Get everything you need to specify, verify, and build with Laminated Beams glulam, all in one place. This section covers our product specifications, grade verification, warranties, licensing, and engineering responsibility, so you can design and construct with confidence.
Technical
Laminated Beams glulam technical product sheet
Get details on size, finish options, treatment options, strength grade, appearance and characteristic properties of our Laminated Beams glue laminated timber.
Glulam Structural Grade Verification & Cambering
We utilize machine-stress-graded timber to manufacture glulam components to your exact structural specifications.
Grade Verification
Standards Compliance: All structural properties are derived from AS/NZS 1328.2:1998.
Strength Grades: Three strength grades, GL8, GL10 & GL12, are available in all pine treatments and beam sizes.
Quality Control: Modulus of Elasticity (MoE) and Modulus of Rupture (MoR) are verified internally throughout the production process to guarantee compliance with GL8, GL10, and GL12 grading requirements.
Destructive Testing (Coming Soon): Full-scale, finished-beam proof testing will soon be available for specialized projects requiring independent structural verification.
Cambering Options
Standard Profiles: All glulam beams are manufactured straight as standard.
Deflection Control: To counteract long-term deflection from dead loads, live loads, and timber creep, beams can be pre-cambered during lamination.
Specifications: A standard radius of 600m is typically used to achieve the required camber. Custom radii can be engineered. Please specify your camber requirements at the time of pricing or ordering to determine the appropriate profile.
Glulam Product Substitution
Can’t get your beams and posts fast enough from another supplier or they’re not up to the quality you need for your project?
Because New Zealand glulam manufacturers utilize standardized structural properties and service class classifications under AS/NZS 1328, substituting specified products with our glulam is a straightforward process. For example, a GL8 or PL8 member provides equivalent performance across manufacturers.
If a specific alternative supplier is named on your consented plans, you can use one of two approaches to execute a substitution:
Option 1: Re-specification to Generic Codes (Recommended): Request that your architect or engineer update the plans to specify the generic structural grade code (e.g. GL8, GL10, or GL12) rather than a proprietary brand name. This allows for immediate substitution without further plan amendments.
Option 2: Producer Statement Compliance: Order the required grade directly from us and request a project-specific Producer Statement. Submit this statement along with our technical product data sheet directly to your Building Consent Authority (BCA) inspector for approval.
Compliance Note: When substituting structural components, a qualified designer, engineer, or licensed building practitioner (LBP) must verify that the alternative product delivers equivalent structural performance, treatment durability, and serviceability for the specific application.
We can supply producer statements for all product manufactured by us.
Request a statement at time of order or after manufacturing.
Producer Statement
Glulam Alternatives to LVL products
If your project requires upgrading or substituting a Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) beam with a glulam alternative, use our conversion tables to find the structural equivalent for hy90, LVL16 or hyOne, LVL13 or hySPAN, LVL11 or hyCHORD, or GL17 or Hyne 17c products.
If the specific section size or span you require is not listed in our standard conversion tables, please contact our technical team directly to determine a custom engineered solution for your application.
Engineering Basis
Stiffness Equivalence: All alternative sizing provided in the tables is calculated based on matching the equivalent stiffness (Modulus of Elasticity/MoE) of the specified LVL product.
Dimensional Variations: Because structural properties differ between LVL and glulam, a direct substitution may result in a variation in the required section depth or width.
Compliance Note: These conversion tables are provided for preliminary design guidance only. Because specific loading conditions vary, all structural substitutions must be verified and signed off by a qualified engineer, designer, or Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) prior to installation.
Warranty
We stand behind the quality and performance of every glulam beam we manufacture. Our warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship when products are installed and maintained to our guidelines. Download our Warranty for complete terms and conditions.
Void if the product has not been kept dry, protected, handled, stored or installed as per the guidelines in On-site Protection Handling, and Installation.
To qualify for warranty coverage, appropriate coatings and colours must be chosen that comply with warranty conditions. More details can be found at Coating and Colour.
Coverage over the long term may be impacted by adherence to Care and Maintenance guidelines.
Engineering and Design Responsibility
Laminated Beams Ltd is a product manufacturer and supplier only. We do not provide structural engineering, architectural design, or site-specific certification for glulam timber components.
While we can provide recommendations, all member spans, load-bearing capacities, and fixing details should be verified and signed off by a qualified structural engineer or design professional prior to ordering and installation.
Laminated Beams Licences
All Laminated Beams products are manufactured under licence to Standards:
2785 – AS/NZS 1328:1:1998 Glued Laminated Structural Timber
2786 – AS5068: 2006 Timber Finger Joints in Structural Products
