Bamboo walls

KEYWORDS:

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

· In bamboo-growing regions the climate is generally warm and humid, requiring construction materials of low thermal storage capacity and designs which permit good cross-ventilation. Bamboo constructions ideally satisfy these requirements, which is why they have long been used for housing in warm humid climates.

· Plain bamboo walls cannot be made air-tight or waterproof, so that cross-ventilation is a natural feature, providing indoor comfort and removing moisture.

· The flexibility and high tensile strength makes bamboo walls highly earthquake resistant, and in case of collapse, their low weight causes less damage to people and property; reconstruction is relatively quick and easy.

· Special skills are required to handle bamboo, but these are traditionally available in most bamboo-growing regions.

· The main drawbacks are the relatively low durability (due to biological hazards), the low resistance to hurricanes and fire, therefore protective measures are essential (see section on PROTECTIVE MEASURES).

Further information: Bibl. 13.02, 13.04, 13.05, 13.09, 13.10, 13.12.

Examples of Traditional Bamboo Wall Construction (Bibl. 13.02): Halved bamboo culms arranged vertically like Spanish roof tiles; Bamboo boards (split and flattened culms) interwoven with the frame; Bamboo battens (made from culms split into eight segments) nailed to a light frame; Panels of woven bamboo strips nailed and/ or tied to the bamboo frame