Glu Lams in Action

D ESPONDING to agrowing public l\enthusiasm for more wood use in public structures of all kinds, the County of Santa Barbara in California recently purchased what are easily the longest wood beams in the county for a scenic bike and pedestrian pathway connecting one of the state university campuses and the town of Santa Barbara.

Arching over Atascadero Creek, the glue laminated beams are pressure treated wilh Pentachlorophenol to a retension of 0.4 lbs. per cubic foot.

Two of the three beams used measured 6-314" x 39" x l}4'8-l12". One beam checked out at l3-ll2" x39" x 104' 8-l f 2" The larger beam weighed more

Story at a Glance

Huge glue laminated beams, sold by the local dealer, are a county's first experiment in using wood, rather than concrete, in bridges.

than l4O00lbs.

Philips Lumber Sales of nearby Thousand Oaks was the sales agent for the beams' manufacturer, Timfab, Inc. of Clackamas, Or. They were sold to the county through a retail yard in Goleta, The County Lumber Co. Philips currently does about 50-60% of its business in glue laminated beams. Installation of the beams was Performed (see pictures) in July, with the beams being placed into metal hangers set in concrete following their removal from the truck by dual cranes.