Prolam Glulam Beams Play a Starring Role in Tunnel Beach House

Located on a dramatic stretch of the Dunedin coastline, Tunnel Beach House is anchored in its environment — from its careful orientation to capture the stunning outlook to its refined natural material palette.

Inside, the mood is calm and refined. High ceilings with timber rafters contribute to a sense of openness, drawing the eye through the spaces to the generously proportioned glazed windows and doors that invite daylight deep into the interior, and provide cinematic views of the Aurora Australis when it appears.

Architect Will Lewis specified Prolam PL8 H3.2 Visual Grade Beams to achieve the aesthetic appeal and structural integrity he required for the exposed timber features of Tunnel Beach House.

The glulam beams span the living spaces and extend seamlessly through to the eaves, defining the interior character and bringing a sense of warmth and authenticity to the open-plan kitchen, dining and living area.

In total, 20 glulam beams — 10 spanning 7.2 metres and 10 at 6.8 metres — were precision-manufactured to a 290 x 88 profile, and machine finished ready for two coats of wood oil to be applied on site.

Glulam (glue laminated timber) is manufactured by bonding layers of kiln-dried, structural-grade timber together with durable adhesives. This process creates beams that are stronger and more dimensionally stable than solid timber, greatly minimising twisting, splitting and shrinking.

This built-in strength also means glulam beams have superior load-bearing capacity and increased spanning capability, making them ideal for open interiors like Tunnel Beach House. While the specification of H3.2 treated timber ensures the beams’ long-term performance for both interior and exterior applications, even in the demanding coastal conditions.

From design vision to lasting performance, Prolam’s Visual Grade Glulam Beams play a starring role in this remarkable project — showcasing how structural timber can become a stylish feature that elevates the experience of everyday living.

Specify Prolam Visual Grade Glulam Beams using the Prolam Specifier, the accurate and efficient online tool for designing structural timber elements with PS1 certificate for building code compliance.

Prolam Structural Glulam Beams

Prolam

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Prolam Glulam Beams are structural laminated timber beams manufactured from finger-jointed and laminated radiata pine, available in PL8 (SG8) and PL12 (SG12) grades.

NZ Made

NZ-Owned Business

Structural beams, lintels, rafters, bearers and joists in residential and light commercial buildings.
- PL8 for general structural applications.
- PL12 where higher loads, longer spans or a reduced member depth are required.
Suitable for design within NZS 3604, and for Specific Engineering Design to NZS 3603 and AS/NZS 1170 where outside NZS 3604 scope.
Treatment selected to suit application: H1.2 for interior dry conditions, H3.2 for exterior above ground including exposed and coastal applications, H5 where in-ground or in-contact use is required.
Suitable for use in high wind and seismic zones where sized accordingly. Also suitable for corrosive chemical environments, including swimming pool structures and salt water exposure, where timber is not subject to the corrosion affecting steel elements.
Dimensional stability with minimal twisting, warping, splitting or shrinkage compared with solid sawn timber.
Non Visual precambered as standard to offset deflection.
PL12 stiffness properties reduce deflection at equivalent span and loading, and allow shallower sections where ceiling height, head height or sightlines are constrained.
H3.2 treated beams are machined after treatment, removing the green surface colouring associated with H3.2 and producing a light brown finish.

PL8 for general structural applications.
PL12 where higher loads, longer spans or a reduced member depth are required.

Prolam structural laminated timber, installed in accordance with Prolam installation requirements, will meet or contribute to meeting the following provisions of the NZ Building Code.

B1 Structure: meets the requirements of B1.3.1, B1.3.2, B1.3.3 (a, b, f, j, m, q), B1.3.4 (a, b, c, d, e). AS/NZS 1170:2002 for engineering span tables. Manufactured to AS/NZS 1328.1:1998 and AS 5068.
B2 Durability: meets the requirements of B2.3.1 (a), B2.3.2. All timber is treated in accordance with NZS 3640. Prolam treats its own timber and is third party audited for compliance with the New Zealand treatment standard.
C Protection from Fire: meets the requirements of C6.3, C6.4. APA Evaluation of Char Rate (ASTM E119), TT-118, January 2015.
F2 Hazardous Building Materials: meets the requirements of F2.3.1. All timber is treated in accordance with NZS 3640, including the required flash-off period before dispatch. Prolam treats its own timber and is third party audited for compliance with the New Zealand treatment standard. Safety Data Sheets for treatment chemicals are available on request.

PS1 Producer Statements available via the Prolam Specifier for applications within its scope.

FSC Certified

Homestar / Green Star

Other Independent Assessment

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