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GLULAM: what is it?
Aesthetic, resilient and incredibly versatile! Glulam is an engineered wood product that is stronger, lighter, cheaper and more environmentally friendly than concrete and steel. This miraculous material, along with some passion for innovation, has pushed the boundaries of sustainable design.
The fascination of glulam lies in the flexibility of the timber to be formed into almost any shape while maintaining its high load-bearing capacity. The elements made of planed, parallel-glued boards are distinguished by outstanding dimensional stability, efficiency and versatility. The combination of straight, curved and three-dimensional constructional elements allows architects virtually unlimited freedom of design.
technical details
Shrinkage and swelling behaviour
Timber is a natural building material. It can both absorb and release moisture. The equilibrium moisture content of the component depends on the climatic conditions of the environment. To avoid changes in the member dimension, the timber moisture content should be matched at the intended installation site.
Glulam is produced with a timber moisture content of approx. 10 - 12 %. This corresponds to the equilibrium moisture content at a room temperature of 20°C and a relative humidity of 65 %.
Glulam has an average shrinkage and swelling dimension in height and width of αu⊥= 0,24 % per 1 % change in timber moisture content (Δu).
Changes in length of αuII = 0,01 % can generally be ignored.
Δh = Δu x 0,24 / 100 x h Δb = Δu x 0,24 / 100 x b Δl = Δu x 0,01 / 100 x l
Moisture content
10 - 12 % (+ / - 2 %) on delivery
Density
Approx. 450 kg / m³
Thermal conductivity
λ = 0,13 W / (mK) parallel to the glue lines
λ = 0,15 W / (mK) vertical to the glue lines
Diffusion resistance
μ =20 – 40
Emissions
Class E1
Clearly falls below the limit values of emission class E1 (≤ 0.1 ppm HCHO).
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Glulam Classification
Acc. to EN 13501:
European Class D
Smoke Class s2
Drop Class d0
Acc. to DIN 4102-1:
B2 (standard inflammable)
Fire resistance
Charring rate 0,7 mm / min
High resistance to fire
A supporting structure made of glulam is much safer than an unprotected steel construction in the event of fire. In any blaze a flame barrier forms around the load-bearing core that reduces the ingress of oxygen and heat from the outside, thereby significantly delaying any further combustion. In contrast to other building materials such as steel, the burning properties of glulam are predictable. A fire resistance of 30 minutes is easily achieved. With appropriate cross sections even 60 minutes or more are possible. Expensive fire protection coatings are usually not required.
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Resistant to aggressive chemical substances
Glulam is resistant to aggressive chemical substances. Therefore structures made of glulam are also suitable for buildings which are used to store materials such as fertilisers, salt or acids. Glulam beams and trusses are the preferred building material when it comes to swimming pool and wellness spa structures as they combine structural advantages with the resistant to an aggressive climate while providing an aesthetical appearance.
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Durable comfort
Glulam lends to a warm, comfortable ambience which immediately gives people a sense of well being. The use of glulam promotes healthy ambient conditions. Glulam beams are natural, durable and aesthetic. The perceived surface temperature of wood lies significantly above other building materials. Even at lower room temperatures this leads to a comfortable room climate.
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Climate protection and sustainability
The raw material used in the production of our glulam originates predominantly from the domestic forests of Austria, Switzerland and Germany. For generations these forests have been managed and tended according to the simple principle of sustainability: more trees are replanted than are harvested. Timber is an excellent storage medium for the harmful green-house gas, carbon dioxide. Every cubic metre of timber used in construction reduces emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere by an average of 2 tons. Our Glulam products made from spruce are 100 % PEFC certified.
certified materials
EG-Conformity Certificate
EN 14080
Certificate of Compliance
DIN 1052
PEFC
Chain of Custody
ISO 9001
Quality Management
