Modular Bamboo House - Assembly Instructions

Product Development Partnership (PDP) - Team L

Kyle Toole, Pavel Divis, Gavin Leake

Department of Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management

DMEM

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Contents
Parts List ................................................................................................................................................. 3
Bamboo Culms .................................................................................................................................... 3
Connection Plates ............................................................................................................................... 4
Connection Strapping ......................................................................................................................... 5
Creating a Connection..................................................................................................................... 5
Step One - Bottom Hexagon Construction ............................................................................................ 6
Step: 1.A .............................................................................................................................................. 6
Step: 1.B .............................................................................................................................................. 6
Step 2 - Attach Upright Columns ........................................................................................................... 7
Step 3 - Construct Top Hexagon............................................................................................................. 8
Step: 3.A .............................................................................................................................................. 8
Step: 3.B .............................................................................................................................................. 8
Step 4 - Attach Diagonal Support Beams............................................................................................... 9
Step 5 - Construct the Roof .................................................................................................................. 10
Step: 5.A ............................................................................................................................................ 10
Step: 5.B ............................................................................................................................................ 10
Modular Bamboo House Construction ................................................................................................ 11

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Parts List

Bamboo Culms
Species: Local to Pabal
Minimum Diameter: 3 Inches, 76mm
Maximum Diameter: 6 Inches, 152mm
Check to ensure that bamboo culms are not rotten, cracked or splitting.
Part

Specification
Length: 2.7m

C1 (Yellow)
Diagonal Support Struts

Quantity: 5
Length: 2.3m

C2 (Red)
Roof Beams

Quantity: 4
Length: 2m

C3 (Green)
Beams & Columns

Quantity: 20
Length: 1.7m

C4 (Blue)
Floor Beams (Large) & Roof Support Struts

Quantity: 6
Length: 1m

C5 (Purple)
Floor Beams (Small)

Quantity: 2
Total Quantity of Culms: 37
Total Quantity of Bamboo: 74.9m

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Connection Plates
R1

T1

R1

T3
T2

T2

T1

T3
B2

B1
B3

B3
F1

B2

B1
F1

Total: 16 Connection Plates

Material: Mild Steel
Thickness: 3mm

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Connection Strapping

Manufacturer: Hellermann Tyton

Product: Stainless Steel Cable Tie
Type: MBT14XH (Metal Ball bearing Ties)
Material: Stainless Steel Type SS316
Length:362mm, Width:12.3mm, Thickness:0.3mm
Min. Tensile Strength: 715, 3200lbs
Quantity: 148

Manufacturer: Hellermann Tyton

Product: Cable Tie Installation Gun
Model: MK9SST
(Installation tool will be made available to rent
from bamboo housing supplier)

A similar connection strapping system will be sourced in India to ensure cost effective construction
of the bamboo house. The system should be validated to guarantee strength and usability.
Creating a Connection
At the point of purchase, a demonstration will be given detailing, how to select appropriate bamboo,
how to use the installation gun and how to check that the connection is secure.
Key Notes:

Keep the bamboo culms to the outside of the connection plate, apart from the floor beams.
When attaching the 'side' bamboo culms, leave enough space for the central bamboo culm.
Ensure that the cable tie is tightly wrapped around both the bamboo culm and connection plate.
Ensure that the cable tie is not twisted.
Do not over tighten the cable tie; this may cause the bamboo culm to crack
Ensure that the cable tie is properly and firmly crimped.

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Step One - Bottom Hexagon Construction

Step: 1.A
B1

C3

C3

B3

B2

C3

C3

B2

B3

C3

C3

B1

Step: 1.B
B1

C3

C3

C5

B3
C4

F1

C4

C3

C3

B2

C3

F1
C4

C4

B2

B3

C5
C3

C3

B1
Position the bottom hexagon on suitable ground. Lift the bottom hexagon and position plinths under
each connection point. Bolt the connection plates onto the plinths.
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Step 2 - Attach Upright Columns

B1
C3

B3

C3

C3

B2

B2

C3

C3

B3

C3
B1
Attach upright bamboo culms (C3) to each of the outer connection points of the bottom hexagon.

(floor beams not shown)

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Step 3 - Construct Top Hexagon

Step: 3.A
Attach the appropriate connection plates to the top of the upright bamboo culms.
T1

C3

C3

T2

T3

C3

C3

T3

T2

C3

C3

T1

Step: 3.B
Attach bamboo culms (C3) to each of the connection points to form the top hexagon.

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Step 4 - Attach Diagonal Support Beams

Attach diagonal support beams (C1) to the walls of the bamboo house. A minimum of three walls
(every second wall) must be supported.

C1

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Step 5 - Construct the Roof

Step: 5.A
Assemble roof as one separate unit.

C2
C4

R1

C2
C3

C2

R1

C4

C2

Step: 5.B
Lift the roof and position it on top of the top hexagon. Attach the roof at each of the connection
points on the top hexagon. Ensure that an overhang of 0.3m is left over each connection point.

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Modular Bamboo House Construction

The bamboo house structure is modular in design thus allowing multiple structures to be attached
together creating a much larger structure. Attaching the bamboo houses together also makes the
overall structure more stable as they support each other. The bamboo houses can be attached
together with cable ties or with standard construction strapping as seen in the image below.
Product: Construction Strapping
Material: Stainless Steel (Grade 304)
Width: 10-20mm
Thickness: 0.3-0.5mm

The bamboo houses can be clad with various different materials depending on the local resources.

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