Fire-Retardant-Treated Structural Glued Laminated Timber
Technical Topic
Although structural glued laminated timber (glulam) is not required for fire-retardant treatment (FRT) in most construction, FRT glulam is increasing in popularity. There are currently no recognized standards in North America for evaluating the treatment and hygrothermal effects on the mechanical properties for FRT glulam.
This publication is designed for: architects, engineers, designers, builders, contractors
APA – The Engineered Wood Association and the USDA Forest Products Laboratory completed a pilot study to compare the bending properties of untreated glulam with that of FRT glulam. This publication provides a summary of the research.
These results are based on very limited samples and should be interpreted and used with caution. For structural design, the actual treatment and hygrothermal effects on glulam properties, including those untested in the joint APA-FPL research, should be obtained from the treater who provides the fire-retardant treatment.
Published by APA — The Engineered Wood Association.
