Technical

Stratalam

Stratalam is the New Zealand engineered wood product that offers a new standard of excellence in glulam manufacture, featuring international certification standards.

Stratalam offers new standards of excellence, which Laminated Beams Ltd is a member of.

It is the umbrella brand, a symbol of quality adopted by the foremost glulam manufacturing members of the Wood Processors & Manufacturers Association. These fourteen approved Stratalam manufacturers share a philosophy of delivering uncompromising standards of world-class product quality.

The introduction of Stratalam is designed to simplify the decision-making process for specifiers and everybody involved in the construction industry. Stratalam New Zealand engineered glulam structural products offer independent, third party audited quality standards to give an added assurance of excellent manufacturing and product performance.

It also meets the growing demand for a more dependable, sustainable, versatile building material that reduces our carbon footprint and can easily be substituted for more energy intensive alternatives.

The unique advantages of stratalam engineered glulam

  • The renewable resource that’s better for the environment. Stratalam uses wood, the only truly renewable construction material. It is made from New Zealand plantation timber and, as a wood product, acts as a carbon sink. It also reduces energy use in existing buildings with its outstanding insulating properties. The plantation timber used for manufacturing Stratalam takes 14 times less energy to produce compared to the equivalent steel beam.
  • Stratalam offers infinite design possibilities. It enhances architectural design with the natural beauty of wood, so it never needs false facing or camouflage. Stratalam beams can also be bent or shaped in a variety of interesting ways, and at the same time have the capacity to span large distances.
  • An extremely cost effective alternative. When the construction process is considered in its entirety, it has a lower installed cost than a comparable sized steel beam. This is because Stratalam is lightweight and faster to install. It also means easier work for sub-trades, such as plumbers and electricians, who can fix directly to Stratalam members without the necessity to isolate or pack steel or concrete beams.
  • Traditional carpentry skills are all that is required to process and install Stratalam, which can be done simply and speedily without special assistance or special tools, or unfamiliar techniques.
  • Stratalam is resilient and is able to easily absorb seismic and wind shocks that would cause failure in other materials.
  • Stratalam has great insulating qualities because wood has excellent thermal, acoustic and electrical insulating qualities.
  • Stratalam members maintain their strength in case of fire and do not fail because a char layer is formed on the outer surface and prevents continuous combustion. And in many cases, the char layer can be sand blasted, the Stratalam resealed, and the beams are ready for re-use.
  • Stratalam is chemically inert. Timber is naturally resistant to attack in corrosive atmospheres. Protective treatments also minimize deterioration.
  • High strength to weight ratio. A comparison with steel and concrete shows that Radiata pine structural timber, for example, has greater strength for weight ratio – 20% higher than structural steel and four times better than unreinforced concrete. (Source: D Gaunt, Scion – a NZ Crown Research Institute).
  • An economic solution, because on average, Stratalam is less expensive, supplied and installed than a comparable sized steel beam.
  • Presents the opportunity for superior design solutions, plus the ability to express contemporary design ideas in a way that is not practicable using non-wood materials.

…Plus the advantage of engineered timber

  • Plantation timber has great machining properties. Sanding, boring, planing and turning with machine tools produces excellent results.
  • Structurally engineered timber is as durable and low maintenance as steel and masonry products.
  • Does not require special primers. All types of interior and exterior stains, oils, varnishes and paints may be used.
  • Has good resistance to splitting. It can be nailed and screwed particularly well.
  • Has low shrinkage and it is used extensively in Japan where maximum stability is required.
  • Has a warranted service life of 50 years in accordance with NZ and Australian standards.

What Stratalam offers Engineers and Builders

Features and benefits at a glance

  • Ease of design
  • Large spans
  • Size efficiency with selected grading
  • Versatility/shaping
  • Superior strength for weight
  • Greater stability
  • Ease and cost of installation, pre-fitting and finishing means less on-site work
  • Speed and convenience of installation
  • Thermal insulation
  • Fire resistance
  • Shock resistance
  • Chemically inert
  • Durability
  • Low maintenance
  • Range of grades (GL8, 10, 12)
  • Quality assured product
  • Proven history
  • Energy efficient
  • Acoustically superior to steel and concrete
  • Smooth finished surface wont attract birds and dirt

What Glulam offers Architects and Designers

Features & benefits at a glance

  • Versatility/shaping
  • Pre-fitting and finishing – less on-site work
  • Speed and efficiency of installation
  • Ease and cost of installation
  • Large spans
  • Size efficiency in selected grading
  • Greater stability
  • Energy efficient
  • Aesthetics
  • Environmental tolerance/chemically inert
  • Thermal installation
  • Fire resistance
  • Durability
  • Low maintenance
  • Quality assured product
  • Proven history
  • Acoustically superior to steel and concrete
  • Smooth finished surface wont attract birds and dirt

Stratalam is better for the environment.

It utilizes wood, the only renewable construction material. The plantation timber used takes 14 times less energy to produce compared to the equivalent steel beam. It reduces the effects of global warming, as trees and wood products act as carbon sinks. It reduces energy use with its outstanding insulating properties, and is also recyclable.

Stratalam has high strength to weight ratio.

A comparison with steel and concrete shows that Radiata Pine structural timber, for example, has a strength for weight ratio 20% higher than structural steel, and four to five times better than non-reinforced concrete. (Australian Government)

Stratalam offers infinite design possibilities.

This design freedom brings Stratalam to the forefront of cutting edge architectural design. Nothing equals the natural look of wood, so it never needs false facing or camouflage. Stratalam beams can also be bent or shaped in a variety of ways and at the same time have the capacity to span large distances.

Stratalam is cost effective as a construction material.

Stratalam is cost effective as a construction material, when the construction process is considered in its entirety. Stratalam is lightweight and easy to work with for sub-trades. Stratalam beams can be delivered on site, including connections ready for speedy installation. Carpenters and sub-contractors can utilize existing skills and no specific complicated techniques are required.

Stratalam is resilient and this enables it to easily absorb seismic and wind shocks that would cause failure in other materials.

Stratalam has great insulating qualities.

This is because wood also has excellent thermal, acoustic and electrical insulating properties.

Stratalam members maintain their strength in case of fire.

Stratalam members maintain their strength in case of fire and do not fail because a char layer forming on the outer surface prevents continuous combustion. Fire fighters and the insurance industries recognize the superior fire resistant qualities of Stratalam. In many cases, the char layer can be sandblasted; the Stratalam resealed and the beams are ready for use again.

Stratalam resists corrosion. Timber is naturally resistant to attack by corrosive atmosphere and timber treatment minimizes deterioration.

Benefits of Using Glulam

  • Timber is aesthetically pleasing and naturally beautiful
  • Timber is readily available and is a renewable resource
  • Cost effective system of construction
  • The product wood is carbon neutral
  • Glulam offers flexibility foe design and installation methods
  • Low maintenance
  • Non corrosive
  • Strong, attractive and excellent insulation properties
  • Ease of assembly and transport
  • Glulam has an excellent fire rating
  • Can withstand aggressive environments

Applications

  • Commercial and industrial
  • Gymnasiums and halls
  • Aquatic centres
  • Marine applications
  • Architectural features
  • Aircraft hangers
  • Leisure centres
  • Pedestrian and vehicle bridges
  • Churches
  • Walkways
  • Grandstands
  • Domestic

Compliance, control, confidence

The Stratalam quality symbol tells your clients and building authorities that the product you specify has been independently assessed to international standards. Corporate, government and territorial authorities also recognise that Stratalam is performance assessed to help simplify the approval process.