The table below shows all the species used by PROLAM to produce
its laminated floors in comparison with species used by the laminated oak floor producers.
Superior | |
Average | |
Lower |
MECHANICAL & PHYSICAL PROPERTIES * |
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STATIC BENDING | ||||||||
Shear parallel to grain |
Modulus of Rupture |
Modulus of Elasticity |
Work to maximum load |
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WHAT DOES IT MEAN? ![]() |
Strength between wood fibers |
Strength | Stiffness | Ability to absorb shock |
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PROLAM FLOORS |
Lbs / Sq. in. | Lbs / Sq. in. | Lbs / Sq. in. | ln * lbs / Cu. in. | ||||
HARD MAPLE | 2 330 | 15 800 | 1 830 000 | 16.5 | ||||
AMERICAN BIRCH | 1 880 | 16 600 | 2 010 000 | 20.8 | ||||
AMERICAN BEECH | 2 010 | 14 900 | 1 720 000 | 15.1 | ||||
AMERICAN RED MAPLE | 1 850 | 13 400 | 1 640 000 | 12.5 | ||||
COMPETITION OAK FLOORS |
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WHITE OAK | 2 000 | 15 200 | 1 780 000 | 14.8 | ||||
RED OAK NORTHERN | 1 780 | 14 300 | 1 820 000 | 14.5 | ||||
RED OAK SOUTHERN | 1 390 | 10 900 | 1 490 000 | 9.4 | ||||
CHESTNUT OAK | 1 490 | 13 300 | 1 590 00 | 11.0 |
* Ref: United State Department of Agriculture Forest Product Laboratory, at Madison Wisconsin FPL-GTR-123 &83
However, trailer, container and truck body floors cannot be judged on wood alone.
Our leading-edge manufacturing process takes into account how the wood is dried, how it is prepared before gluing, the type and way it is glued, and what type of finishing is used. PROLAM also factors in how the laminated floor is installed, including the distance between cross-members, the number of mounting screws, and the frame design. All contribute to minimizing the accumulation of humidity and preventing floor degradation.
PROLAM's innovative Zig-Zag joints further reduce floor stresses and increase fatigue resistance against daily loading and unloading to extend the useful life of your customers' trailer floors. An old-style laminated floor using hook joints has less than half the fatigue resistance as a PROLAM floor using Zig-Zag joints.