Glulam BAMBOO-GL
Grade
ASTM ANSI/AITC A190.1 · EN 14080
Moso-bamboo strip laminate used in China for beams, decking and architectural panels; higher density and strength than softwood glulam but more moisture-sensitive.
Values for the BAMBOO-GL condition
Other Glulam tempers and conditions
Glulam is listed in 9 conditions; see the grade overview at Glulam.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
North American softwood glulam | The standard US/Canadian bending combination (Fb = 24 000 psi allowable-basis, E = 1.8×10⁶ psi) for Douglas fir-larch beams. | — | 8 | 0.8 | — | 0.14 W/m·K |
Combined (layered) softwood glulam, fm,k = 24 MPa | Stronger laminations only in the outer zones — the economical choice for simple bending members loaded about the strong axis. | — | 17 | 0.75 | — | 0.12 W/m·K |
GL24hDefault Homogeneous softwood glulam, fm,k = 24 MPa | The default European strength class: all laminations of the same grade, best when the member is loaded in tension/compression or bending in both directions. | — | 19 | 0.8 | — | 0.13 W/m·K |
Combined (layered) softwood glulam, fm,k = 28 MPa | Most common European beam class: high-grade outer laminations over economical core, optimised for bending. | — | 20 | 0.75 | — | 0.12 W/m·K |
Homogeneous softwood glulam, fm,k = 28 MPa | Higher-graded laminations for more efficient beams and columns where deflection or bending capacity governs. | — | 22 | 0.8 | — | 0.13 W/m·K |
Homogeneous softwood glulam, fm,k = 30 MPa | Premium softwood class for long-span beams and heavily loaded frames where section depth is limited. | — | 24 | 0.8 | — | 0.14 W/m·K |
Homogeneous softwood glulam, fm,k = 32 MPa | Top softwood class from machine-graded high-stiffness laminations; used for the most demanding spans. | — | 26 | 0.8 | — | 0.14 W/m·K |
GL75h | Beech-lamination glulam for slender, heavily loaded members and long-span trusses where softwood sections become impractically large. | — | 60 | 0.9 | — | 0.17 W/m·K |
BAMBOO-GLThis page laminated bamboo lumber (GB/T 40247 class) | Moso-bamboo strip laminate used in China for beams, decking and architectural panels; higher density and strength than softwood glulam but more moisture-sensitive. | — | 80 | 1.2 | — | 0.18 W/m·K |
What is Glulam BAMBOO-GL?
Glulam BAMBOO-GL is Glulam in the BAMBOO-GL grade — moso-bamboo strip laminate used in China for beams, decking and architectural panels; higher density and strength than softwood glulam but more moisture-sensitive. Glulam BAMBOO-GL has a tensile strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi), stronger than 70% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 1.2% and the elastic modulus is 10.5 GPa (1.52 Msi). Glulam BAMBOO-GL has a density of 0.75 g/cm³ (0.0271 lb/in³), heavier than 65% of natural material grades. GL24h is the default condition FabDigit quotes; BAMBOO-GL is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 0.8 MPa·√m (0.728 ksi·√in), better than 81% of natural material grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.18 W/m·K (0.104 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of natural material grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 55°C (131 °F), worse than 96% of natural material grades
Glulam BAMBOO-GL properties
Typical room-temperature values for Glulam BAMBOO-GL; 13 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Glulam reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among natural material grades.
Physical2
Glulam BAMBOO-GL has a density of 0.75 g/cm³ (0.0271 lb/in³), heavier than 65% of natural material grades.
Mechanical10
Glulam BAMBOO-GL has a tensile strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi), stronger than 70% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 1.2% and the elastic modulus is 10.5 GPa (1.52 Msi).
Thermal5
Glulam BAMBOO-GL is rated for continuous service to 55°C (131 °F). It conducts heat at 0.18 W/m·K (0.104 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of natural material grades. Thermal expansion is 4.5 µm/m·K (2.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
Glulam BAMBOO-GL has an electrical resistivity of 1×10⁹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental1
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), better than 53% of natural material grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Glulam BAMBOO-GL takes about 12 MJ of energy and emits 0.55 kg of CO₂ — more than 69% of natural material grades. Typical recycled content is 2%.
Manufacturability2
Glulam BAMBOO-GL's machinability is very good (75/100, worse than 60% of natural material grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Glulam BAMBOO-GL
Is Glulam easy to machine?
Cuts, drills and CNC-routes readily with carbide tooling; glue lines dull HSS quickly and dust extraction is essential.
Can Glulam be welded?
Not weldable — members are joined with slotted-in steel plates, dowels, screws or glued-in rods per Eurocode 5 / NDS.
Can Glulam be formed, bent or molded?
Curved beams are produced by bending thin laminations (typically t ≤ R/200) over a form and clamping while the adhesive cures under controlled temperature and humidity.
What surface finishes work on Glulam?
Sand, then apply penetrating oil, alkyd/acrylic coating or fire-retardant/preservative treatment; end grain and exposed tops need flashing or capping.
Glulam chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| cellulosesoftwood lamination wood substance | 40 – 47 | 43 |
| hemicellulose | 22 – 30 | 26 |
| lignin | 25 – 32 | 28 |
| extractives/ashresins, terpenes, minerals | 1 – 5 | 2 |
| structural adhesive (MUF/PRF/PUR)glue lines + finger joints, EN 301/EN 15425 Type I | 0.5 – 2.5 | 1.2 |
| moistureEN 14080 requires 6–15 % at gluing | 8 – 15 | 12 |
| wood substance | balance | — |
Glulam BAMBOO-GL — frequently asked
What is Glulam BAMBOO-GL used for?
Glulam BAMBOO-GL is typically used for exposed structural beams, arches/domes, bridges, long-span roofs and columns. In short: long-span structural timber; curved beams to shape; stronger than sawn timber.
What is the tensile strength of Glulam BAMBOO-GL?
Glulam BAMBOO-GL has a typical tensile strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) — stronger than 70% of natural material grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is Glulam BAMBOO-GL easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (75/100, worse than 60% of natural material grades). Cuts, drills and CNC-routes readily with carbide tooling; glue lines dull HSS quickly and dust extraction is essential.
Can Glulam BAMBOO-GL be welded?
Not weldable — members are joined with slotted-in steel plates, dowels, screws or glued-in rods per Eurocode 5 / NDS.
What surface finishes work on Glulam BAMBOO-GL?
Sand, then apply penetrating oil, alkyd/acrylic coating or fire-retardant/preservative treatment; end grain and exposed tops need flashing or capping.
Can Glulam BAMBOO-GL be formed, bent or molded?
Curved beams are produced by bending thin laminations (typically t ≤ R/200) over a form and clamping while the adhesive cures under controlled temperature and humidity.
What is the maximum service temperature of Glulam BAMBOO-GL?
Glulam BAMBOO-GL is rated for continuous use to about 55°C (131 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- EN 14080:2013 Timber structures — Glued laminated timber and glued solid timber — CEN (2013)
- ANSI/AITC A190.1 Structural Glued Laminated Timber — APA/AITC (2017)
- Wood Handbook — Wood as an Engineering Material (FPL-GTR-190) — USDA Forest Products Laboratory (2010)
- Eurocode 5 (EN 1995-1-1/1-2) design values and thermal data — CEN (2004)
- Glulam beam technical data (GL24h/GL28c) — Moelven / Binderholz / Pollmeier BauBuche (2023)
- Inventory of Carbon & Energy (ICE) v3 — glulam — Circular Ecology (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.