The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana (IET-GH) has raised concerns over the growing trend of using bamboo as a reinforcement material in concrete.

According to them, the practice is being adopted by some individuals in construction, mistakenly believing it has been endorsed.

In a press statement on Tuesday, October 15, the IET-GH, particularly its Civil Engineering Division, acknowledged the potential benefits of bamboo when used in its raw form, as a laminate, or composite material.

However, it cautioned that using bamboo as a direct substitute for steel reinforcement in concrete requires further research and must not be adopted without expert advice.

"Bamboo is a natural composite polymeric material, composed of a lignin matrix with fibrous elements, which are naturally bound together as an organic composite," the statement read.

The IET-GH emphasised that the chemical environment in concrete differs significantly from that in traditional mud buildings where bamboo has been used historically.

"Bamboo tends to absorb water when mixed with fresh concrete, which causes swelling. The bamboo shrinks as it dries, which may leave spaces between it and the surrounding concrete, weakening the bond between them. 

In light of this, IET-GH stressed the need for more research to address key issues before bamboo can be reliably used as reinforcement in concrete.

The institution also noted that without proper treatment standards approved by the Ghana Standards Authority and Engineering Council, bamboo’s use as a reinforcement material cannot be endorsed at this time.

"Therefore, IET-GH advises, caution and recommends avoiding the adoption of bamboo as reinforcement in current time," the statement added.