In case of an earthquake it behaves well. For a floorbeam or a purlin the amount of bamboo required, is only 40 percent of the timber needed for the same purposes. A village community can easily grow bamboo. A small plantation of just one hectare yields enough bamboo culms each year to build several houses and to create some jobs. The return of capital is higher for bamboo than for wood.
Little energy is needed for the production of bamboo.
Especially when viewed in respect to the bearing capacity of the material. The fire risk is higher for bamboo than for timber. Natural growth Since bamboo culms are a product of natural growth, no two culms are alike. This makes it more difficult to realize joints. Also more effort is needed to establish prefabrication and industrialisation.