EPiC database - Laminated veneer lumber (LVL)

This material is part of the free Environmental Performance in Construction (EPiC) Database. The EPiC Database contains embodied environmental flow coefficients for 250+ construction materials using a comprehensive hybrid life cycle inventory approach.Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is a manufactured timber product made from thin veneers of timber bonded together under heat and pressure. Unlike plywood, the grain is oriented in the same direction. LVL is stronger and can span further than traditional timber members. It has excellent dimensional stability, reliability and strength. LVL can be made from smaller varieties of trees, usually unsuitable for large structural members. Veneers are bonded together using bonding agents that cure at high temperatures, such as phenol formaldehyde. LVL members are excellent for long spanning structural purposes, and are commonly used for lintels, beams, purlins and trusses.