LVL HW (Hardwood LVL)
Heat-treated state
ASTM D5456 · EN 14374
Choose the birch or eucalyptus veneer layup when you need high strength, high screw-holding and a wear-resistant face: trailer decking, scaffold planks and heavily loaded beams.
Values for the HW condition
Other LVL tempers and conditions
LVL is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at LVL.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cross-banded LVL | Specify the cross-banded layup, with some veneers laid at 90°, when the panel must carry load in both directions or resist shear and splitting: wall panels, floor decks, wide beam webs. | — | 27 | 0.7 | — | 0.13 W/m·K |
Economy / poplar-plantation LVL | Pick the economy poplar-plantation grade for formwork bearers, packing crates and furniture frames; it is the cheapest option but not for critical load-bearing members. | — | 30 | 0.9 | — | 0.12 W/m·K |
2.0EDefault Standard softwood structural LVL | Use the mainstream Fb ≈ 2600 psi structural grade for beams, headers and rim boards, where it gives the best balance of stiffness and price. | — | 42 | 0.8 | — | 0.13 W/m·K |
High-stiffness Douglas fir / southern pine LVL | Choose this Douglas fir or southern pine layup at 15.2 GPa for long-span beams, truss chords and any member where deflection has to be controlled. | — | 50 | 0.8 | — | 0.14 W/m·K |
HWThis page Hardwood LVL | Choose the birch or eucalyptus veneer layup when you need high strength, high screw-holding and a wear-resistant face: trailer decking, scaffold planks and heavily loaded beams. | — | 58 | 0.9 | — | 0.16 W/m·K |
What is LVL HW?
LVL HW is LVL heat treated to HW — choose the birch or eucalyptus veneer layup when you need high strength, high screw-holding and a wear-resistant face: trailer decking, scaffold planks and heavily loaded beams. LVL HW has a tensile strength of 58 MPa (8.41 ksi), stronger than 66% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 0.9% and the elastic modulus is 15 GPa (2.18 Msi). LVL HW has a density of 0.7 g/cm³ (0.0253 lb/in³), heavier than 53% of natural material grades. 2.0E is the default condition FabDigit quotes; HW is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Stiff — 15 GPa (2.18 Msi), better than 81% of natural material grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 0.7 MPa·√m (0.637 ksi·√in), better than 78% of natural material grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 50°C (122 °F), worse than 99% of natural material grades
LVL HW properties
Typical room-temperature values for LVL HW; 13 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are LVL reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among natural material grades.
Physical2
LVL HW has a density of 0.7 g/cm³ (0.0253 lb/in³), heavier than 53% of natural material grades.
Mechanical9
LVL HW has a tensile strength of 58 MPa (8.41 ksi), stronger than 66% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 0.9% and the elastic modulus is 15 GPa (2.18 Msi).
Thermal5
LVL HW is rated for continuous service to 50°C (122 °F). It conducts heat at 0.16 W/m·K (0.0924 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 64% of natural material grades. Thermal expansion is 4 µm/m·K (2.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
LVL HW is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 4 kV/mm (101.6 V/mil) and a resistivity of 5×10⁹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental1
Corrosion resistance is fair (35/100), worse than 66% of natural material grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of LVL HW takes about 11 MJ of energy and emits 0.45 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of natural material grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability2
LVL HW'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 LVL HW
Is LVL easy to machine?
Works with ordinary woodworking band saws, circular saws and CNC routers; carbide or diamond tooling is recommended to resist glue-line abrasion. Drill and groove along the grain and keep cuts away from tension edges.
Can LVL be welded?
Not weldable; members are connected with structural bolts, toothed plates, self-tapping screws or structural adhesive (PUR/epoxy).
Can LVL be formed, bent or molded?
Finished members are straight and tolerate only slight bending. Curved beams must be produced on a bending form during pressing (curved LVL / glue-lam process).
What surface finishes work on LVL?
Sand, then apply primer, clear coat or waterborne paint. Exposed use requires moisture-sealed edges, preservative treatment or metal flashing.
LVL 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 |
|---|---|---|
| phenol-formaldehyde / MUF / PUR adhesivestructural grades mostly PF (weather-resistant) | 4 – 9 | 6 |
| moistureequilibrium moisture content as shipped | 6 – 12 | 9 |
| wax / preservative / fire retardantoptional depending on product | 0 – 3 | 0.5 |
| wood veneer (softwood/hardwood, 2.5–4 mmrotary-peeled veneer, laminated with grain parallel | ≥ 88 (balance) | — |
LVL HW — frequently asked
What is LVL HW used for?
LVL HW is typically used for structural beams/headers, rim board, scaffold planks, I-joist flanges and furniture legs. In short: most uniform engineered lumber; highest strength wood billet; long straight lengths available.
What is the tensile strength of LVL HW?
LVL HW has a typical tensile strength of 58 MPa (8.41 ksi) — stronger than 66% of natural material grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is LVL HW easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (75/100, worse than 60% of natural material grades). Works with ordinary woodworking band saws, circular saws and CNC routers; carbide or diamond tooling is recommended to resist glue-line abrasion. Drill and groove along the grain and keep cuts away from tension edges.
Can LVL HW be welded?
Not weldable; members are connected with structural bolts, toothed plates, self-tapping screws or structural adhesive (PUR/epoxy).
What surface finishes work on LVL HW?
Sand, then apply primer, clear coat or waterborne paint. Exposed use requires moisture-sealed edges, preservative treatment or metal flashing.
Can LVL HW be formed, bent or molded?
Finished members are straight and tolerate only slight bending. Curved beams must be produced on a bending form during pressing (curved LVL / glue-lam process).
What is the maximum service temperature of LVL HW?
LVL HW is rated for continuous use to about 50°C (122 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ASTM D5456 — Evaluation of Structural Composite Lumber Products — ASTM International (2021)
- EN 14374 — Timber structures: Structural laminated veneer lumber, requirements — CEN (2004)
- Wood Handbook — Wood as an Engineering Material (FPL-GTR-190) — USDA Forest Products Laboratory (2010)
- Kerto LVL S/Q product & EPD data — Metsä Wood (2023)
- Microllam LVL Specifier's Guide — Weyerhaeuser (2022)
- Inventory of Carbon & Energy (ICE) v3 — engineered timber — 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.