Attributes That Make Bamboo Floors  “Green”

Renewable

Rapidly Renewable

One of bamboo's greatest benefits is the rate at which it renews itself. The three-to-five year harvest cycle makes bamboo a rapidly renewable material, which is generally defined as having a harvest rotation of 10 years or less. In contrast, most hardwood species used for flooring reach saleable size in 50 to 100 years.

Bamboo is a member of the grass family that "matures in three years, regenerates without need for replanting and requires minimal fertilization or pesticides."¹ 

Recycled Content

Recycled Content Product

To be considered a recycled content material, the product should contain a certain amount of either post consumer or post-industrial waste material. This is generally presented as a percentage of the total weight. The LEED Rating System has used 20 percent post consumer and 40 percent post-industrial as minimum requirements for a product to be considered recycled content. 

Some bamboo flooring products may be laminated over a core material made from medium density fiberboard (MDF), which generally contains some post-industrial wood fiber. The OSB flooring product also contains post-industrial recycled bamboo. It may-depending on the content percentage-be potentially considered a recycled-content material.

Recycability

Some manufacturers also offer an engineered floor that utilizes a thin bamboo layer laminated over a non-bamboo material. One manufacturer now offers tongue-and-groove flooring made from bamboo-oriented strand board (OSB). This product is made using the post-industrial waste bamboo from floor manufacturing.

Toxicity 

Bamboo growing requires minimal fertilization or pesticides. According to the U.S. EPA, Americans spend nearly 90 percent of their time indoors. Therefore, evaluating how products impact IEQ is necessary. These impacts may include emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and/or formaldehyde. Several factors should be considered when looking at the indoor environmental quality impacts of a material. For example, these may include ventilation rates of the space applied, decay rates for volatile components, and the overall emissions from other components.

Volatile Organic Compounds - At this time, little data is available relative to the emissions of VOC from bamboo flooring material.

Formaldehyde - Some bamboo flooring products are manufactured using formaldehyde-based adhesives, and formaldehyde emissions vary from brand to brand. Some brands claim the use of formaldehyde-free glues and finishes. Some manufacturers reported formaldehyde emissions at various ranges, from 16 ug/m³ to 330 ug/m³. The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has listed formaldehyde as a "chemical of special concern." The agency has published the reference exposure levels (RE L) for toxicity for both Chronic⁷ (3 ug/m³) and Acute (94 ug/m³ for 1 hour) exposures. 

If you are considering bamboo flooring, inquire about VOC and formaldehyde emissions from the specific manufacturer or distributor. VOC and formaldehyde emissions should also be considered when choosing adhesives for glue-down installations, in the surface finishing material, and in the choice of sub floor materials. 

Life Cycle

Durable materials require less frequent replacement, generate less waste, and may also realize lower long-term costs. According to manufacturers, bamboo flooring should last a lifetime (30 to 50 years). The onetime costs of installing bamboo flooring should be less than the costs for multiple installations of less durable flooring options. Therefore, over the long-term, the consumer should save money. Replacing the flooring generates waste, so reducing the rate of replacement also reduces waste generation. Without a single standard measurement for durability, the only comparable data available at this time are the results from standard Janka-Ball Hardness tests (ASTM D1037). Bamboo flooring ranges "from slightly lower than red oak (1290 PSI) to significantly harder- 1130 PSI to 1640 PSl,"⁵ making it a relatively hard material. 

Since most bamboo flooring can be refinished, it should have a longer life than less durable flooring options such as carpet and some resilient flooring. The following list is from the Residential Rehabilitation Inspection Guide of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.⁶ Based on information provided by manufacturers and trade associations; it shows the life expectancy of several common flooring components used in residential applications: Oak or pine: lifetime. Slate flagstone: lifetime. Vinyl (sheet or tile) 20-30 years. Terrazzo: lifetime. Carpeting: 11 years. Marble: lifetime.

Since bamboo has a relative hardness comparable to oak, a very hard, durable wood, and exhibits similar properties to other wood floors, it is assumed to have a life expectancy comparable to wood flooring. 

Installation

Bamboo flooring can be used in most residential and commercial applications where carpet, wood, tile, or resilient flooring is used. Some applications may be inappropriate a-high moisture area, for example-so consumers should confirm with the supplier to make sure the application is appropriate. 

Depending upon the product, installation may be glue-down or nail down. In engineered products, bamboo may be floated, and it can be used with concrete or wood sub floors.  

Maintenance 

Manufacturers report that bamboo floors are maintained in the same manner as wood floors and can be refinished.

Bamboo is harvested, sliced into strips, boiled in water with a preservative, and pressed flat. It is then laminated vertically or in three horizontal layers, and kiln-dried. Floors manufactured using the horizontal orientation may be prone to cupping, but this problem is eliminated when the center layer is oriented perpendicular to the top and bottom layers. 

Some manufacturers also offer an engineered floor that utilizes a thin bamboo layer laminated over a non-bamboo material. One manufacturer now offers tongue-and-groove flooring made from bamboo-oriented strand board (OSB). This product is made using the post-industrial waste bamboo from floor manufacturing. 

Bamboo flooring products are manufactured in varying dimensional tongue and groove strip sizes and lengths. These products are available either pre-finished or unfinished, and they are usually offered as either natural or amber colored. Costs range from $4 to $8 per square foot for higher quality products.

Transportation Issues

Nearly all bamboo for flooring is grown and manufactured in the Pacific Rim, generally in China or Vietnam. Therefore, any life-cycle analysis of these products should take into account both energy consumption and air emissions resulting from the transportation requirements of bringing the bamboo to market. 

Some green building rating systems or guidelines give preference to the use of materials that either originate or are manufactured locally, which is often defined as within a 500-mile radius from the project.