1. LVL AS A CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL for each case. For example, we have replaced concrete elevator shafts with LVL-C panel structures and built intermediate floors from offsite-produced LVL elements with 7-metre spans. Floor elements have been developed so that the required mass for acoustics is realized with dry screed panels pre-installed on the elements already in the factory. This has further increased the prefabrication rate and minimized the amount of site work needed. Structural engineer’s view of LVL, Wenzel von Fragstein, Germany As structural designers focusing on wooden buildings, we design entire wood and wood-hybrid constructions. From single-family houses to wooden multi-storey buildings and industrial hall constructions, our activities cover the whole range of wooden buildings. Renovation of churches and historical building as well as church towers of new buildings have also been part of our project portfolio. We typically prepare the work specifications and production drawings for manufacture all the way down to the steering files for CNC machining. Being involved in the whole construction process in this way, we Figure 1.12. Honkasuo multi-storey houses, Helsinki, Finland. Puuinfo get a lot of feedback on the technical feasibility, assembly and cost efficiency of the structures in practice. We use LVL in all kinds of applications, such as the renovation and reinforcement of existing wooden floors, where slim cross-section LVL reinforcement brings structural enhancement to existing joist structures. We also often use ribbed panel and box panel structures to achieve light and long-spanning floors. In cross-laminated timber buildings, we use LVL lintels where small cross-sections with high loadbearing capacity are required. Occasionally, we use LVL-C panels for walls or floors without separate stud or joist structures. Long overhangs from thin structural panels are commonly desired for front roofs, and LVL-C panels can be used to achieve them as they have better strength properties than most other structural panels. Their high strength is a result of their glued veneer structure, which eliminates the influence of individual defects, such as knots. LVL-C with cross veneers has significantly higher resistance to splitting than solid wood, so by choosing LVL-C for members that have high tension perpendicular to grain stresses, separate reinforcements can be avoided. LVL enriches the product range of wood-based materials significantly. LVL Handbook Europe 17
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