Mao Bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) is characterized by high contents of sugar and starch and by high hygroscopicity, which makes it susceptible to biodegradation, and specifically to fungal decay. Still, many bamboo based products regularly enter the European wood construction market, competing with traditional solid wood products used for outdoor decking and cladding. The performance of a heat treated woven bamboo material developed by the French company GB Négoce (member of the DM Création brand) was assessed with the aim of enhancing its use for exterior decking and cladding. Water uptake and swelling properties of bamboo decks were evaluated after 28 days of full soaking conditions according to adapted standardized tests. As the results demonstrated a highly reduced water uptake ability of the tested bamboo products when compared to solid wood, additional tests were run to evaluate their resistance to fungal decay. Laboratory tests were performed in order to assess the resistance of heat treated woven bamboo against Basidiomycete fungi, which usually degrade wood both in use class 3 (e.g. cladding) and use class 4 (e.g. decking). These tests were carried out before and after applying different accelerated ageing procedures (ageing cycles traditionally applied to wood based panels, exposure to UVs, water spraying and temperature variations). The resistance of heat treated woven bamboo against wood decaying fungi was comparable to “durable” wood species. The relevance of using severe ageing procedures to predict how weathering processes affect the chief mechanical and physical properties of composite decking for outdoor applications (such as bending strength or density) is also discussed.

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