In the UK, the primary way of measuring the hardness of a species of bamboo or wood is by using the Janka Hardness Test. It is a complex test which consists of driving a small steel ball (11.28mm in diameter) into the wood or bamboo to a certain depth to measure its hardness.
The actual measurement is taken by the force needed to push the ball into the wood or bamboo to a depth of half the ball’s diameter. It compares the hardness of one species of wood or bamboo to another.
See below for the Janka hardness ratings for species of bamboo flooring and some hardwood flooring as a comparison:
Janka Hardness Scale - Kilonewtons (kN)
5.8 = Strand Woven Bamboo
10.5 = Jatoba
6.4 = Maple
6.2 = Solid Bamboo
6.0 = Oak
4.5 = Walnut
4.2 = Cherry
The higher the number, the harder the floor surface.
