Density, Moisture Content and Dimensional Tolerances of Sanded vs. Unsanded LVL Beam

YELUWOOD — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 03:28:57 +0000

1. LVL Beam Density
鈥� Unsanded: 520鈥�0 kg/m鲁 (core species dependent; pine 鈮� 580 kg/m鲁, larch 鈮� 730 kg/m鲁)
鈥� Sanded: identical mean density, but sanding removes 鈮� 1 mm per face, so bulk weight per metre is 1鈥�% lower. No change in nominal density class.
2. LVL Beam Moisture Content (MC)
鈥� Factory-ship target: 9鈥� % (range 6鈥� % per EN 14279 & AS/NZS 4357).
鈥� Sanding does not alter MC; however, the exposed surface may equilibrate 10鈥� % faster because the outer compression veneer is removed. Site storage recommendations remain identical for both finishes.
3.LVL Beam same nominal bands, but tolerance tightens to 卤0.5 mm regardless of thickness band; sanding removes 鈮� 1 mm per side, so a 63 mm unsanded blank becomes 61 mm finished and still within the 卤0.5 mm window .

1.LVL Beam Common Trade Size & Tolerance
鈥� Section: 90 脳 45 mm, 120 脳 45 mm, 150 脳 63 mm, 200 脳 75 mm, 240 脳 63 mm, 300 脳 63 mm, 360 脳 45 mm, 400 脳 63 mm, 600 脳 75 mm
鈥� Length: 1.2 m 鈥� 9.5 m (standard increments 0.6 m; 18 m available on request)
鈥� Tolerance on width/thickness: 卤1 mm (-1 / +2 mm for 300 mm & deeper)
鈥� Straightness: 鈮�5 mm per m (bow & spring)
2.LVL Beam Physical Properties
鈥� Density: 520鈥�0 kg/m鲁 (pine core ~580 kg/m鲁, larch core ~730 kg/m鲁)
鈥� Moisture content at dispatch: 9鈥� % (range 6鈥� % per AS/NZS 4357)
鈥� Edge finish: square, arrised 2 脳 2 mm or 3 脳 3 mm chamfer; raw or sealed
3. LVL Beam Mechanical Characteristic Values (AS/NZS 4357 grade F17-E14, 90 脳 45 mm example)
鈥� Bending strength f鈥檅: 63 MPa
鈥� Shear strength f鈥檚: 4.7 MPa
鈥� Compression perpendicular f鈥檖: 8 MPa
鈥� Modulus of elasticity E: 14 GPa (major axis)
鈥� Shear modulus G: 650 MPa
鈥� Bearing (parallel) f鈥檆: 45 MPa
4. LVL Beam Adhesive & Durability
鈥� Glue type: phenolic WBP (EN 314-2 / AS 2754.1 class A-Bond)
鈥� Formaldehyde: Super E0 鈮� 0.3 mg L鈦宦筡r
鈥� Treatment: untreated, H2 (LOSP), H2-S, H3 CCA or ACQ; colour-coded ends
5. LVL Beam Camber & Precamber
鈥� Stock supplied straight; camber 0鈥�mm m鈦宦� available on request for long-span roof beams
6. LVL Beam Packaging & Logistics
鈥� 20鈥� GP: 8 pallets 鈮� 22 m鲁
鈥� 40鈥� HQ: 18鈥� pallets 鈮� 43鈥� m鲁
鈥� Weight per lin-m (90 脳 45 mm): 鈮� 2.4 kg
7.LVL Beam聽 Certification & Marking
鈥� Standards: AS/NZS 4357, EN 14279, ISO 9001
鈥� Chain-of-custody: FSC & PEFC
鈥� Each piece hot-branded with producer ID, grade, batch, mill number, 鈥淔17鈥� or 鈥淓14鈥�, treatment code
8. LVL Beam Design Aids Supplied
鈥� Span tables for floor joists, rafters, lintels鈥擶ind class N2/N3, live load 1.5 kPa / 2.0 kPa, deflection limit L/300 & L/500
鈥� Connection values for M12 bolts, 3.15 脴 nails, 14-g screws鈥攚ithdrawal & lateral load tables
9. LVL BeamStorage & Handling on Site
鈥� Store under cover, stacked on level bearers 鈮�0 mm c/c, free air flow
鈥� Cut ends re-seal within 4 h; pre-drill holes 鈮� % bolt 脴 to minimise splitting

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Density, Moisture Content and Dimensional Tolerances of Sanded vs. Unsanded LVL Beam