4418.83.00.00 - I-beams

This HTS classification, 4418.83.00.00, specifically covers I-beams made of wood. These are engineered structural timber products designed to mimic the shape and function of traditional steel I-beams. They are characterized by their web, which connects two flanges, providing excellent strength-to-weight ratios and making them suitable for load-bearing applications in construction.

Unlike glue-laminated timber (glulam) classified under 4418.81.00.00, which consists of multiple layers of dimension lumber bonded together on their widest faces, or cross-laminated timber (CLT) under 4418.82.00.00, which is formed by bonding layers of lumber with their grain running perpendicular to each other, I-beams are constructed with a distinct 'I' cross-section. This structural design allows for efficient load distribution and is their primary distinguishing feature. They are often manufactured using solid wood flanges and a plywood or OSB web, or entirely from laminated veneer lumber (LVL) components.

As a leaf node within the HTS structure, there are no further subcategories beneath 4418.83.00.00. Therefore, classification within this code is determined by the item's composition as an engineered wood product with an I-beam profile, intended for structural purposes, and fitting within the broader scope of builders' joinery and carpentry of wood as outlined in Chapter 44.