DCCCO Multipurpose & Home Loans

Bamboo Treatment Process

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Construction Grade Bamboo Poles

Bambusa blumeana and Dendrocalamus asper, commonly known as Tinik and Giant Bamboo are exceptionally strong bamboo species grown locally in the Philippines. They have been tested and recommended for structural use in construction according to ISO 22156:2004 standards.

How long can bamboo last?

Like wood, most bamboo species have low natural resistance to insects and biological degradation. Without proper treatment, bamboo typically lasts less than 2 years. When stored under cover, its lifespan may extend to 4–7 years, depending on the species, as well as the length and thickness of the poles.

In contrast, professionally harvested and treated bamboo poles can last at least 25 years. Achieving high-quality, construction grade bamboo involves a comprehensive treatment process, which we will explore in detail below.

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Bamboo Harvest

Only mature bamboo culms are selected for harvesting. That is 3–5 years for tinik and 5-7 years for giant bamboo.

At this stage, bamboo reaches optimal mechanical strength for construction applications, minimizes shrinkage and cracking during drying, and naturally offers greater resistance to insects, fungi, and other microorganisms.

Bamboo reaches maturity in 3–5 years. These poles are selectively harvested, leaving the root systems intact. Photo Credit: The Hilti Foundation

Bamboo poles are graded for maturity, treatment, moisture content, and integrity to ensure performance for construction applications. Photo Credit: The Hilti Foundation

Grading Bamboo

Tinik and Giant Bamboo, the most abundant species in Negros Oriental, have an average wall thickness of 7-8mm. To ensure top quality construction poles, we carefully select only the straightest middle sections, which are highly valued for load-bearing applications. The remaining bottom and upper portions of the culm are processed into flattened mats (sasa) and slats.

No part of the bamboo goes to waste!

We are among the few facilities worldwide to pioneer the use of international standard ISO 19624 for grading bamboo poles used in construction. This rigorous standard establishes strict criteria for maturity, moisture content, and structural integrity, ensuring that each pole meets the highest performance requirements while offering superior resistance to insects and mold infestation.

Cutting Bamboo Poles

The length of bamboo poles for construction is measured from node to node. To achieve the desired length, we carefully measure each pole this way and cut it within 5 cm or less after a node.

Including nodes at the ends of the poles is an intentional choice, serving as protection during transport. The nodes help prevent damage that can occur from the weight of stacked poles. Without them, hollow ends are more susceptible to crushing or cracking. By incorporating nodes, we preserve the integrity of our bamboo poles throughout handling and delivery.

Tinik and Giant Bamboo poles are available in 2.4m, 3m, 4m, 5m, and 6m.

Bamboo poles for construction are measured node to node and cut within 5 cm after a node for precision. Photo Credit: The Hilti Foundation

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The inner nodes (diaphragms) are punctured, so that treatment solution can flow through and saturate the bamboo fibers from inside. Photo Credit: The Hilti Foundation

Punching Nodes

Once the raw bamboo culms are cut to the required sizes, the outer nodes are removed, and the inner nodes (diaphragms) are perforated.

Bamboo's natural outer layer is water-repellent, preventing chemical preservatives from penetrating its fibers externally. To ensure effective preservation, we submerge the poles in a blend of non-toxic solution and allow the preservatives to be absorbed into the bamboo fibers from inside.

To achieve this, we use a sharpened steel rod (rebar) to puncture each node along the entire length of the bamboo pole, allowing the treatment solution to flow through and fully saturate the fibers.

Washing Bamboo Poles

Bamboo naturally contains a high starch content, making it highly attractive to powder beetles. To eliminate this food source, we submerge freshly cut poles in circulating water for 3 days, effectively removing the starch.

Each node is then meticulously scrubbed by hand, ensuring that all the surface moss, mold, and stains are thoroughly removed.

To remove starch, which attracts powder beetles, bamboo poles are first submerged in circulating water for 3 days. And then scrubbed clean of surface mold and stains. Photo Credit: The Hilti Foundation

Boron solution is a non-toxic perservation that effectively protects bamboo poles from insect infestation. Photo Credit: The Hilti Foundation

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Chemical Preservation

Preserving bamboo is crucial for ensuring the durability of the poles. We use a non-toxic boron solution, which is colorless and water-soluble, to protect the bamboo from pests and decay.

The soaking and diffusion method is ideal for treating tinik and giant bamboo poles intended for construction or further industrial processing. This approach also speeds up the drying process compared to the Boucherie (sap-replacement) method. Additionally, boron serves as an excellent fire retardant (Yu et al. 2017), giving all our treated bamboo poles an added layer of fire resistance compared to untreated bamboo.

After mastering our standard treatment process for bamboo poles, we are now expanding our capacity by introducing a treatment tank with a heating system. This heated treatment process significantly reduces the standard treatment time from 3 days to just 7 hours. The accelerated process works because heat causes bamboo fibers to expand, allowing the natural sap to exit through osmotic pressure while enabling the treatment solution to penetrate more effectively at a higher concentration.

Seasoning and Storage

Drying bamboo poles takes longer than drying wood of similar density due to their unique composition, thick culm walls, and dense nodes. As a hygroscopic material, bamboo consists of long fibers embedded in a lignin matrix, allowing it to absorb and release moisture from the air.

To ensure proper drying, we stack the treated bamboo poles horizontally on raised shelves in a well-ventilated, covered area. On average, the seasoning process takes 20 days, reducing the moisture content to 10%.

Properly dried bamboo becomes more stable, lighter, and less prone to cracking, ensuring long-term durability and structural integrity in various applications. Additionally, seasoned bamboo develops a uniform beige color, highly preferred in construction. This consistent tone also provides an ideal surface for staining or painting when needed.

Treated bamboo are stored in sheltered racks for seasoning, ensuring a final moisture content of 10% for construction grade poles.

Kawayan Collective Quality Statement

Tinik, Bambusa blumeana, has an average wall thickness of 7mm and average diameter of 91mm.

Kawayan Tinik

Species: Bambusa blumeana

Origin: Philippines

Age: 3-5 years

Diameter: 91mm Average; 120 at bottom

Wall Thickness: Average 7mm; 10mm at bottom

Cracks: None to minimal cracking

Straightness: max. 2% of total length slight curve per pole

Color: Beige to light brown

Treatment: 10% sodium tetraborate decahydrate

Drying: Air dried

Moisture content: 10-12%

Estimated durability indoor: min. 25 years

Estimated durability outdoor: 15 years (no direct soil contact and regular application of protective top coating)

Compression Test: 61.63MPA (internode), 51.90MPA (node)

Shear Test: 11.65MPA (internode), 11.48MPA (node)

Bending Test: 16.33GPA (NDT MOE), 15.75GPA (DT MOE)

Dowel-bearing Strength: 15471 N/mm2 (Bangoy et al 2024)

Giant Bamboo

Species: Dendrocalamus asper

Origin: Philippines

Age: 5-7 years

Diameter: 93mm average; 120 to 150mm at bottom

Wall Thickness: 8mm; 10 to 12mm at bottom

Cracks: None to minimal cracking

Straightness: max. 2% of total length slight curve per pole

Color: Beige to light brown

Treatment: 10% sodium tetraborate decahydrate

Drying: Air dried

Moisture content: 10-12%

Estimated durability indoor: min. 25 years

Estimated durability outdoor: 15 years (no direct soil contact and regular application of protective top coating)

Compression Test: 61.62MPA (internode), 56.34MPA (node)

Shear Test: 13.19MPA (internode), 17.02MPA (node)

Bending Test: 17.12GPA (NDT MOE), 16.97GPA (DT MOE)

Giant Bamboo, Dendrocalamus asper, has an average wall thickness of 8mm and average diameter of 93mm.

Kawayan Collective Bamboo Poles in Use

Since our launch in April 2019, we have partnered with national NGOs such as Base Bahay and Habitat for Humanity to develop innovative building techniques using sustainable, locally sourced materials.

Over the past 6 years, we have supplied more than 100,000 construction grade bamboo poles for social housing projects across the Philippines. Beyond housing, our bamboo poles are widely used in tourism, commercial developments, and public spaces, including farms, factories, gymnasiums, schools, pavilions, and amphitheaters.