Bamboo is a material with many different uses. It has been used for hundreds of years throughout human history, most noticeably in Asia and the Chinese empire. Bamboo scaffolding has also been used throughout history and is still used today. The following article sheds some light on ancient bamboo scaffold methods and modern adaptations that are successful today.

Bamboo has provided a unique and versatile material in China for over 5,000 years and still has many uses today. Bamboo could be converted to make paper for pages and for backing books, as a food source and even to build homes and vast palaces.

The scaffolding we use in Britain today is made from metal poles and connecting components which are covered by planks for ease of access. Since early Chinese culture and particularly throughout the Ming dynasty bamboo scaffolding has been practised as a construction method which some even view as an art form.

As well as being an economical and environmentally friendly method of construction some people also believe that bamboo has good feng shui properties and can be a trusted bringer of good luck and calming energy.

In Asia today people still practice the ancient yet evidently effective method of traditional bamboo scaffolding. Workers build frames of bamboo which are durable enough to support the weight of themselves, their equipment and materials while they work. Simple as these structures may seem they are by no means limited. It is still a common sight to see these bamboo structures spanning the entire height of buildings and office blocks.

As bamboo is a light, portable material it is easy to move from site to site. This light weight and surprising durability means that no machinery is needed to assemble the scaffold and put it in place. When workers start a new project they begin to build the scaffold around them as they are going no matter how large the construction is. As the project draws to a close the workers move from the top of the scaffolding down, dissembling the framework as they go so that the bamboo can be recycled and used for another project.

Recent research and development in construction has created a new and versatile scaffolding method. Bamboo and metal scaffolding combines the best elements of both methods to provide a system as durable as traditional bamboo but with the reinforced safety of metal installations.

Using metal and bamboo in almost equal proportions it is possible too harness the flexibility of bamboo with the strength of steel. Steel scaffold is used in the primary stages to make a skeleton of the scaffolding network which allows workers to manoeuvre equipment and materials to loaded and stored.

Once the framework of the basic structure has been established, adjoining sections can be added to extend areas and travel further above or below where the scaffold is positioned. Using bamboo poles to further bulk out the framework is a cost effective method which adds little additional weight thus putting less strain on the scaffolding. As it is fairly simple to construct the additional bamboo sections there is freedom to adapt to different requirements on a busy construction site.