PROJECT
Human beings have been using timber for thousands of years,
therefore we have a lot of knowledge about timber, its properties and
uses. In comparison the development of engineered bamboo
products is relatively in its infancy, with the industry really only starting
to develop little more than 20 years ago. Initially the main bamboo
products manufactured were panels, boards and flooring for interior
use made by laminating and pressing machined bamboo strips
together, and then further laminating layers of the resulting thin
bamboo sheets.
As in all fields, the technology around engineered bamboo products is
rapidly progressing, and with processes such as thermal and chemical
treatment, and high-pressure compression, companies like MOSO are
now producing advanced bamboo products like flooring for very high
impact, high traffic public areas, and decking and cladding for exterior
use that are much harder, more stable, durable and even have better
fire ratings than the tropical hardwood timbers that have traditionally
been used in these applications.
“Regarding the use of engineered bamboo materials as structural
components, there is still a lot of testing and investigation that has to
be undertaken before bamboo beams and panels can be certified for
full structural application in the existing timber classes and categories.
This looks to be a very interesting field, with bamboo having certain
distinct ecological and mechanical advantages over comparable timber
products. Some companies are already incorporating bamboo layers in
multi-ply cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels for use in the
construction industry,” says Paige.
HARVESTING BAMBOO
The most important attribute of bamboo is its sustainability, arising from
the rapid growth rate of bamboo plants. In fact, bamboo holds the
world record for vertical growth, and has been observed to grow almost
The colour palette of the area’s dry season inspired the use of blond timbers and neutral colours, creating a calm and tranquil space.
www.timberiq.co.za // OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2020 11