The recent metal scaffolds collapse in Quezon City Philippines has made headlines, and has made contractors re think whether metal scaffolds is still the best option for scaffolding. Why metal scaffolds collapses can be easily blamed on metal fatigue, and on how they are bound and connected. The metal scaffolds use metal interlocks that you tighten with the built-in screws that come with the metal interlock clamps. The problem with these interlock clamps is sometimes they slide all the way through the metal tube when overloaded and when it gets wet and when it is not so tight. Sometimes workers also over load them and this results in the metal getting cut due to the weight.
What makes bamboo a better option is it does not slide or get cut with the weight, it just bends and even makes a cracking sound as a warning when it is about to give up. First world places like Hongkong still prefers bamboo scaffolds over metal. They use nylon or plastic strings to tie them up together just like how one would tie up the outriggers of the traditional Asian pump boats, they never break over the huge waves of the ocean.
Another advantage of the bamboo over metal scaffolds is that it costs a fraction of the metal tubes, and is also very abundant all over the Philippines. You just must be industrious in looking for a good source of bamboo. Here in Cebu, you simply head out to Pit-os, Talamban, and look for good bamboo harvesters like Manang Bening and she is very popular in sourcing bamboos. They can even deliver it to your project site as she has a truck for delivery.
Another advantage of bamboo over metal tubes is that you do not need a security guard to guard your bamboo stocks as it is not something that the thieves can easily sell unlike the metal tubes. So, you can pile up a good number of long bamboo sticks for scaffold lengths and you can sleep securely thinking nobody really like to steal bamboo sticks. Also, unlike the coconut lumber which is also a cheaper alternative for scaffolds, bamboo do not rot under the rain and the heat of the sun. Notice the bamboo outriggers of the pump boats, they never rot in the sea and under the sun. Another thing, the bamboo still costs way cheaper than the coco lumber. Bamboo is the safer way to go…
2 comments
Totally disagree. From a safety perspective bamboo is not the better option. You don’t have to do much research to learn of the scaffold collapses of bamboo. If the construction company does not use steel scaffolding and have it inspected regularly it does not care for its workers.
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We use bamboo only for interior works and 2 storey scaffolding purposes for not more than 2 level / storey structures…
Here is an online search for bamboo vs steel scaffolds – https://www.google.com/search?client=avast-a-3&q=bamboo+scaffolds&oq=bamboo+scaffolds&aqs=avast..69i57j0l7.2586j0j9&ie=UTF-8 – Simply click on it…
Here are quotes from that same search (articles):
– “Bamboo scaffolding is being used in China and Hong Kong instead of steel for several reasons. Bamboo actually has a greater tensile strength than steel. It is also much cheaper to use, and completely environmentally friendly.”
– “Bamboo scaffolding is extremely strong and resilient. It has a tensile strength of 28,000 per square inch, in comparison to steel which is 23,000 per square inch. (Which is the preferred material in westernised countries.) May 26, 2022”
Western parts of the world cannot use bamboo because it will be very expensive for them since bamboo is usually found in asia…
Bamboo is also used for asian outrigger boats for eons even until now – because it is not affected by rust when exposed to the elements…
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