There is a definite trend towards the revival of wood among architects worldwide.
New Design possibilities
A look at our gallery of glulam design shows how glulam has been used to great effect in award-winning design, much of it driven by aesthetics and by government and community demand for more sustainability in public building and housing. In the UK particularly, it is a huge issue and wood is recognised as the only truly sustainable material. Only now that the cost benefits are more widely understood and previous concerns about spans and depth of beams being design limitations has been well and truly put to rest, has wood been used to the full extent of its potential by a new generation of architects and design professionals.
New Internationally recognized quality standards
The Bureau Veritas administered quality is internationally recognized and more performance based. This gives specifiers, building authorities and customers even greater assurance of long term serviceability and performance meeting design.
Easy to work with
Light, dry Stratalam beams arrive on site pre-fitted as arranged, including connections, ready for speedy installation. Traditional skills can be used and builders who are confident in working with timber find Stratalam easy to handle. Other sub-trades find timber easier and quicker to connect to. This results in reduced erection times and requires no specialist erection techniques.
Safer to use
Timber has low toxicity and it does not require special safety precautions or equipment to work with.
Fire Resistance
Stratalam has proven fire resistance. When exposed to the heat of a fire, a layer of charcoal forms on the burning surface. This forms around the outside of the beams and protects the core by restricting oxygen supplies. Stratalam burns slowly and a predictable rate and fire design techniques can be relatively easily applied.
Fire fighting and insurance industries recognize this superior performance under fire. There are examples of Stratalam beams remaining in place after a fire and having had the char layer removed, and after engineer’s inspection, a further seal coat applied and the structure rebuilt on the existing glulam member.
For more information about Fire Resistance, click here.
Beauty Exposed
Stratalam beams are authentic, warm and honest. Structural elements within the building can be exposed for architectural effect without the necessity of false facing or camouflage. Wood has a timeless appeal that has been an integral element of human habitation for a millennium. Stratalam structural beams can be custom built to almost any shape and size creating almost infinite freedom of design and form.
Low Maintenance
Timber is naturally resistant to attack by corrosive or high humidity atmosphere that would normally rust steel and pit concrete. Appropriate timber treatment minimises deterioration and requires minimal long term maintenance. Stratalam members arrive on site pre-sealed or stained as specified.
Lightweight Strength
Weight for strength a Stratalam beam is stronger than both steel and concrete. This means that Stratalam beams can span very long distances and require minimal intermediate support. Dependent on specific loading conditions, a steel beam may be 20% heavier, and a reinforced concrete beam, 600% heavier than the equivalent Stratalam beam to carry the same load.
This lighter structure can in turn lead to significant economies in foundation construction.
Consistent Performance
The lamination eliminates the natural performance variations that are characteristic of solid sawn timber. Stratalam beams are engineered products that are manufactured to meet specific performance criteria. Specifiers can be assured that Stratalam beams will consistently perform as expected. They also have the security of the Bureau Veritas Performance Certification.
Cost Effective
Many factors contribute to the economy of total construction costs using Stratalam . The light weight of Stratalam means speedy construction and foundation construction savings.
Builders using traditional carpentry skills and non-specialist tools can complete the job. Sub-trades like plumbing and electrical find attachments and fitting more simple and faster. Any retro fitting or alterations are also simplified. Once installed, Stratalam requires less long term maintenance.
Visual Deflection Eliminated
Deflection is often seen as a restraint in structural beam design, especially in longer spans. Any structural member can be designed to minimise defection. Glulam is the only engineered wood that has been pre-cambered to eliminate the visual effect sometimes noted as a result of in-service deflections.
Shock Resistance
Unlike steel and concrete which are cast and formed, wood is anisotropic by nature and this means it performs differently in different directions. This makes it very resilient and able to absorb seismic and wind shocks that would cause failure in other materials.
Insulating Properties
Wood is a natural insulation. It offers excellent thermal, acoustic and electrical insulating properties now more important for intelligent buildings.
