4 ms·

I dunno. Framing lumber is organic, yet we have systems to grade it and charts to show how strong it is (taking into account random imperfections).

• kijin 1y ago
  Yeah, since they use so much bamboo, it might be feasible to grade the pipes by thickness and/or some other objective measure of strength. Heck, they probably already do, informally. As for imperfections, the bamboo masters seem to know how to (over)compensate for them, i.e. they build the scaffolding to withstand several times the expected load. As would any good engineer.
  • AlecSchueler 1y ago
    > Heck, they probably already do, informally. I feel like I'm seeing more and more of this kind of conjecture on HN about things that are quite easy to verify. It also surprises me that anyone would assume they're either operating without any standardisation or that they'd only be doing it informally. It's China, first of all, and it's the 21st century. The guidelines from the local government are available here: https://www.bd.gov.hk/doc/en/resources/codes-and-references/code-and-design-manuals/GDCBS.pdf https://www.bd.gov.hk/doc/en/resources/codes-and-references/... The bamboo is specified by genus, age, drying time, thickness etc. with exact tolerances given for variation.
    • dylan604 1y ago
      Hell, even in the 5th century or before, they'd have had enough experience to know that bamboo of certain size would be appropriate or not. Sure, they might not now the exact tensile strength in Netwons or lbs/in or whatever unit, but they'd have enough experience to know that to make a bridge for an ox to cross would need certain sizes of bamboo. Even if that knowledge came from losing an ox or two, it would have been learned quickly enough.
    • throwaway2037 1y ago
      > It's China No, Hongkong is not China. It has totally separate civil construction and worker safety rules.
      • AlecSchueler 1y ago
        Two systems, one country. Is there a reason you make the distinction, i.e. a reason to believe that Hong Kong is more likely to practice safety standards on at best an informal basis?
        • rad_gruchalski 1y ago
          Apparently > It has totally separate civil construction and worker safety rules.
          • AlecSchueler 1y ago
            That doesn't logically imply that the separate rules are operating on an ad hoc and informal basis. I linked to the regulations in my initial comment. There are separate civil construction and worker safety rules in the United Kingdom for example, but that doesn't mean there's no formal system in the UK.
        • j7ake 1y ago
          Yes the standards are different. Also true for restaurants and sanitation.