Glulam
High quality components
made of glued laminated timber

Glulam:
Individual construction
with glued laminated timber

DERIX glued laminated timber (glulam) consists of kiln-dried wooden boards that are joined together by finger-jointing to form a continuous lamella and glued firmly together in layers. From these, we produce individual components in almost any shape and any size – entirely according to your wishes. In doing so, we rely on an environmentally friendly raw material from responsible and sustainable forest management. We test our raw material intensively and can thus guarantee a consistently high product quality. With our glulam components, you can implement sustainable, efficient and visually sophisticated solutions.

Technical
Data

Component dimensions

Component length: Max. 60.00 m
Width: Max. 2.60 m (larger widths with dry joint / special gluing possible)
Thickness: 6 to 28 cm as single part gluing (greater thicknesses possible through multiple gluing or block gluing as composite component according to DIN 1052 or DIN EN 14080)

Wood species/strength classes

Wood type: spruce (others on request)
Strength classes: GL 24c for express programme standard
GL 28c / GL 30c for structural components (others on request)
Wood moisture: 10 ± 2 %
Bulk density: approx. 450 kg / m³

Gluing

Melamine resin gluing system GripPro-Plus, approved according to DIN EN 301:2018. This new generation of adhesive contains no hazardous substances to be declared. With emission values of 1/10 of the permissible limits, these values correspond to those of natural wood. Finger-jointing partly with 1K polyurethane adhesives (PU)

Cutting + joinery

CNC trimming with 5-axis CNC gantries for large components

Surfaces

Surface quality:

  • Visual quality for surfaces in the viewing area
  • Non-visual quality for surfaces outside the visual range
  • Special surfaces on request

Paint: Glulam-Varnish (manufacturer Koch & Schulte)

  • Active substance-free, diffusion-open middle coat glaze on a fine-particle pure acrylate basis
  • protects the surface from weathering and soiling during transport and assembly
  • additional options such as hydrophobisation, UV protection or film protection further increase the degree of protection and cover particularly demanding application scenarios

Glulam Varnish certifications:
Declaration of no objection: ISEGA Reg. No.: 37208 U 14 can be used safely for coating storage facilities for feed and food.
Tested according to: DIN EN 71-3 (“Safety of toys”) and DIN 53160 (“Fastness to saliva and perspiration”)
Environmental product declaration according to: ISO 14025 and EN 15804
Declaration number: EPD-FEI-KUS-20160084-IBG1-EN

eco-construction Reg.No: 201701.1101

  • Very well suited for MINERGIE-ECO
  • Corresponds to 1st priority ECO-BKP B
Calculated burn-up rate

0.7 mm / minute

What can glulam do?

Our product glulam utilizes the ecological advantages of the natural building material wood as well as its excellent material properties. Wood binds CO2 and thus relieves the atmosphere. It has an excellent eco-balance and is therefore the material of choice for environmentally friendly and sustainable construction. With our glulam, you are therefore using an extremely ecological and circular building material that also has a whole range of other valuable properties. Thus, it has a low dead weight, a high fire resistance and a high resistance to chemically aggressive climates.

Advantages for
User

Advantages for planners

Our individually and project-specifically manufactured components made of glulam enable a flexible construction method. A wide variety of architectural designs and column-free realisations are easy to implement with glulam. The positive material properties of wood also ensure high durability.
  • Countless design options
  • Large spans can be realised without supports
  • High load capacity with low dead weight
  • High fire resistance duration
  • Resistance to chemically aggressive climates
  • Simple connections to adjacent trades
  • High quality level through regular control
  • All common roof coverings possible

Advantages for builders

DERIX glulam products enable you to build economically. The high degree of prefabrication of our components and the fast assembly ensure high time and cost efficiency. Due to the low dead weight of the glulam, you keep the transport costs low.
  • Economical construction
  • High degree of prefabrication
  • Short construction time and fast assembly
  • High material efficiency
  • Low transport costs
  • Clearly defined material properties

Advantages for the environment

Wood is the most environmentally friendly building material, because it is the only one that stores CO2 and thus removes it from the atmosphere. And it is the only one that grows back. Building with glulam timber elements from DERIX therefore has a positive impact on the environment – especially as the raw material for our glulam components is obtained exclusively from sustainable forest management. The production and processing of the elements requires little energy, which means that the positive effect of the wood’s CO2 storage is maintained and contributes sustainably to climate protection.
  • Excellent ecological balance
    (binding of CO2)
  • Only wood grows back indefinitely
  • Best material for circular construction
  • Take-back obligation for all our components
  • DERIX is PEFC certified

Production

Production of
Glulam at DERIX

The raw material used is decisive for the quality of our product. In a sorting plant specially developed for this purpose, the optical and mechanical properties of each board lamella are evaluated by continuous X-ray and scanning. We use the wood classified in this way efficiently and optimally with regard to the different static loads. All individual production components are provided with BAR/RFID codes and tracked seamlessly from raw material to finished product. Our CNC joinery systems process components up to a length of 60 meters with millimeter precision and maximum repeatability. Design data is transferred directly from the CAD programme, laser technology ensures the alignment of the workpiece. The consistent transfer of the BIM model into the CAM software and the resulting control of the CNC machines avoid potential sources of error. Every component is a digital twin for us and our glulam components have an accuracy of fit on the construction site that is unique in the construction industry.

Technical specifications
for glulam

Structure of glulam

Glulam is made by gluing together lamellas whose grain direction is parallel. In this way, a component with a rectangular cross-section can be produced. In addition to parallel glulam, we also produce conical cross-sections and curved components very economically. The shape can be optimally adapted to the static load.

Load-bearing capacity

The static load-bearing capacity of glulam is optimised by using lamellas of different strength in one cross-section. In the case of flexural beams, this combined structure covers the higher stresses in the outer tension and compression zones with higher-strength laminations. In this way, we achieve a higher strength of the glued cross-section with holistic use of the starting material. Only in the case of components that are mainly subjected to tensile or compressive loads, such as columns or chords subjected to tensile loads in a truss, is a homogeneous cross-sectional structure advisable.

Strength classes

Glulam is produced in accordance with DIN EN 14080:2013-09 and divided into strength classes. The numerical values of the GL classes (GL = Glulam) stand for the characteristic value of the bending strength in N/mm². The “h” or “c” in the designations of DIN EN 14080:2013-09 stands for homogeneous or combined glulam.

An assignment to a combined strength class “GL xxc” can be achieved by the manufacturer of the glulam through different cross-sectional constructions. Glulam of higher strength classes can be produced particularly economically with a combined structure. The higher-strength boards produced in a sorting pass are arranged in the areas of higher tensile stress, the boards of lower strength are arranged in the core or the areas subject to compressive stress.

Homogeneous glulam of one strength class should only be used in exceptional cases, e.g. for structural components predominantly subjected to normal forces, due to the higher costs and the required longer lead time. We offer the standard qualities GL 24c, GL 28c, GL 30c in the wood type spruce.

Downloads for
Strength classes

Strength classes

Brochure • PDF, 5.1MB

Download (German article)

Swelling and shrinkage behaviour

Wood absorbs moisture from the air and releases it again. This creates a wood moisture content that is in equilibrium with the temperature and humidity of the ambient air – the so-called equilibrium moisture content. The change in wood moisture causes a change in volume: a shrinking and swelling of the wood. The swelling and shrinkage dimensions of wood vary greatly depending on the direction of the wood and must be taken into account as material-specific behaviour in construction planning. The climate and environmental conditions to which the construction is exposed must be taken into account.

Downloads for
Swelling and shrinkage behaviour

Swelling and shrinkage

Brochure • PDF, 5.1MB

Download (German article)

Composite components

Glulam composite components

Composite cross-sections made of glulam represent an interesting, standardised application variant. Here, individual glulam beams are bonded together to form composite cross-sections. Block bonding between two single glulam beams can help to overcome the manufacturing-related limitation of the beam width. For example, beams with a component width of 28 cm or more are usually block-bonded from two individual cross-sections. Simple glued joints with a full rectangular cross-section of glued laminated timber are regulated according to DIN EN 14080:2013-09. However, large box cross-sections or PI panels can also be produced by means of block gluing. The requirements for production are regulated in DIN 1052-10:2012-05.

Block bonded components are often used in bridge structures or highly stressed supports. However, the use of wide-span hollow box girders designed without bracing braces for structures with increased fire protection requirements is also interesting.

Ceiling as wood-concrete composite

Wood-concrete composite ceilings are a composite building material made of glulam and concrete. The composite effect of the two building materials is realised with the help of pin-shaped, bonded or form-fitting fasteners. In the composite cross-section, the timber cross-section takes over the load-bearing function in the tension zone and the concrete that in the compression zone. The timber cross-section can be used in the form of a glulam cross-section or as a board stacking element.

Due to the composite effect, larger spans can be achieved compared to conventional timber ceiling constructions and the dead weight can be reduced compared to pure concrete constructions. Particularly in areas of increased requirements for serviceability and fire protection, high-performance timber ceiling constructions can thus be made possible.

Ceiling as X-LAM/Glulam composite

For the realisation of long-span ceilings, composite cross-sections made of X-LAM (flange or plate) and glulam (web) offer an interesting alternative to wood-concrete composite systems. In contrast to pure glulam composite cross-sections, these so-called ribbed ceilings (similar to PI panels) are usually manufactured using screw-press bonding.

Downloads for
composite components

Composite components

Brochure • PDF, 5.1MB

Download (German article)

Glulam
Component parts

Primary structures

Secondary structures

Support beams

Further
topics

Handling glued laminated timber (glulam) in accordance with building material requirements

Our leaflet provides you with all the relevant information for handling our glulam in a way that is appropriate for the building material – from correct transport to care.

Take-back obligation

Sustainability and resource conservation are important guidelines in the DERIX-Group. That is why we actively promote the practice of circular construction: we take back timber construction elements that are no longer used. This ideally creates an infinite material cycle for maximum sustainability and circularity. Learn more about our take-back obligation.

Environmental Product Declaration

In the EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) for glulam and cross laminated timber, the environmentally relevant properties of our X-LAM are presented neutrally and objectively. This shows the environmental impact of our product on the entire life cycle of the wood. The data show: X-LAM is an extremely environmentally friendly product. In addition to the environmentally friendly properties during production as well as throughout use, the reusability of the wood also has a positive impact on the environment.

DERIX
Media

Videos

Get exciting insights into our production as well as into the assembly and completion of spectacular DERIX construction projects.

Downloads

Information and suggestions on building with wood can be found in the download area.

DERIX
Find your contact person

Your partner for timber construction

With DERIX as a strong partner at your side, you will implement your construction projects sustainably and efficiently.

Germany
Netherlands
International

DERIX
Premium

Exclusive services, newsletter & Co.

Register now and get exclusive access to extensive specialist content. Use our helpful digital service tools such as our X-LAM Designer and stay well informed with our newsletter.
register now