Char Layer Formation: When exposed to fire, glulam forms a protective, insulating layer of charcoal (char) on its surface.
Oxygen Restriction: This char layer restricts the oxygen supply to the wood core, slowing down the combustion process.
Structural Integrity: By protecting the inner core, the glulam beam maintains its strength and structural integrity, preventing premature collapse.
Predictable Charring: The rate at which glulam chars is well-established through controlled testing, allowing engineers to calculate its fire resistance for specific beam sizes.
The design of glulam structures for fire safety involves accounting for charring rates and incorporating additional wood thickness to provide the required fire resistance in minutes, such as 30, 60, or 120 minutes.
Glulam has a superior fire resistance rating when compared to steel. This makes Glulam structures a safe choice for large public buildings.
