Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies the requirements and test methods for laminated products made of bamboo strips for indoor furniture purposes. It does not cover other laminated bamboo products not made of bamboo strips.

It also specifies handling, storage, packaging and marking requirements.

Purpose

Laminated bamboo strips (commonly called as engineered bamboo in the Philippines) are bamboo products that are manufactured by binding together strips or slats of bamboo with a suitable adhesive to form a composite material designed to meet specific uses. These are then used worldwide to make attractive furniture, which is often stronger and less prone to warping than equivalent solid woods. Furniture for the “high end” and Do-It-Yourself markets have also found an application of laminated bamboo products.

Laminated products made of bamboo strips do have potential in the market due to its uniqueness, the ingenuity and craftsmanship of local designers and workers. Existing potential demand for Laminated products made of bamboo strips includes furniture-manufacturing firms, engineers involved in the construction of residential buildings, designers, manufacturers and traders of laminated bamboo products, i.e., tiles, tabletops, floorboards, among others. Aside from it, Executive Order (EO) 879 mandates the use of engineered bamboo for school desks and other furniture. It also directed the prioritization in the use of bamboo in furniture, fixtures and other construction requirements of government facilities. With its given demand, it belongs to one of the projects that the Philippine government promotes.

At present, ISO/TC 296 WG 2 is working on the development of ISO Standard on bamboo flooring and decking for indoor and outdoor use, respectively. It is also necessary that the committee consider formulating standard on Laminated products made of bamboo strips that will cover the other laminated bamboo products not only bamboo flooring. The development of ISO Standard on laminated bamboo will boost and facilitate international trade of laminated bamboo; provide laminated bamboo product guidance to consumers and other stakeholders and may enhance the laminated bamboo product value, effectiveness, and market competitiveness.

The development of International Standard on Laminated Bamboo will address the challenges on different trade barriers and shortage of quality standards faced by the bamboo industry.

In view of the above, such applications of laminated bamboos in the furniture industry warrants the development of a standard testing procedure and property requirements. A standard for bamboo flooring is presently being drafted but there is no initiative yet on developing a standard for furniture for indoor applications using laminated bamboo. This New Work Item Proposal aims to address the need for a standard for laminated products made of bamboo strips for indoor furniture purposes