossandotheragencies,orwovenbaskets,reminiscentofdometents,bothpointtopotentialareasforfutureresearch.

Advantagessuchaslowuseofmaterialandrapidconstructionofferrealpotentialforcheapandeffectiveemergencyshelter.

Temporarystoragehutmadefrombambooandjute

51

D.2.3BAMBOOCOMPOSITECONSTRUCTIONPRODUCTS

Theexcellentgluingpropertiesoftheinnerfibersofbamboomakeitideallysuitedtotheproductionofawiderangeofcompositeproducts.Manyoftheseproductsmaybeideallysuitedtohumanitarianshelterordevelopmentalhousingprojects,including:

• Parquetryflooring• Laminatedbeams• Wovenbambootiles• Bambooreinforcedconcrete• Bamboo‐basedfibrocement• Bamboopolystyrenecompositepanels• Bambooplasterpanelconstruction

MuchresearchonbamboocompositeshasbeenundertakeninIndonesiabyleadinguniversitiesandresearchinstitutes.OneexampleofthisresearchistheworkconductedbytheDepartmentofPublicWorksResearchCenterinBandung,whereProfessorPurwitohasproducedanumberofcompositematerialsandmodelhouses.SimilarlevelsofresearchhavealsobeenconductedatBandungInstituteofTechnology,UGMandMuhammadiyahinYogyakartaandEBFinBaliamongstothers.MuchofthisresearchoffersrealpotentialforusebythehumanitariansectorinIndonesia.

BAMBOOWATERTANKSANDPIPES

Bamboohaslongbeenusedforarangeofplumbingandirrigationpurposes.AnumberofsuccessfuldesignsexistwithinIndonesiaforthecreationofwatertanksusingbambooastheirbase.Theseincludebamboo‐reinforcedconcretetanksdesignedbyDiangDesa,andtarpaulinandbamboodesignsbyOxfamGB’sPRIMEteam.Thesetemporarywaterstoragesolutionsareeasilyerectedonsitebylocalcommunities,minimisingtransportationstorageandprocurementcosts.

DETAIL1,2&3:DPUBUNDUNGRESEARCHCENTER:BAMBOOFIBREPOLYSTYRENECOMPOSITEPANEL,HOLLOWCOREBAMBOOPANEL,BAMBOOPLASTERHOUSE.DETAIL4:BAMBOORESINCOMPOSITETRUSS,INDIA

52

BAMBOOHANDICRAFTSASLIVELIHOODS

Inmanytropicalcommunitiesthemanufactureofhandicraftsfrombambooisanimportantsourceoflivelihood.Bamboocraftworkisoftenproducedthroughsmallhomebasedindustriessupplyingsupplementalorfulltimeincometothosewhomaynothaveaccesstomoremainstreamemployment.

Commonbamboohandicraftsincludewovenmatting,baskets,brooms,toolhandles,platesandbowls,andcutleryandchopsticks.

Theintegrationofawovenbamboosheetinglivelihoodsrecoveryprogramforwallingandfloormatsinemergencysheltersmayassistbamboohandicraftscommunitiesinanearlyreturntoproductiveincome.

BAMBOOASFOODANDFODDER

Bambooshootsareahighlynutritiousfoodcrop,whilstleavesofanumberofspeciescanprovidefodderforcattleandgoats.Bambooshootfarmingmayformanappropriatelivelihoodsprojectoravaluablecomponentofabambooplantationandreplacementstrategy.

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D.4DISTRIBUTIONMAPSOFBAMBOOININDONESIA

TheHumanitarianBambooprojecthopestodevelopfourseparatemapsthatshowareasofavailabilityofbamboospeciessuitableforuseinhumanitarianshelterprogramsacrossIndonesia,brokenupbyusagetype:

• Map1 Speciessuitableforstructuralpoles• Map2 Speciessuitableforgeneralstructuraluse• Map3 Speciessuitableforwovenbamboosheeting• Map4 Handicraftspecies

Mapswillprovide:

• Shadingindicatinghowcommonlyavailablethematerialisineacharea• Namesofthemostcommonspeciesthataresuitableforeacharea

Thesemapsarenotintendedtorepresentanyformofdetailedresearchandmaywellincludeareaslistedasunknown.Thisisasimpleexerciseasrequestedthroughconsultativeforumsbyhumanitarianpractitionersandintendedsolelyasatoolforbasedecisionmaking.

Thesemapsarenotintendedasadefinitivesourceofinformationonbambooavailability.Actualavailabilitymayvarygreatlydependingonanumberoffactorsincluding:

• Changingavailabilityovertime(mapaccurateat2009)• Changingpatternsofusageandthereforemarketavailability• Damagetoresourcebydisasterevents• Environmentalorpoliticalconstraints

Nomapcanhopetoreplacethedetailedinformationthatcanbegatheredthroughgoodcommunityconsultation.

ThefollowingexistingmapshowsaroughapproximationofbamboodistributionacrossIndonesiaasreportedbythestatecensus.

MapfromFAO,Rome(Italy).ForestProductsandEconomicsDiv.;InternationalNetworkforBambooandRattan,

Beijing(China).Indonesiacountryreportonbambooresources,Jakarta,May2005.Rome:FAO,downloadedatftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/ah778e/ah778e00.pdf.

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