In our third article series, Tom Rickerby talks on how Australia is increasingly embracing timber as a sustainable and versatile building material, offering significant environmental advantages over traditional materials like concrete and steel. Timber is not only a renewable resource but also plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration and boasts a lower embodied energy.
Australia’s focus on timber
Timber has many environmental benefits over alternative products such as concrete and steel. Timber is renewable, it sequests carbon from the atmosphere, and has a lower embodied energy.
Trees harvested for structural timber production can take between 25 and 60 years to grow, so we have the responsibility to utilise as much of the resource as we can, as efficiently as we can. That’s where engineered wood products comes in – Making sure all of the wood fibred is used responsibly.
What are EWP’S?
Engineered Wood Products (EWP) are manufactured products fabricated from raw timber sources, such as wood or wood fibres, combined with resins or adhesive.
Types of EWP’s in Australia include LVL, Glulam, CLT, I-beams, and various other manufactured boards and panels.
Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL)
Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) is one of the most widely used EWP products in Australia. LVL is made from the outer veneers of the tree. These layers are typically denser, stronger and more stable than the inner core. When peeling and aligning these veneers in the same direction, we create a product that is incredibly strong and consistent.
It’s this combination of strength, dimensional stability, and availability in long, deep sections that makes LVL ideal for beams, lintels, rafters, joists or anywhere you need a reliable, high-performance timber member.
Learn more about Using LVL products here.
I-Joists
I-joists are a key product in modern timber framing, particularly in floor systems. I-joists are made up of LVL or solid timber flanges with an OSB or plywood web, forming that familiar 'I' shape. They offer a similar span capacity to solid LVL joists, but with significantly less weight and less timber fibre. That makes them easier to handle on site, and also more cost-effective in terms of both material and installation time.
Penetration and service holes can be cut through the web of an I-joist beam, allowing builders to run plumbing, ducting and electrical without compromising the structural performance.
I-joists floor systems are lightweight, efficient and quick to install. Learn more about Wesbeam’s premier I-joist floor systems here.
As Australia continues its shift towards sustainable building practices, timber—particularly Engineered Wood Products like LVL and I-joists—stands out as a game-changer. As demand for sustainable construction grows, the role of EWP in shaping Australia’s built environment will only become more significant.