Fabrication and Installation of Glulam Frames
Glulam is an ideal material for crafting stunning, eye-catching designs with open spaces, as well as being used in common applications like purlins, ridge beams and garage door headers.
Early coordination of MEPF penetrations with structural grids is highly recommended to minimize any impact to bending, shear and fire design. Read this WoodWorks expert tip for more information.
Glue Lamination
Glulam (or structural glued engineered wood) is one of the oldest and most versatile forms of timber framing, typically constructed of lumber lamellas bonded together with adhesives. Commonly made from spruce, pine or fir wood species, glulam can be manufactured into straight lines, curves or with multiple cross-sections along its length; unlike concrete and steel which must be prefabricated before arriving on job sites in dry condition for installation.
As part of its manufacturing process, knots in lumber are removed and coated with structural resin – typically continuous-RF curing melamine formaldehyde (MF) or phenol formaldehyde (PF). Once applied, this structural resin is then cut to length using finger joints before planed on both sides and graded. Due to their long lengths and graded finish, glulam panels allow greater design capacities than sawn lumber panels can.
Curved glulam can create stunning exposed ceilings and designs with open spaces, as well as being used for workhorse applications like trusses, shear walls and floor beams in homes, commercial and light commercial buildings. Available grades for framing, Industrial Architectural Premium make glulam an excellent choice for many architectural uses.
While glulam’s structural integrity is generally unaffected by cracks or checks, its natural appearance can be enhanced through additional surface treatments like paint or stain. Thanks to its low stress and high-resilience characteristics, glulam makes an excellent material choice for large open space structures as well as seismic zones; bridges often incorporate it due to its resistance against salt corrosion used for de-icing roadways.
Planing
Glulam is a structural wood product comprised of laminations of kiln-dried, stress-tested lumber such as Douglas-fir, SPF or western hemlock that have been glued together and formed into members with any length and width imaginable. Laminations may then be coated with an exterior grade preservative stain and moisture resistant adhesive for finished surfaces that can be used both interiorly or externally for various projects.
Once the glulam has been kiln-dried and is ready for fabrication, any large knots must be removed before planed on both sides to create smooth surfaces that can be bonded with resin during manufacturing. Next, end-jointed glued-laminated timbers are cut down to their final dimensions for the project before structural adhesives like phenol formaldehyde (PF) or melamine formaldehyde (MF) resin are applied and cured under pressure using continuous RF curing systems.
Fabricated glulam beams are significantly less likely to shake, check and warp than traditional solid beams, making glulam an extremely flexible material suitable for building homes, commercial buildings, bridges and utility poles.
Glulam provides an energy efficient building solution by naturally insulating the interior of any structure it forms, with exceptional thermal properties to prevent thermal bridging. Furthermore, insulation materials may be added post-manufacturing.
Gulam construction material stands out as being both beautiful and strong; furthermore it’s cost competitive with other materials and can be made much faster than concrete or steel construction projects. Plus, glulam’s environmental credentials include reduced carbon emissions during its production process as well as acting as a carbon sink over its lifecycle.
Pressing
Glulam is a construction material made of lamellas of timber glued together, similar to regular solid timber but manufactured using a process that eliminates defects such as knots and allows a uniform cross section – this gives it its strength while being lighter than concrete or steel, cutting transportation costs considerably. Glulam has become popular as an option in many buildings from homes to bridges – its 19th-century marriage room at Southampton Registry Office being an example.
During production, lamellas must pass a strict quality control system and are graded according to strength. Once graded, they are stacked one on top of another before being adhered with non-toxic glue solution for bonding – creating a very strong and long-term structural beam.
These lamellas are then formed into specific length and dimensions using a mechanized press, before being sanded to meet client specifications and coated with water-based factory sealer to protect it against the elements.
This process can be tailored to create various forms of glulam, including structural beams, roofing trusses and free-shape elements. Furthermore, this technique can also create arched roof beams and columns as well as produce building components with custom shapes and sizes tailored for specific countries or even continents.
Prefabricated glulam components are then transported to the construction site for assembly. Care should be taken during transport to avoid coming in contact with rough surfaces or obstacles that could damage it; and installation must take place correctly so as to accommodate design loads as intended.
Curing
Glulam is an eco-friendly building material, providing architects and builders with flexibility in their construction designs. Ideal for long spans or curved elements, as well as heavy loads – making glulam an eco-friendly choice in commercial projects. Furthermore, its carbon dioxide storage properties help offset its environmental footprint.
A typical glulam beam typically comprises the lower portion made from #1 grade Southern Yellow Pine and upper portions made from either Kiln Dried After Treatment (KDAT) or Spruce wood species for optimal strength, durability and stability.
Most glulam manufacturers provide customized finishing options to enhance the aesthetics of their finished product, such as painting, staining and sanding. Surface treatments may also help protect glulam against moisture damage and reduce maintenance needs.
As prefabricated glulam can be installed quickly compared to concrete and steel construction methods, it often allows for larger openings in the building envelope, helping reduce costs associated with additional insulation as well as providing an open and spacious atmosphere.
Gulam can save both time and effort when working with it compared to other materials, while being safer and more efficient to work with than its rivals. Industry standards like ANSI A190.1 and APA PRG 320 demonstrate its high quality performance and tested performance; its fire resistance stands out as well; it chars slower than steel thus providing additional time for evacuation and emergency response responses.
Construction of glulam projects can be significantly faster and more resource-friendly than with conventional methods, since all components arrive on-site dry and are assembled quickly and without wasteful shipping processes. This saves both time and money while contributing to more eco-friendly building.
Installation
Glulam is composed of wood laminations bonded together using moisture-resistant adhesives, creating strong yet versatile structures. All grain runs parallel along the length of each timber lamination allowing designers to construct structures which often outshout concrete and steel structures in terms of strength per weight.
Glulam is manufactured using various sizes, shapes and wood species to meet specific load and performance criteria. Fabricated as pre-cambered shapes to reduce deflection caused by service loads, this material may also be bent and curved to suit tight radii for dramatic architectural appearances or reduce steel support requirements.
To ensure the highest level of quality, glulam is produced at certified manufacturing plants that adhere to stringent quality control standards. All equipment, manufacturing procedures and record keeping at such plants have been certified according to CSA O177: the Qualification Code for Manufacturers of Structural Glued-Laminated Timber.
For the final product, glulam requires purchasing special grade lumber (lamstock), end joining it, drying it off and stacking in horizontal layers or laminations before glueing, pressing and curing for optimal results.
Glulam’s strong structural integrity makes it ideal for bridge construction. Glulam bridges can span long distances without incurring wear-and-tear damage from vehicles driving over them, and are resistant to vehicle abrasion as well as corrosion from road de-icing salt used as de-icing salt is applied directly onto their surface. Lastly, pressure treated glulam provides additional corrosion resistance.
Glulam provides an advantage over steel and concrete by being renewable, which reduces carbon emissions caused by burning fossil fuels to produce energy required for their production. Estimates show that timber frame buildings could sequester up to one ton of CO2 during their lifespan.