Bamboo Technologies has received confirmation from the International Code Council (ICC) that its structural bamboo poles comply with the provisions of International Building Codes.

This is the first time a species of bamboo has been approved by the ICC as a structural building material. ICC approval clears the way for its use in the United States , Canada , Europe , and elsewhere.

David Sands and Jeffree Trudeau, owners of Bamboo Technologies, found a species of bamboo in Vietnam called Bambusa stenostachya that they believed could meet building standards. After about 10 years and $200,000 in testing and research, their hard work has paid off. They believe their efforts establish a protocol that will allow many other structural species of bamboo to be used in construction.

The bamboo poles are heated in a chimney and pressure treated with boric acid to protect them against fungal and insect attacks. Even without this treatment, bamboo structures in Vietnam of the same species have lasted for over 50 years.

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet and can yield 20 times more timber than trees on the same area. It is a rapidly renewable resource that can be harvested in about three years, compared with 40 years for fir trees. Bamboo could also play a pivotal role in reducing global warming by absorbing excess carbon dioxide.

For more information, visit the Bamboo Technologies website: http://www.bambooliving.com