J-FRAME is a general purpose Structural Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) gauged Framing timber manufactured by Juken New Zealand Ltd (JNL) from 100% renewable Radiata Pine, plantation forest. As a reliable straight and durable product, J-Frame can be used in a wide range of applications including residential and commercial framing and truss systems. J-FRAME is an independently certified engineered wood product, to AS/NZS4357 (Structural LVL) and is made in accordance with strict quality and environmental standards. (Refer Product & Process Integrity comments).
Bond
J-FRAME Structural LVL uses Phenol Formaldehyde Resin to produce an A bond classification. This bond has a proven, internationally recognised durability record for exposure to moisture and stress. Australian Standard AS2754.1 “Adhesive for Timber and Timber Products” states:
“Type A bonded laminated veneer lumber [LVL] can be used in applications involving extreme long-term exposure to weather or wet or damp conditions and/or long-term structural performance requirements without glue line break-down or glue line creep.”
Moisture Content
J-FRAME is supplied to market with a targeted moisture content of 18%. Glue lines in LVL can affect moisture content measurements. Moisture equivalency tables for J-Frame developed by Scion are available at www.jnl.co.nz
Treatment
J-Frame has Codemark product certification for use where hazard class H1.2 or less applies.
Stress Grading
J-FRAME is designed during the manufacturing process for consistency in strength, stiffness and stability. The design enables JNL to sort by grade into LVL8 and LVL10. Both LVL8 and LVL10 meets or exceeds the equivalent stress for SG8 and SG10 grades in NZS3603 Amendment No.4 Table 2.3.
Finger Jointing
Standard lengths of J-FRAME over 3 metres will have one finger joint per length. Finger joints are certified by the EWPAA to AS/NZS1491 Finger Jointed Structural Timber. Additional testing for bond durability is performed by JNL and verified by the EWPAA in accordance with AS5068.
Product Identification
J-FRAME is printed and/or labelled to show applicable standards, treatment classification, certifying bodies and the assigned stress grade.
J-FRAME should be kept dry when being stored. Place on ground with packers and cover with water proof plastic to prevent moisture.
- Minimise exposure to weather and rain.
- Protect Frames and Trusses as soon as possible.
- Dry out before covering/lining after exposure to wetting.
Product and Process Integrity
The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) http://www.ewp.asn.au, SGS and the New Zealand Forest institute (Scion) http://www.scionresearch.com, audit and both verify and certify JNL’s quality systems and products.
JNL is certified to both ISO9001 Quality, and ISO140001 Environmental Standards, both of which demand in-house documented procedures, training programs and process control systems.
Rigorous product testing as stipulated in the applicable standards is performed on each J-FRAME manufacturing batch by JNL’s Quality Assurance Department. This testing is run simultaneously with the EWPAA test sample submission program.
The JNL Wairarapa Mill has been manufacturing LVL for over 20 years and has attained Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody (COC), testifying that the Pinus Radiata used in J-FRAME is from a sustainable, environmentally managed forest resource.
Product certification (CodeMark) is a voluntary scheme that provides an easily-understood and robust way to show that a building product or system meets the requirements of the New Zealand Building Code.
