composite / Timber-Based Composite / Laminated Veneer Lumber
Radiata Pine, LVL beam, various sizes (Specified by section size)
High-strength LVL beams from radiata pine with predictable structural properties and long spans.
Atlas code
COM-TBC-LVL-001
At-a-glance signals
High-strength LVL beams from radiata pine with predictable structural properties and long spans.
Overview
Executive summary
Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) is an engineered wood product made from thin veneers bonded with structural resin, providing high strength and stiffness in beams and lintels.
Best when…
- Superior strength and stiffness compared to solid timber
- Dimensional stability with minimal shrinkage or warping
- Consistent and predictable mechanical properties
- Available in long lengths (up to 12m)
- Can be manufactured to precise dimensions
- Efficient use of plantation resource
- Lower variability than solid timber
- Can be preservative treated for durability
- Renewable and sustainable material
- Good strength-to-weight ratio
- Easy to work with standard tools
- Carbon sequestration benefits
Top advantages
- 01 Superior strength and stiffness compared to solid timber
- 02 Dimensional stability with minimal shrinkage or warping
- 03 Consistent and predictable mechanical properties
- 04 Available in long lengths (up to 12m)
- 05 Can be manufactured to precise dimensions
Top limitations
- 01 Higher initial cost than solid timber
- 02 Requires weather protection during construction
- 03 Cut ends require sealing if envelope treated
- 04 Limited availability of higher grades (F17+)
- 05 Adhesive content adds to embodied energy
Technical
Physical ·9
- Density
- 660 kg/m3 Wesbeam e-beam LVL design density.
- Specific gravity
- 0.6
- Porosity
- 55 %
- Water absorption
- 130 %
- Hardness
- 3.5
- UV resistance
- Low // Requires surface protection (Source: timber durability guides)
- Chemical resistance
- Moderate // Resistant to mild acids/alkalis (Source: wood chemistry data)
- pH tolerance
- 4-9
- Surface roughness
- 100 µm
Mechanical ·7
- Tensile strength
- 34 MPa Wesbeam e-beam LVL tensile strength.
- Compressive strength
- 47 MPa Wesbeam e-beam LVL compressive strength.
- Flexural strength
- 50 MPa Wesbeam e-beam LVL bending strength.
- Shear strength
- 5 MPa Wesbeam e-beam LVL shear strength.
- Poisson's ratio
- 0.35
- Impact resistance
- 35
- Creep resistance
- 2
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·7
- Embodied carbon
- -789
- Carbon footprint
- 195
- Embodied energy
- 3500 MJ/kg
- Water footprint
- 850 L/kg
- Recycled content
- 0 %
- Renewable content
- 97 %
- Circular score
- 75
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·6
- Combustibility class
- Combustible // AS 1530.1
- Fire resistance level
- None // Unprotected - requires lining for FRL
- Ignition temp
- 280 °C
- Flame spread index
- 8
- Smoke dev. index
- 3
- Heat release rate
- 120
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·6
- Material cost (range)
- 800-1500 // AUD/m³ depending on grade
- Material cost (per unit)
- 45-85 // AUD per lineal metre (240x45mm)
- Lead time
- 1-4 weeks // Depending on size and quantity
- Lifecycle cost
- Low // Over 50+ year service life
- Annual maintenance
- Minimal // If protected from weather
- Market availability
- Good // Readily available in Australia
Service life & durability ·3
- Expected lifespan
- 50+ // years if protected from weather
- Maintenance interval
- Annual // inspection recommended
- Warranty period
- 10-25 // years for treated products
Layer D
Where it's used
Structural beams and headers
Floor joists and bearers
Roof rafters and ridge beams
Lintels over openings
Portal frame construction
Concrete formwork beams
Scaffold planking
I-joist flanges
Truss chords
Laminated columns
Box beams
Rim boards