Structural Composite Lumber (SCL): A Practical Alternative
Structural composite lumber (SCL), which includes laminated veneer lumber (LVL), laminated strand lumber (LSL) and oriented strand lumber (OSL), is a family of engineered wood products created by layering dried and graded wood veneers or flakes with waterproof adhesive into blocks of material known as billets. Cured in a controlled process, SCL is typically available in various thicknesses and widths and is easily worked in the field using conventional construction tools.
Strong, Reliable and Consistent
In SCL billets, the grain of each layer of veneer or flakes runs primarily in the same direction. The resulting products out-perform conventional lumber when either face- or edge-loaded. SCL is a solid, highly predictable and uniform engineered wood product that is sawn to consistent sizes and is virtually free from warping and splitting.
Making the Best Use of Resources
One important benefit of SCL is that the veneering, flaking and gluing process enables large timbers to be made from relatively small trees of many species, thereby providing for efficient utilization of wood fiber resources.
The APA EWS Mark of Quality
APA EWS trademarks appear only on products manufactured by APA member mills. The mark signifies that the product quality is subject to verification through APA audit– a procedure designed to assure manufacture in conformance with APA performance standards or the standard shown in the mark.
Related Publications
- APA Engineered Wood Construction Guide
- PDF 5.2MB
Related Product Reports
- APA Product Report PR-E720
- PDF 88K, Free Download
- APA Product Report PR-L220, Pacific Woodtech Corporation
- PDF 78K, Free Download
- APA Product Report PR-L233, Pacific Woodtech Corporation
- PDF 83K, Free Download
- APA Product Report PR-L257, Georgia-Pacific Wood Products LLC
- PDF 88K, Free Download
- APA Product Report PR-L260, Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd.
- PDF 99K, Free Download
- APA Product Report PR-L266, Georgia-Pacific Wood Products LLC
- PDF 88K, Free Download
- APA Product Report PR-L270, Roseburg Forest Products
- PDF 83K, Free Download
- APA Product Report PR-L272, Georgia-Pacific Wood Products LLC
- PDF 87K, Free Download
- APA Product Report PR-L280, LPĀ® SolidStartĀ® LSL and LVL, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation
- PDF 113K, Free Download
- APA Product Report PR-L283, Murphy Engineered Wood Division
- PDF 98K, Free Download
- APA Product Report PR-L289, Roseburg Forest Products Company
- PDF 88K, Free Download
- APA Product Report PR-L291, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation
- PDF 83K, Free Download
- APA Product Report PR-L292, Murphy Engineered Wood Division
- PDF 83K, Free Download
Product Manufacturers (Structural Composite Lumber)
- Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd.
- Brisco Manufacturing Ltd.
- Georgia-Pacific Wood Products LLC
- Georgia-Pacific Wood Products LLC (I-Joist, LVL)
- Loblolly Industries, LLC
- Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd.
- LP Building Products (I-Joist, LVL)
- Murphy Engineered Wood Products (LVL)
- Pacific Woodtech Corporation (I-Joist, LVL)
- Roseburg Forest Products (I-Joist, LVL)
- Stellar Wood Products, LLC (LVL)
- Tolko Industries Ltd. (I-Joist, SCL)
- West Fraser LVL (LVL)

