Fire Retardant Treated GLB's

[EBF]

I am working on a multi story wood frame building where the exterior wall framing is required to be fire-retardant treated. We have some GLB's that occur within these walls, so they would need to be fire treated. I have read that this treatment is not recommended for GLB's and the contractor says they can't find anyone who will do it. Anyone have any experience with this? I contacted one of the fire treatment manufacturers and they seem to indicate that they will have no problem treating the GLB's. I am concerned about the effect of the treatment on the glue used in GLB, since there is no ICBO approved fire-retardant treatment. Am I better off changing to bigger sawn lumber sizes that will be easier to produce? Any opinions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[SperlingPE]

Verify this requirement with your building codes official. GLB of any kind of size may not need need treating.

 

[EBF]

The UBC only states that all exterior wall framing be fire retardant treated for Type III construction (independent of the fire rating). The architect had indicated that this includes any beams that occur in the plane of the wall. So I think we're stuck with trying to find a member that can be fire-retardant treated. Any other suggestions?

 

[Ron]

Check at

http://www.aitc-glulam.com

and look for publication TN-07 and OT-4. Both of these address the fire resistance of glued-laminated timber.