Bamboo Fiber Composite Board (5-40mm thickness)
Bamboo fiber composite board is an engineered building material made from compressed bamboo fibers bonded with adhesives, available in thicknesses from 5-40mm. The manufacturing process involves splitting bamboo culms into strips or fibers, carbonising to improve durability, then consolidating under heat and pressure with phenol-formaldehyde, melamine, or no-added-formaldehyde (NAF) adhesives. Two primary product types exist: laminated bamboo (strips glued in layers, density 600-900 kg/m3) and bamboo scrimber (crushed fibers impregnated with resin and hot-pressed, density 950-1,300 kg/m3). Scrimber products achieve significantly higher mechanical properties due to fiber densification. Bamboo's natural properties — high cellulose content (55%), tensile strength comparable to mild steel, and 3-5 year harvest cycle — make engineered bamboo panels a genuinely sustainable alternative to hardwood plywood and MDF. Australian suppliers include House of Bamboo, FA Mitchell (LETObamboo), Plyboo, and Eco Greenhaus, though all product is currently imported from China and Southeast Asia. The material is classified as combustible under NCC, limiting exterior applications in higher building classes without fire engineering solutions.
- Interior wall panelling and feature walls
- Residential and light commercial flooring
- Cabinetry and joinery construction
- Furniture and shelving
- Countertops and work surfaces (scrimber grade)
- Architectural millwork and trim
- Exterior cladding (with appropriate protection and NCC compliance)
- Acoustic panels (perforated with absorber backing)
Bamboo has been used in construction for thousands of years across Asia, Africa, and South America, with traditional applications in framing, walling, flooring, and roofing. Modern engineered bamboo products emerged in China during the 1990s as industrial-scale alternatives to diminishing hardwood supplies. The development of bamboo scrimber (strand-woven bamboo) in the early 2000s represented a step change, enabling densities and mechanical properties exceeding most hardwoods. Low-formaldehyde and NAF adhesive systems developed from 2005 onwards addressed health concerns about formaldehyde emissions. The ISO 22157 standard (first published 2004, revised 2019) established international testing protocols for bamboo structural properties. The 2010s saw rapid growth in Western markets, with engineered bamboo flooring becoming mainstream in Australia through suppliers like House of Bamboo, Plyboo, and Eco Greenhaus. Current research focuses on cross-laminated bamboo (CLB) as an alternative to CLT, bamboo-concrete composite structures, and developing domestic supply chains outside China.
DISCLAIMER: This specification document is generated from the CLAD Materials Atlas Database. Information is for general guidance only and does not constitute professional engineering advice. Values are typical and may vary by batch, manufacturer, and production run. Verify suitability for specific project applications independently.