Fire Safety

LVL is a wood-based product and will react to fire much the same as a comparable size of solid sawn lumber or a glued-laminated beam.

The phenol-formaldehyde resin, adhesive used in manufacture are inert once cured. Therefore they do not contribute to the fire load and the strength of the bond is not adversely affected by heat. When used in fire-rated floor or roof assemblies, the performance of LVL is similar to solid sawn lumber or glued-laminated timber. For more detailed information regarding the fire ratings of LVL products, contact a manufacturer.

General guidelines for LVL:

• LVL products are available from most major lumber dealers in Canada and the United States. LVL products may also be ordered directly from the manufacturer.
• Manufacturers' catalogues and evaluation reports are the primary sources of information for design, typical installation details, and performance characteristics.
• Typical considerations for product specification should include: product availability, product sizes available (i.e. widths, depths & lengths), availability of connectors, engineering and technical support provided by the manufacturer, product quality, product warranty, product acceptance and code approval and installed cost effectiveness.
• As with any other wood product, LVL should be protected from the weather, during jobsite storage and after installation. Wrapping of the product for shipment to the job site is important in providing moisture protection. End and edge sealing of the product will enhance its resistance to moisture penetration.