From strength to versatility and sustainability, bamboo is a game-changer in the construction industry. It surpasses various traditional building materials like wood and steel with its impressive strength-to-weight ratio, rapid growth and regenerative properties, flexibility, and tensile strength, and not to mention, its affordability. 

Currently, BASE has six (6) bamboo supply and treatment facilities across the Philippines: AOF Foundation in Panabo, Davao; FLP Construction and Agricultural Development Corp. in Parang, Maguindanao; Kanya Kawayan in Nasugbu, Batangas; Kawayan Collective in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental; Hineleban Foundation in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon; and Murcia Cooperative in Murcia, Negros Occidental.

In bamboo treatment, BASE follows the nine-step process to ensure the suitability of bamboo poles for construction:

Step 1: Received Raw Poles

BASE conducts quality control upon delivery of bamboo poles. Workers must also ensure that the poles do not directly touch the ground. In addition, bamboo must also be processed as early as possible.

Take note that not all bamboo species make a good building material. It is better to check with bamboo experts as well as to identify the particular species that are abundant in the area.

Step 2: Pre-Cleaning

This process involves washing and scrubbing the bamboo polebeforeto soaking to remove dirt and lichen that can clog the washing tub.

Step 3: Node Punching

The bamboo nodes are being drilled on both sides for water and treatment solutions to pass through.

Step 4: Washing

Bamboo poles are soaked in moving water for three (3) daytoto remove the starch. Before removing from the washing tub, the bamboo poles must be scrubbed to remove the starch on the exterior. 

Step 5: Drying

It is the process of removing the natural water of bamboo poles. This process can be done through air drying or sun drying.

Step 6: Quality Control

Workers must ensure that there are no rejected washed and semi-dried poles that will undergo treatment.

Step 7: Treatment

The bamboo poles are now loaded in the treatment tank. Workers must also ensure that bamboo poles ary submerged in the treatment solution.

Step 8: Dripping

The bamboo poles are unloaded in the treatment tank and placed in the dripping board to allow excess treatment solution to drip back into the treatment tank.

Step 9: Racking of treated poles

The treated poles are being organized on a rack and in a dry place away from direct sunlight. In this process, bamboo poles also undergo quality control before delivery to construction sites.

By following this process and properly protecting the bamboo from natural elements such as rain and exposure to the sun, bamboo can have a lifespan exceeding 30 to 50 years. Learn more about bamboo as a building material with Base.

Base Bahay Foundation, Inc (BASE) is the pioneer of the Cement-Bamboo Framework in the Philippines. BASE builds affordable and disaster-resilient structures using bamboo-based technology. Through continuous research in the Base Innovation Center (BIC), BASE is optimizing the technology and looking for new applications outside its standard model. BASE also offers training courses under its Bamboo Academy program to share alternative building technologies and provide further knowledge on bamboo construction. Learn more about BASE projects and initiatives!