Available from Tilling Timber is SmartFrame LVL 18 - hardwood laminated veneer lumber, produced from Malaysian species sourced from sustainably managed forests.
Generally speaking, solid hardwood is getting harder to obtain and long lengths are expensive, meaning there was a real need to look for alternatives. Initial tests of the product centred around testing in beam, bearer and lintel applications, however additional tests were carried out using nail plates to support the use of SmartFrame LVL 18 for use in bottom chords and girders in truss applications. Since its release, LVL 18 has also been used in vertical applications, where long straight lengths provided an ideal alternative.
In terms of substitution of solid timber products, SmartFrame LVL 18 is easy to understand. ‘18’ refers to the stiffness of the product, ie 185000 Mpa. Section sizes with depths up to 200mm conveniently match conventional timber sizes. Depths greater than 200mm conform to the SmartFrame engineered timber system I-Joists and LVL to keep it simple.
Source: Building Products News.