Board · 5–25 mm
Plant-Based — indicative fig. O·05
Fire Combustible CombustibleEmbodied carbon Data pending Per-m² sourceCompressive 45-85MPa StructuralDesign life 30yr
High-strength engineered bamboo plywood with cross-laminated construction, offering superior mechanical properties to many hardwoods with excellent sustainability credentials for structural and decorative applications.
01 Physical
Density 650-1100kg/m3
Specific gravity 0.65-1.10
Porosity 5-20%
Water absorption 3-12%
Hardness 1380-5000 lbfJanka
UV resistance poor-without-treatment
Chemical resistance good
pH tolerance 6-8pH
02 Mechanical
Tensile strength 40-140MPa
Compressive strength 45-85MPa
Flexural strength 30-120MPa
Impact resistance goodJ/m
Creep resistance good
03 Thermal
Thermal conductivity 0.14-0.30W/mK
Specific heat 1300-1600J/kgK
Thermal expansion 0.003-0.005mm/mK
04 Compliance & Fire First question
Combustibility class Combustible
Fire resistance level 20-35minutes
Ignition temp 240-400degC
Flame spread index 75-150FSI
Smoke dev. index 100-300SDI
Heat release rate 150-300kW/m2
05 Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon -5 to -30 (net)kg CO2-eq/m2
Carbon footprint 1-6 (manufacturing only)kg CO2-eq/kg
Embodied energy 15-20MJ/kg
Water footprint 250-600L/kg
Recyclability 65-80%
Recycled content 0-5%
Renewable content 85-95%
Circular score 6.5-7.5/10
VOC emissions 10-124ug/m3
Toxicity rating low
LEED contribution 4-7points
06 Durability · Cost · Logistics
Expected lifespan 30-50years
Maintenance interval none (interior) / 2-5 (exterior)years
Warranty period 10-15years
Material cost (range) 30-130AUD/m2
Material cost (per unit) 90-390AUD/sheet
Lead time 7-84days
Lifecycle cost 60-160AUD/m2
Annual maintenance 0.50-2AUD/m2/year
Market availability moderate-specialist
07 Assessment
Advantages
- Exceptional strength-to-weight ratio — exceeds most hardwood plywood mechanically
- Rapidly renewable bamboo resource (5-7 year harvest cycle)
- Excellent dimensional stability from cross-laminated construction
- Distinctive natural grain patterns — self-decorative exposed finish
- NAF (no added formaldehyde) adhesive options available
- Excellent machinability with standard woodworking tools
- Wide thickness range (5-25mm) for diverse applications
- Carbon-negative material lifecycle when accounting for bamboo sequestration
- Consistent grain pattern and density compared to natural timber plywoods
- Compatible with standard plywood joinery techniques (dado, rabbet, biscuit, dowel)
Constraints
- All product imported from China — no Australian bamboo plywood manufacturing
- 20-25% more expensive than conventional hardwood plywood
- Quality varies significantly between manufacturers — adhesive and pressing standards differ
- Edge sealing essential for moisture protection (exposed cross-grain edges absorb readily)
- Combustible material — NCC limitations for exterior and fire-rated applications
- Formaldehyde emissions from some adhesive systems (must specify E0/NAF)
- Colour variation between panels and batches — specify from same production run for visible applications
- Limited structural grade certification in Australia (no CodeMark or JAS-ANZ accreditation)
08 Applications
A1 Cabinet construction and joinery
A2 Furniture manufacturing
A3 Architectural wall panelling and ceiling linings
A4 Countertops and work surfaces (strand-woven grade)
A5 Structural sheathing and subflooring
A6 Exhibition and display construction
A7 Marine and RV interior joinery
A8 Acoustic panels (perforated with absorber backing)
09 Sources & Standards
Sources pending — citations for this material are not yet recorded. Verify all figures against manufacturer data and current standards before specifying.