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IS 1902:2006 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for preservation of bamboo and cane for non-structural purposes - code of practice. This code of practice outlines methods for the chemical preservation of bamboo and cane used for non-structural purposes like furniture, handicrafts, and fencing. It details the preparation of materials, types of preservatives, various treatment processes such as steeping and pressure impregnation, and essential safety precautions.
Preservation of bamboo and cane for non-structural purposes - Code of practice
! Thorough seasoning (drying) of bamboo before treatment is essential for effective preservative penetration and to minimize post-treatment cracking.
! For better preservative absorption, the waxy outer skin (epidermis) of the bamboo culm should be scraped off or nodes should be punctured before treatment.
! CCA treated material should not be used in contact with food, drinking water, or for making toys due to its toxicity.
Standard Specification for Preservative-Treated Bamboo and Bamboo Products
Covers requirements for preservative treatment of bamboo, referencing AWPA standards for processes and retention.
AWPA U1-21American Wood Protection Association, USA
HighCurrent
Use Category System: User Specification for Treated Wood
Defines service conditions (Use Categories) and specifies appropriate preservatives and retention levels for bamboo.
NTC 5301:2004ICONTEC, Colombia
MediumCurrent
Preservación y secado del culmo de guadua angustifolia kunth (Preservation and drying of the culm of Guadua angustifolia kunth)
Provides detailed methods for preserving and drying Guadua bamboo, overlapping significantly on process principles.
CEN/TR 17300:2018European Committee for Standardization, Europe
MediumCurrent
Bamboo and bamboo products - European guidance for Use classes, service life, and treatment
Provides guidance on applying the European Use Class system to bamboo, linking service environment to treatment needs.
Key Differences
≠IS 1902 is a prescriptive code detailing 'how' to perform treatments, whereas modern standards like AWPA U1 and CEN/TR 17300 are performance-based, specifying required protection levels for defined 'Use Classes' or 'Use Categories' based on end-use risk.
≠IS 1902 gives significant attention to traditional/non-industrial methods like steeping, smoking, and mud-plastering, which are largely absent from industrial-focused standards like ASTM D7997 that prioritize quantifiable pressure treatments.
≠While IS 1902 lists preservatives like CCA and CCB, international standards (e.g., AWPA U1) have a more extensive and frequently updated list of approved chemicals, including newer, lower-toxicity formulations like copper azoles (CA-C, MCA) and have restricted CCA use in many applications.
≠The scope of IS 1902 explicitly includes 'cane' (rattan) alongside bamboo. Most major international bamboo standards focus exclusively on bamboo, with rattan being treated as a separate material class.
Key Similarities
≈All standards recognize the same primary biological threats to bamboo: decay-causing fungi, staining fungi, and wood-boring insects (especially borers and termites).
≈The fundamental principles of chemical treatment are shared, including pressure impregnation (Full-Cell, Empty-Cell), non-pressure diffusion, and sap displacement (Boucherie process), even if the specific parameters vary.
≈All codes emphasize the critical importance of pre-treatment steps, including proper culm selection, handling, and seasoning (drying) to an appropriate moisture content before applying preservatives for effective results.
≈The core active chemical components are often similar. IS 1902 and international standards both utilize water-borne preservatives based on copper (as a primary fungicide) and boron (for protection against insects and fungi in lower-risk applications).
What are the primary methods for preserving bamboo mentioned in the code?+
The main methods are steeping, diffusion process, hot and cold process, and pressure impregnation (Clause 6).
What is a common non-toxic preservative recommended for indoor use?+
A solution of Boric Acid and Borax is recommended for items not exposed to weather or ground contact (Table 1).
Is it necessary to dry bamboo before treatment?+
Yes, the code specifies that bamboo should be well seasoned (air-dried or kiln-dried) to a moisture content of around 15-20% before treatment for best results (Clause 4.1).
What concentration of CCA preservative is typically used?+
The concentration varies by treatment method, ranging from 2.5% for brushing/spraying to 6% for pressure treatment (Table 1).