What wood is used for glulam?
spruce wood
Glulam is typically made of spruce wood. Fir, pine, larch and Douglas fir are also used, but more rarely.
What are the different types of glulam?
Glulam is available in both custom and stock sizes and one of four appearance classifications: premium, architectural, industrial, or framing.
How many grades of glulam are there?
four
Industry recommendations for the finished appearance of glued laminated timber have traditionally identified four “grades:” Premium, Architectural, Industrial and Framing.
What is glulam made from?
Glulam is made from a wide variety of species like Douglas-fir, spruce-pine-fir (SPF) and western hemlock. Beams and columns of virtually any size and shape are fabricated by laminating three or more kiln-dried, stress-tested, and finger-jointed lumber together to form continuous laminations.
Is glulam a softwood?
Glulam can be manufactured using both softwood and hardwood and can use a variety of different types of timber. The most common type of Glulam is white wood spruce but commonly larch, pine and Douglas fir are commonly available, but glulam can be manufactured from any form of timber.
What is the difference between PSL and LVL?
PSL beams are generally more expensive than glulam, LSL, or LVL beams. PSL beams can be stained or finished where an aesthetically pleasing exposed application is desired. Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) is a commonly available engineered product that is manufactured similarly to PSL.
What is the difference between CLT and glulam?
CLT and glulam differ in the ways that they are used in a building. CLT is used for surfaces such as walls, floors, and floor separation. Glulam is primarily used for the loadbearing frame in a building such as rafters, beams, or columns. CLT is made by cross laminating several layers perpendicular to each other.
Is glulam considered heavy timber?
However, in consideration of engineered wood products, IBC Table 2304.11 (IBC 2015 Table 602.4) provides equivalent glulam and SCL sizes that qualify as heavy timber. For most building elements other than heavy timber, passive fire-resistive requirements are in the form of a required fire- resistance rating (FRR).
Which is stronger PSL or LSL?
Due to its high allowable shear strength, LSL beams have the capacity for larger penetrations than other engineered wood beam options. While not as strong as LVL or PSL beams, LSL is generally cheaper and is ideal for short spans.
What type of wood is glulam made from?
We manufacture glulam in house from both UK grown and imported French Douglas Fir. We also occasionally use almost knot-free North American Douglas Fir when a high specification finish is required. Douglas Fir originates in the North West of America.
What is the glulam product guide?
The Glulam Product Guide, Form X440, describes APA trademarked glulam, addresses important design considerations and includes a specification guide. It also highlights some of the many applications where glulam is used in construction. Download >
What is the APA trademark for glulam beams?
Glulam beams manufactured by APA members are certified with the APA trademark. The mark signifies that the manufacturer is committed to a rigorous program of quality verification and testing and that products are manufactured in conformance with ANSI Standard A190.1, Standard for Wood Products—Structural Glued Laminated Timber.
What are the recommended design loads for glulam beam applications?
The Glued Laminated Beam Design Tables, Form S475, provide recommended preliminary design loads for two of the most common glulam beam applications: roofs and floors. The tables include values for section properties and capacities and allowable loads for simple span and cantilevered beams. Download > Resource Library