Glulam is a glue-laminated structural timber product that has replaced steel in a large part of the EPIC Building.

Swinging the main ceiling beams for EPIC's hall

The timber is Eastern European softwood produced from sustainably managed forests. Unfortunately the damp, mild maritime climate in Britain cannot produce the tough, fibrous, slow growing timber required for the glulam process. The planting and harvesting cycle in the production forests ensures a biodiverse forest that that maximises the absorption of CO2. This carbon can then be incorporated into the structure of a building such as the main halls of the EPIC Centre.

If the construction of the EPIC Centre had used steel the equivalent steel frame could have required up to six times the amount of energy for its production compared to the glulam frame. Glulam framing is usually lighter than equivalent concrete or steel frames thus reducing the load and size of foundations – again reducing the high energy concrete foundations elements of a building.

Each glulam roof beamin EPIC’s halls is 22m long and weighs

Glulam Columns supporting the roof beams

 7.5 tonnes. If you look closely at the support pillars you will see the individual pieces of timber and the finger joints.

For more information on glulam visit www.glulam.co.uk