Leaders in Timber Frame Technology
Glulam beams are used to provide a load-bearing capacity and can span huge areas from wall to wall with no internal support is available or wanted. Spans of up to 40m are possible.
Timber Engineering Europe
Glulam stands for Glued Laminated Timber manufactured to
BS EN 386
BS EN 390
, with glued end joints to
BS 5268 part 2 Clause 3.4
. This timber is mainly from Scandinavian sustainable forests. The tree is usually spruce, though can
sometimes be redwood or Siberian larch. Glulam is an engineered component at the cutting edge of
modern construction technology.
Glulam beams can be used instead of steel or concrete in a building structure,
with the following distinct advantages:
- Glulam, like all timber possesses insulation qualities so when used within a
building structure it helps to eliminate the thermal bridge between structure and
- Glulam is recognised, as renewable, environmental
friendly resource of material, and because of this, the embodied energy used to
produce it is six times less than the same suitable strength steel.
- Glulam is two-thirds the weight of steel and only one sixth of the weight of
concrete, Glulam provides equal performance and unmatched versatility.
- Glulam is pleasing to eye in its natural state and doesn’t need cladding like
- Glulam application is diverse; it can be used as rafters,
lintels, floor beam, columns or decking and manufacture easier than most other
structural materials. The structural capabilities are endless and over the years
since it was first patented it has been used for bridges, swimming pools, and large
open planned office blocks and sports halls as the primary structure
- Glulam can create vast interior spaces with no internal supports, design single
beams with up to a 40-metre span, although transportation considerations usually
limit working lengths to approximately 24 metres. From straight beams to curved
portals and complex pyramids, Glulam adds strength, structure and majesty to
architecture. Rather than hiding away the building’s ‘skeleton’,
Glulam allows you to celebrate the awesome vibrancy of nature’s finest
- Glulam wood is naturally durable and robust. In Glulam form it offers excellent
fire resistance, unlike other alternatives, and provides a known charring rate
bringing safety and integrity to your structure. Glulam is chemically stable and
suitable for aggressive and humid environments, expanding its scope of use across
every market sector.
- Glulam products supplied by Timber Engineering Europe come from managed forests,
where more trees are planted than harvested. It is important to note that only
growing trees photosynthesise, so managed forests are probably more environmentally
‘productive’ than those left to their own devices. Whereas many
materials used in construction are dubiously claimed to be re-cyclable, all
Glulams produced are totally renewable.
Glulams are extremely strong and can be left as decorative features there are different
architectural shapes available. Huge expanses can be created and are especially popular for
sports stadia and swimming pool buildings.
Only the transport logistics dictate the beam length available
The ecological alternative to
steel and concrete where heavy loads and large spans are required. Very attractive finishes
can be achieved with glulam beams after installation.
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