A building material of specific nature whose main features are:
Advanced Industrial Impregnated Laminated Wood - Glulam
That’s the heart fact, the guarantee and the assurance of quality and entire solidity of ÖKOHAUS GER homes.
With the term Advanced Industrial Impregnated Laminated Wood (abr. Glulam) we mean the structural ingredients used for wooden constructions and which are produced from artificially dried pine spruce boards where any optical imperfections have been cleared away as well as points that reduce the strength (big branches, large resin and knot spots). Through the removal of such scarcities and the arrangement of the material in panel layers (glued with firm, high-pressured glue) the high-tech product is created, namely the advanced industrial impregnated laminated wood (Glulam). Due to its manufacturing method, that wood provides great mechanical endurance, dimension stability and aesthetics.
The very high mechanical endurance of the product, its resistance to fire and humidity, its small particular weight, the great flexibility and high aesthetic and architectural value of the wood, make the advanced wood an unrivalled construction material. So it constitutes the carried visible frame on impressive buildings, such as vaulted buildings with an opening up to 140 m!! (TRIAX DOMES), multipurpose halls, sport facilities, theatres, several shelters but also ÖKOHAUS GER homes.Carefully selected wood spruce strips used for laminated boards and classified according to the DIN 1052-1/A1 standard and belong in the BS11 and BS14 class. For the manufacturing sheets with WM 10 (± 2%) low relative humidity are used. The moisture content of the wood in this category ranks wood in a really high- resistant class and is exempted according to the German and Austrian specifications from chemical wood protection against harmful organisms. The whole construction provides fixed dimensions, thanks to the multi-layering of laminates which are glued with a certified, ecologically safe and weather resistant, transparent resinous melamine glue. (Waterproofed adhesives approved for interior and exterior applications, tested in accordance with EN 301/302).
Glulam that ÖKOHAUS GER uses for its constructions, bears all the essential certificates: Germany DIN, Pan-European CE and FI certificates, Japan JAS, Scandinavia L and Russia GOST.
Type of wood: spruce /Lamellae Sorting according to 4074 for all BS classes / Sorting according to EN 14081 for all GL classes Moisture content: 9 – 13 % / Glue: melamine resin / EPI / Qualities: visual, industrial
Testing institutes: MPA Stuttgart / HFA (Holzforschung Austria).
High stability in the form & high quality of laminated surface
The advanced impregnated laminated wood is rabbeted on all sides bestowing a smooth and beautiful surface. After a usual construction timber is at a large extent dried, it is then distorted and shrunk. For example, a solid wood of 24 cm height, is shrunk during the drying process from the wood’s moisture which is around 30% to 10%, 10 to 20 mm.
Also cracks are created. The most common cause for stability, static and wall sheltering problems and the consequential damages due to moisture, is the construction wood’s way of shrinking that was too wet when installed. During the GLULAM construction, panels are dried before the artificial welding, from a wood moisture (10%) and then planed. The then ready laminated timber has a wood moisture content which approximately corresponds to the hygroscopic equilibrium of a wood that is already installed.
The laminated wood due to its squamous treatment obviously shows better qualities than solid wood, while in the long term, chances of distortion and cracking are eliminated.
For these reasons, GLULAM is particularly appropriate for building blocks and forms the basis for a long-term and stable weatherproof construction.
High fire resistance
When we think of fire and what will be more resistant, wood is the last thing that comes in most people’s mind. And yet, reality is way different...
The point is that the GLULAM beams have been tested against all of the top building materials in fire resistance as a result, GLULAM prevails and gains strength regarding durability from all other categories of material. The slowness in inflammation is due to the innate property of the wood to be naturally insulated during a fire and also due to the specialized treatment that it undergoes and makes it highly resistant.
Metal beams that ‘rest’ on GLULAM joists survived after the devastating fire. The metal beams very rapidly lost all their properties and in turn displaced the rest of the building causing complete destruction.
GLULAM has an excellent resistance to fire. It is evenly carbonized since there are no gaps, and it forms a protective coating which restrains flame expansion inwards.
Unlike all other materials, wood does not easily subside. Metals, on the other hand, lose their strength quickly in a fire and often collapse suddenly due to the rapid loss of their strength. Studies have shown that within 10 minutes after a fire occurrence, steel loses its structural properties at a percentage higher than 60%, while the GLULAM (in direct exposure to the fire) still holds more than 80% of its power.
Nonetheless, ÖKOHAUS-GER homes are internally and externally surrounded with fire-resistant and non-flammable materials without the timber being directly exposed, as a result, causing a multiplication of their resistance in case of fire.
Glulam Fire Resistance
☛ Read the case study that demonstrates Glulam’s fire resistance
Maximum wind-resistance
The light weight and flexibility of the wood make ÖKOHAUS-GER residencies ideal for areas that are prone to high winds. The flexible limits of GLULAM and its absolute strength (is the highest, even in cases when the wind loads are applied for a short period with great tensions (winds gusts), but also in cases of high and continuous winds). With the proper proficiencies that ÖKOHAUS-GER only has, there will be an addition of specialized materials which constitute the final shaping and will form solid and stable roof systems, floors and walls, with excellent resistance to strong winds.
All the components of an ÖKOHAUS-GER home, are cleverly designed to cohesively operate thus creating the smartest, safest and ideal home for you.
Maximum earthquake resistance – Highest Bearing Capacity
In addition to its stability, in terms of structure and dimensions, GLULAM is also distinguished for its great resistance to earthquake as the material is five times lighter than concrete and fifteen times lighter than steel. Due to the least specific weight and excellent mechanical resistance, the strain through earthquakes may be reduced significantly. In combination with the technology and the building system that ÖKOHAUS-GER implements, our homes achieve high earthquake resistance, much higher than any other known methods of construction.
Years of research and improvement of earthquake codes for buildings has proved that homes with wood and especially with structural GLULAM timber, exceed the most demanding needs of seismic design. Having high resistance to the weight of the wood, high energy absorption capacity and ductile behaviour (the ability to open several ways of formatting under pressure and traction), have better seismic performance. Recent earthquakes around the world have demonstrated superior performance of modern construction methods by GLULAM.
Our country is located at a high earthquake risk zone and for this reason the new buildings must be built with all of the anti-seismic codes taking into a serious consideration, according to EN 1995-1-1 Eurocode_5E, something which ÖKOHAUS-GER homes fully conform to.
ÖKOHAUS GER proficiency in construction as well as its housing technology, make and determine them as your first choice for the building of your home.
Natural protection against harmful fungi
Fungal Infection – Description
Fungi and woodworms are widely varied depending on the moisture content within they can grow. Most of them seek for relatively high moisture. The development of sepsis remains plausible only when the moisture content of the wood is higher than 18-20%.
From a botanical view, fungi are divided into two categories; the white and the dark brown fungi. However, in the construction maintenance issues we use the terms wet and dry rot.
Wet rot
The following fungi are the most common ones developing in buildings and in constructions in general. From the colour that the affected wood takes (dark brown or white) we call them brown rot or white rot respectively.
All the fungi that are classified under the wet rot category, develop in wood with a moisture content above 20% and for a long time. Those fungi cannot stay in any area away from the wet wood. If the source of moisture can be blocked, then as long as the moisture falls below 20%, the fungi will be weakened and eventually exterminated.
Dry rot
A brown fungus which in order to be developed needs an appropriate percentage of wood moisture around 30-40%, however, it does not infest woods with less than 20% of moisture. It grows in underground spaces, as in non-ventilated floors and behind wooden cladding which are located near sources of moisture such as solid brick on an exterior wall.
Conclusion:
The moisture content of the wood is what determines most the occurrence of pathogenic organisms. As already mentioned, there is no risk of fungi infestation if the timber has a moisture content of less than 18-20%.
The humidity of the GLULAM which ÖKOHAUS-GER uses is about 10-12%. When the moisture content of the wood is 10-12%, the timber is in equilibrium with the environment in which the relative humidity is 60% and the ambient temperature around 22°C (conditions found in buildings with regular but intermittent heating of all types).
Due to the technology involved in the production of GLULAM and without adding any chemicals, the quality of the structural timber we use to build our homes is ensured, which becomes immune to fungi.
Therefore we can avoid in almost all cases the use of chemical wood protection in accordance with DIN 68800, part 3.
Certifications
GLULAM bears the following certifications:
TIMBER SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS WELDING
Materials Testing Institutes: Otto-Graf-Institute MPA Stuttgart / HFA (Holzforschung Austria).
Ecology and Environment Protection
The protection of the environment and nature is at the centre of our interest and therefore the use of GLULAM is one of the most effective methods. It’s a material that is ecological and renewable and whose processing - in comparison with many other production materials - imposes a minimal burden on the environment. On the contrary, the use and supply of timber from companies with environmental awareness which have attained the PEFC certificate provisioning sustainable management of forests and supports reforestation, which is essential for maintaining the ecological system of 'forest'. Because forests are the ones that finally ensure the oxygen supply and thus the foundation for every living organism.
Balanced percentage of the heated space and the environment. When the moisture content of the wood is 10-12%, the timber is in equilibrium with the environment in which the relative humidity is 60% and the ambient temperature around 22 °C (conditions found in buildings with normal but intermittent heating of all types).
We assure our customers that all the wood that ÖKOHAUS-GER uses for the construction of homes comes from sustainably managed forests, that is, where more trees than the harvest were planted and carry the PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) certification. The PEFC indicates the acceptable management of forests and the controlled further processing of natural wood as a raw material.
So by buying an ÖKOHAUS-GER house you support the environmentally friendly and socially acceptable management of forests since the GLULAM is produced strictly only by renewable sources.
Pleasant and healthy living - Exceptional biological properties
The new trend towards 'green' construction has led architects and engineers to use wood - the natural building material - the most prominent architectural feature in a very wide range of construction projects.
The advanced industrial impregnated laminated wood (GLULAM) as a natural product with no chemicals for protection and maintenance, has excellent biological properties which positively influence the indoor atmosphere of the building.
An OKOHAUS-GER home offers warm and comfortable atmosphere that gives the residents a sense of wellbeing. The use of GLULAM endorses healthy environment and living conditions. The beams are natural, durable and when they are visible they offer the perfect aesthetics. The perceived surface temperature of the wood is very important even at lower room temperatures. This results in a comfortable and pleasant interior atmosphere but above all in a healthy living for you and your family.
Top quality with perfect finishing and aesthetics
The technical advantages result in additional architectural and design advantages. The advanced impregnated laminated wood fits perfectly to the other materials such as natural stone, concrete, steel or glass. The possibility of treatment with coloured or clear varnish or wax increase the potentials of creative expression.
The luxurious apartment complex "Panorama Giustinelli" at Trieste, Italy is a unique and innovative construction project which consists of six (6) exclusively GLULAM constructed floors (excluding the lift) with total area of 2.900 m².
Also, the luxurious holiday cottages multi-storey complexes "Marina Verde Wellness Resort" in the promenade of Caorle, Italy.
The fully supported earthquake infrastructure, is primarily based on the GLULAM beams and columns. The separated ceiling constructions are composed of horizontal GLULAM beams whose work is the spread of horizontal loads in the core of the building.
This innovative solution has led to a significant reduction of time and space required to manufacture, while achieving compliance with the strict legal regulations (European code 5).