Authors

Sebastian Kaminski, Arup
Kent Harries, University of Pittsburgh
Luis Felipe López, Base Bahay Foundation Inc.
David J A Trujillo, Coventry University
Hector F Archila, University of the West of England, Bristol

Abstract

The durability of bamboo is one of the most important aspects to consider when designing and building with this nature-based material. Durable structures with bamboo are resilient, cost-effective, and have a lower whole life-cycle environmental impact. This paper firstly reviews the main causes of the decay of bamboo: beetle, termite, and fungal, and then discusses the efficacy of different treatments-both traditional and modern. Common misconceptions around the durability of bamboo and its preservation methods are corrected. Finally, the recently published framework for the durability of bamboo within ISO 22156 – Bamboo Structures, based on Use Classes, is presented.