saturated composite lumber 1

[hoosier71]

Does anyone have experience dealing with parallam beams tji's that have become saturated on site during construction? I-Level literature and their reps imply that everything will be fine once the members dry out, but some members are swollen and delaminating, so I'm not so sure. Intuition tells me the wood/glue bonds must be damaged with a corresponding reduction in strength and stiffness.

 

[SLTA]

If they're delaminating, then yes, the values must be reduced. There's a difference between "they got wet on site" and "they were totally saturated". Forget the reps - call and ask to speak with the engineering department. In the end, it's your call - you're the engineer. If you can't be convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that it will be fine, just make them be replaced.

 

[woodman88]

One very big question I have is why they are asking you about this? It is the contractor responsibility to provide materials that meet the plans specifications. If there is any questions the contractor should provide the answers for them not the EOR.
I would also contact your client (Architect and/or owner) about the whether they want to allow the use of the materials without a clear statement by the manufacturer that they are still under warranty.
I am not sure, even than, that I would want to take the responsibility for the members. I could review the information given, to see if it meets the specifications.

Garth Dreger PE - AZ Phoenix area
As EOR's we should take the responsibility to design our structures to support the components we allow in our design per that industry standards.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

This stuff should always be kept below 19% MC - preferably 15%

Reject it!!

 

[hoosier71]

Mike, thanks for your reply. What basis do you have for keeping composite lumber below 19 percent MC? Is there literature or evidence in support of this position?

 

[woodman88]

Per the ICC ES Report ESR-1387 section 5.3 on LVL, LSL and PSL "...The use of these products in covered installations, where the moisture content exceeds 16 percent, has not been reviewed and is beyond the slope of this evaluation report."
You might want to read the Evaluation reports for your products.

Garth Dreger PE - AZ Phoenix area
As EOR's we should take the responsibility to design our structures to support the components we allow in our design per that industry standards.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Thanks WoodMan -

Saturated lumber - esp "engineered" is usually pretty much ruined. For one thing - even if it somehow maintains it's strength ( and I doubt that) - it will never be dimensionally correct again!!! It expands and won't "go back"

 

[EngineeringAdam]

Don't listen to the rep., engineered lumber doesn't retain it's strength when de-lamination occurs.

As mentioned above, a little wet is a whole world different from totally saturated. Also, I have seen engineered lumber's dried state after being totally saturated, it doesn't revert to its original dimensions.