LVL Hand Book EUROPE 2025

LVL Handbook Europe 1
Foreword 5
Contents 6
1. LVL as a construction material 10
1.1 Introduction 11
1.1.1 LVL-P beams and columns – all veneera in the length direction 12
1.1.2 LVL-C with cross-bonded veneers for robust structueal panels 13
1.2 Where can you see LVL 14
1.3 Architect and structural designer appraisals of LVL 18
1.4 History, volumes and raw materials of LVL 20
1.4.1 History of the globally used engineered wood product LVL 20
1.4.2 Material efficiency 22
1.4.3 Wood species udes in LVL 23
1.4.4 Durable and inert gluing of LVL 23
1.5 Sustainable building with LVL 23
1.5.1 Traceable raw materialand sustainable sources 23
1.5.2 Sustainable over the life cycle 24
1.5.3 Global Warming impact of LVL 26
1.5.4 Global impact of buildings 27
1.6 Production of LVL 28
1.6.1 Logs to blocks 28
1.6.2 Blocks to veneer 29
1.6.3 Drying and grading the veneer 30
1.6.4 Layup and hot pressing 33
1.6.5 Finishing 34
1.6.6 Production summary 34
1.7 Further processing 36
1.7.1 Sanded surfaces: optical orcalibration sanding 36
1.7.2 Special cutting 36
1.7.3 CNC Machining 36
1.7.4 Edge profiling 38
1.7.5 Surface treatments 38
1.7.6 Multiple-glued members, GLVL 39
1.7.7 Combined structures 40
1.8 LVL sixes and layups 41
1.9 Tolerances 43
1.10 CE marking and certification of LVL products 44
1.11 Design tools 45
1.12 Basic properties of LVL 46
1.12.1 Strength and stiffness properties 46
1.12.2 Building physics properties 46
1.12.3 Emissions and product safety 48
1.12.4 Acoustics 48
1.12.5 Fire safety 48
1.12.6 Structures for seismic areas 48
1.12.7 Visual properties of LVL surface 49
1.12.8 Surface coating of LVL 50
1.13 Joints between LVL panels 51
2. LVL structures in floors, walls, roofsand in special applications 52
2.1 General 53
2.2 Floor structures 53
2.2.1 Beam & joist floors 53
2.2.2 Main beams for floors 58
2.2.3 Rim boards and rim beams 60
2.2.4 Panel structures 61
2.2.5 Multiple-glued beams, GLVL 63
2.2.6 Stressed-skin panels: rib panels, box panels or open box panels 63
2.2.7 Renovation applications 67
2.3 Roof structures 68
2.3.1 Beam & rafter roofs 68
2.3.2 Ridge beams 72
2.3.3 Purlins 73
2.3.4 Roof elements 75
2.3.5 Roof panels 78
2.3.6 Bracing panels 84
2.3.7 Large LVL I-beams and box beams 84
2.3.8 Roof renovation applications 85
2.4 Wall structures 86
2.4.1 Studs for timber frame walls 86
2.4.2 Multiple-glued GLVL columns 88
2.4.3 Lintels 89
2.4.4 Integrated rim beams 90
2.4.5 Ledger beam supports for floors or canopies 93
2.4.6 Sole plates, bottom cords, top cords and top binders 94
2.4.7 Window frame boards 94
2.4.8 Bracing panels 94
2.4.9 LVL-C panel walls 98
2.5 Special structures 100
2.5.1 Trusses and portal frames 100
2.5.2 Doors and windows 103
2.5.3 Reinforcement of old structures 104
2.5.4 Stair cases 104
2.5.5 Lift shafts of multi-storey buildings 105
2.5.6 Extension of multi-storey buildings 105
2.5.7 Bent and curved structures 106
2.5.8 Bridges 108
2.5.9 Other applications 109
3. Purchasing, transport, handlingand storage of LVL 110
3.1 Purchasing LVL 111
3.2 Transport, handling and storing of LVL 111
3.3 Protecting the structure during construction 112
3.4 Handling after use of LVL 113
4. Structural design of LVL structures 114
4.1 Basis of structural design 115
4.1.1 Actions (Loads) 115
4.1.2 Consequence class, reliability class and factor K_FI 116
4.1.3 Load duration 117
4.1.4 Service classes 117
4.1.5 Partial safety factor of material γM and modification factors k_mod and k_def 117
4.1.6 Design resistance and stiffness 118
4.2 Structural properties of LVL and strength classes 118
4.2.1 Strength classes for LVL-P without crossband veneers 120
4.2.2 Strength classes for LVL-C with crossband veneers 120
4.3 LVL design according to Eurocode 5 122
4.3.1 Bending 122
4.3.2 Shear 123
4.3.3 Tension parallel to the grain 124
4.3.4 Tension perpendicular to the grain 124
4.3.5 Compression parallel to the grain 124
4.3.6 Compression perpendicularto the grain 125
4.3.7 Bending stress at an angle to the grain 128
4.3.8 Tension stress at an angle to the grain 128
4.3.9 Stability of LVL members 129
4.3.9.1 Members subjected to combined bendingand axial compression or tension 129
4.3.9.2 Columns subjected to either compression orcombined compression and bending 129
4.3.9.3 Beams subjected to either bending or combined bending and compression – Lateral torsional buckling (LTB) 131
4.3.10 Notches 132
4.3.11 Tapered beams 134
4.3.12 Holes 136
4.3.13 Serviceability limit state design: Deflections 138
4.3.14 Serviceability limit state design: Floor vibrations 139
4.4 Combined cross sections 140
4.4.1 Basic principles 140
4.4.2 Beams and columns 142
4.4.3 Multiple-glued GLVL panels 143
4.4.4 Rib slabs and box slabs 143
5. Structural design of connections 144
5.1 Design of LVL conections according to Eurocode 5 145
5.2 Fastener spacing and edge and end distances 146
5.3 Wood failure modes of connections 151
5.3.1 Risk of splitting due to connection forces at an angle to the grain of face veneers 151
5.3.2 Effective number of fasteners to prevent splitting or row shear 152
5.3.3 Block shear and plug shear failure modes at multiple dowel-type steel-to-timber connections 153
5.4 Nailed connections 154
5.5 Screwed connections 155
5.5.1 Laterally loaded screws in LVL 155
5.5.2 Axially loaded screws 156
5.5.3 Inclined screw connections 156
5.6 Bolted and doweled connectiond 158
5.7 Fastening LVL panels to frames 158
5.8 Special cases 158
6. Performance of LVL in fire 160
6.1 Wood and fire 161
6.2 Reaction to fire 161
6.3 Fire protection ability, K-classes of covering 162
6.4 Fire resistance of LVL structures 162
6.4.1 Fire resistance design process 162
6.4.2 Charring rates of LVL 164
6.4.3 Design of unprotected beams and panels 165
6.4.4 LVL-C panel as a protection against fire exposure 167
6.4.5 Summary of LVL-C panels for fire protection 167
6.5 Fire resistance design of floor & wall structures with cavities 168
7. Durability 170
7.1 Service life of wooden buildings and LVL structures 171
7.2 Durability classifications of structural LVL products 171
7.2.1 Durability of adhesive bonding strength of structural LVL 171
7.2.2 Biological durability of softwood LVL 171
7.2.3 Structural LVL’s suitability for different use classes and service classes 171
7.2.4 Discussion of durability class definitions 172
7.3 Structural wood protection 172
7.3.1 Resistance against temporary moisture exposure of structural LVL products 172
7.3.2 Resistance against UV radiation 172
7.3.3 Chemical durability 172
7.4 Chemical wood protection 173
7.4.1 Surface treatment 173
7.4.2 Pressure impregnation 173
8. Building physics 174
8.1 LVL and moisture 175
8.1.1 Moisture content of LVL 175
8.1.2 Measuring the moisture content 175
8.1.3 Dimensional changes due to moisture 177
8.1.4 Water vapour resistance 178
8.2 Thermal properties of LVL 178
8.2.1 Influence of temperature on the mechanical properties of LVL 178
8.2.2 Thermal conductivity of LVL products 178
8.2.3 Temperature deformations 178
8.2.4 Heat combustion and specific heat capacity 178
8.2.5 Ignition temperature of LVL 179
8.3 Airtightness 179
9. Calculation examples of LVL structures 180
9.1 LVL 48P joist floor 181
9.2 Lintel over a window opening 186
9.3 Double LVL 48 P ridge beam for roof 190
9.4 Roof purlin 193
9.5 Wall stud 197
9.6 Axially loaded screw connection at the edge face 200
9.7 Inclined screw connection 202
9.8 Laterally loaded nail connection 205
9.9 Hole in LVL beam 208
9.10 Bracing of a stud wall 211
9.11 Main beam of roof structure in 30min fire exposure 213
10. References 216
Disclaimer 224
Notes 225

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