Technology

What is GLULAM?

Glulam is also known as glued laminated timber, a versatile engineered wood that is frequently specified for its strength, beauty and reliability. The material is made up of several layers of structural timber that have been bonded together using adhesives in order to form a larger, piece of timber. Building advancements using this material have drastically changed the scale of what is architecturally possible using timber.

Glulam is often advocated as a viable alternative to structural concrete and steel. When compared to concrete and steel, glulam can produce a lighter weight structure with a lesser carbon footprint that is much stronger, pound-for-pound. A variety of structural components can be formed using glulam including parallel beams, pre-cambered beams, sloped beams, curved beams, flight beams and trusses. The design possibilities are virtually limitless.

Why – Advantages

Its strength exceeds the strength of the walls made of brick and concrete. Wooden construction is on 50-70% stronger than structures made from whole trees. Glued laminated timber does not change its shape over time. Grooves and ridges of the beams rigidly fix each element in the wall. Glued laminated timber has minimal shrinkage in height. It does not crack or twist. This material is highly resistant to rot and insect infestation because of high quality facial surfaces.
Architectural freedom in wood. Technology glued beams give incredible space in the project design and construction of wooden houses, this material allows us to increase the size of the support structure beams and sizes of the windows.
Energy saving. Due to the “warm” surface temperature and good insulating properties of wood may reduce the heating temperature by several degrees. In addition, the tree has the best properties of heat accumulation and provides reliable protection from heat in summer.
Cost of construction. Glued laminated timber elements significantly reduce construction time. Glued laminated beam houses, like all wood, have less weight than stone or brick – the weight of a laminated board is about 400 kg / cubic meter, and therefore do not require deep and heavy foundations.

GluLam is effective…

The main advantage is that it can be used to create large components and made up of special shapes that are not common to the marketplace. It also boasts greater mechanical resistance compared to solid milled lumber. By eliminating any defects, finger-jointing and gluing small timber sections together, we have achieved a product that is notably robust and consistent.

Glulam allows a high degree of prefabrication, and long structural spans where required – but is just as efficient for shorter spans. GluLam’s thermal properties help to avert cold bridging.

Flexibility

GluLam products allow for innovative architectural designs possible for all types of schools, commercial, industrial, infrastructure, institutional, multi-residential, recreational, and residential construction projects. With glulam’s superior strength, large-scale and extra-long-span structures become viable and produce astounding and intricate architectural results and are still cost effective.

Ecological

Wood-based construction is more in the lead than ever thanks to its appeal as an environmental and sustainable solution.

Wood production emits much less carbon dioxide (CO2) (potent greenhouse gas) than concrete or steel. Also, cultivating trees trap atmospheric CO2 and catch it
away within their fibre. Constructing with wood produces 26% to 31% less greenhouse gas than constructing with concrete or steel. In taking account the CO2 trapped in its fibre, wood is truly carbon negative. 1,000 m3 of wood traps the equivalent of 765 tons of carbon.

As part of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) growth is carefully managed to ensure long-standing sustainability. Harvesting is strictly overseen by an environmental supervision scheme that goes over and above the existing laws and conventions require.