Special glued laminated timber beams from Denmark have been used in the construction of four “super depots” for salt constructed for Hertfordshire county council,
Paul Butler, project manager for the design team of support services company Mouchel Parkman, said glulam was specified because of the environment it was to be used in.
“The alternatives were steel or concrete. Steel would need to be painted and then resprayed and repainted regularly, and if concrete is hit by a lorry bits chip off which need to be repaired or the steel inside will corrode.
“If glulam gets thumped by a vehicle we can cut out the damaged section and repair it – and it doesn’t corrode.”
Mr Butler said the four 24m wide x 48m long x 14m high buildings, each incorporating nine portal frames, have a lifespan of 40 to 50 years.
The glulam barns, located at South Mimms, Ware, Stevenage and Kings Langley, were designed, fabricated and shipped by Lillehaden of Denmark.
