PRODUCT INFORMATION & GUIDE TO

THE USE OF

ConstructaBEAM
NAILPLATE JOINED STRUCTURAL TIMBER

H O M E O F G A N G - N A I L B U I L D I N G S Y S T E M S
THE BEAMS ConstructaBEAM JOISTS
ConstructaBEAM’s are engineered timber members ConstructaBEAM Joists are members manufactured for
manufactured from structural grade timber using use as rafters, floor joists, hanging beams and ceiling joists
Gang-Nail Structural Plates to form long lengths and large for use in accordance with AS1684 “National Timber
end sections that otherwise would not be commercially Framing code”. In some instances they may
available. also be used as lintels, bearers and beams
but should be checked for adequacy using MiTek’s
Information for the manufacture and use of
AutoBEAM software prior to installation.
ConstructaBEAM’s is provided in standard design sheets
and MiTek’s AutoBEAM software.
TRIMMING TO LENGTH
ConstructaBEAM’s are available in two different forms. Butt
joined ConstructaBEAM’s use short lengths of timber Butt jointed members may be trimmed to length as
joined end to end to form longer structural lengths. required.
Laminated ConstructaBEAM’s use small section timber
Plate laminated members may be trimmed to length,
joined edge to edge to form large sections and may also
provided the end plate is no more than 350mm from the
include butt joins to achieve longer lengths.
trimmed end.

THE BENEFITS
HANDLING
ConstructaBEAM’s offer the following advantages:
Jointed members are engineered products, and as such,
• They can be manufactured in long lengths to take care should be taken in handling, transportation and
advantage of continuous spans. storage.
• They can be manufactured to the required length It is recommended that ConstructaBEAM’s be strapped
eliminating on site cutting and wastage, saving time on together for transportation and handling to prevent
site. excessive flexing of the individual members which may
• Large sections not commercially available can be over-stress the joints.
manufactured to cater for heavy load conditions or large
spans.
• Manufactured from seasoned timber they are
dimensionally stable, accurately sized and straight.

TIMBER GRADES
ConstructaBEAMS are manufactured from either JOINTED MEMBERS
SHOULD BE TRANSPORTED
seasoned hardwood or softwood timber, although for some
AND HANDLED IN
special applications small section unseasoned timber may STRAPPED BUNDLES
be butt joined.
The timber used in ConstructaBEAMS is either visually or APPEARANCE
mechanically stress graded to the relevant Australian
Standard prior to manufacture. ConstructaBEAM products are designed to be used as a
structural component in buildings where cladding or inter-
As ConstructaBEAMS are engineered to perform a nal lining will conceal them from view. They are not intend-
specific function and because these are mechanically ed for applications which require a high level of aesthetic
joined with nail plates they do not have all of the appeal or are exposed to the weather.
characteristics of solid timber. For this reason a special
grade designation applies to ConstructaBEAM products Gang-Nail Plates are generally flush with the timber
with the prefix ‘CB’ followed by the grade of timber surface and may be painted but they do not readily accept
used for manufacture. timber stains.
For example a ConstructaBEAM joist manufactured by
joining F17 timber will have a grade of CB17. SPLICE LOCATIONS
For butt joined ConstructaBEAM’s supported at two points
STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES only (i.e. simply supported), the butt joint may be randomly
located at any point along the member span. There should
The allowable spans of ConstructaBEAMS are, in many
be only one butt joint per simply supported span.
circumstances, equivalent to those of the equivalent size
and grade solid timber. However as the structural 1 only butt joint
Beam
properties of ConstructaBEAMS are different to solid located randomly
timber they cannot be used as a substitute for solid
timber in all circumstances.
Your supplier will be able to provide you with design
information specific to their products.
Support

MEMBER SUPPORTED AT TWO JOINTS ONLY

For members supported over two or more spans, only Typical closed conditions include members used inside the
one butt joint per span is recommended, if the joint is house envelope for rafters, ceiling joists, hanging beams
located randomly. and studs in sea spray, coastal, industrial and low hazard
1 only butt joint per span
located randomly areas.

Sarking required under tiled

roof in seaspray areas

Sealed Eaves

Beam Support Roof Cavity

Clad Walls
MEMBER CONTINUOUS OVER TWO OR MORE SPANS

For laminated ConstructaBEAM’s the butt joint may be

located randomly in the top laminate provided the splices
are at least 1000mm apart. Butt splices are not permitted
in the bottom laminate unless specifically designed for
using MiTek’s AutoBEAM software.
Wall Cavity

SHELTERED
MAXIMUM DISTANCE OF 350mm FROM
TRIMMED END TO PLATE Where Gang-Nail Plates are not washed by either direct or
wind blown rain but may be subjected to wind blown
NOTCHES, HOLES & CUTS corrosive salts, use galvanized Z600 class structural
Gang-Nail plates with H3 durability timber
Because Butt Joined and Plate Laminated
ConstructaBEAMS are engineered products, NO ConstructaBEAM’s suitable for use in this environment are
NOTCHES, HOLES OR CUTS shall be made within branded as follows:
Application Wind Category
ONE PLATE LENGTH OF ANY JOINT. Otherwise the
requirements of AS1684 apply.
CB 17 H JOIST - N3
NO NOTCHES HOLES OR CUTS WITHIN
ConstructaBEAM Z600 Steel with H3 Timber
ONE PLATE LENGTH OF ANY JOINT
Timber Grade
Beam
Typical sheltered conditions include joists supporting open
subfloors in coastal or industrial zones.

Plate jointing Support

Cladding
ENVIRONMENTS
In general ConstructaBEAM’s are suitable for use in
closed environments where timber and joints are No Ceiling
protected from rain, ground moisture and wind blown salts.
For more aggressive environments such as sheltered Open Subfloor Open Carport
coastal or industrial areas additional protection for both
timber and joints will be required.

CLOSED Stainless steel structural Gang-Nail plates are also

available for use in sheltered sea spray zones where
Where Gang-Nail Plates are not exposed to rain, ground additional protection may be required.
moisture or wind blown corrosive salts use galvanized
Z275 class structural Gang-Nail plates with H2 durability ConstructaBEAM’s manufactured from Stainless Steel are
timber. branded as follows:
Application Wind Category
ConstructaBEAM’s suitable for use in this environment are
branded as follows: CB 17 SS JOIST - N3
Application Wind Category
ConstructaBEAM Stainless Steel
CB 17 JOIST - N3 Timber Grade

ConstructaBEAM Timber Grade

EXPOSED INSTALLATION
ConstructaBEAM’s are not recommended for use in All of the AS 1684 requirements and rules regarding the
environments where Gang-Nail Plates are exposed and use of structural timber members, especially the use of
washed by direct or wind blown rains unless joints and proper installation techniques and provision of lateral
timber can be protected from the weather. eg. pergola restraints, shall be complied with, to ensure satisfactory
rafters or joists supporting open decks. member performance.

REFERENCE
This reference sheet to be read in conjunction with the
following publications:
Open Pergola 1. AS1684 Timber Framing Manual
2. MiTek publication “Corrosion Resistance of MiTek
Metal Connectors

Slat Decking 3. AutoBEAM reference sheets -

• ABRS-0002 - “Specification for Butt Joined
ConstructaBEAM”
• ABRS-0003 - “Specification for Laminated
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD JOINTS IN ConstructaBEAM”
ConstructaBEAM’S BE EXPOSED TO CONTINUOUS
• ABRS-0008 - “ConstructaBEAM’s in Exposed
WETTING AND DRYING.
Environments”

BRANDING
All ConstructaBEAM members should be marked with
the following information to ensure their proper
identification and use:
• Manufacturers Name
• Trademark “ConstructaBEAM”
• Timber Grade eg. CB17 for members manufactured from
Grade F17 timber.
• Intended end use eg.
Joist - for use as rafters, floor joists, hanging
beams, ceiling joists.

TIMBER SAW MILL PTY LTD

ConstructaBEAM
CB17 JOIST-N3
Australian Standard AS 4446-1999

LIMITATIONS OF USE
ConstructaBEAM products should not be used in the
following circumstances:
• If Gang-Nail plates are damaged, cut or removed.
• In applications other than their specified end use.
• As planks.
• In locations where they may be exposed to the weather.
• In highly corrosive environments.

MiTek Australia Ltd.

ABN 98 004 564 587 New South Wales 02 8525 8000
46 Monash Drive Lyndhurst Queensland 07 3268 1666
Victoria 3975 Australia South Australia 08 8234 1326
Telephone 03 8795 8888 Western Australia 08 9411 2845
Facsimile 03 9702 9464 New Zealand 09 274 7109
Web site www.mitek.com.au Malaysia 603 3176 7473