Selecting the correct lintel

You will need to know 5 things:

 

  1. What is the wall construction?
  2. What is the length of the lintel?
  3. What is the load to be supported by the lintel?
  4. What is the load ratio between the inner and outer leaves of the cavity wall?
  5. How to interpret the load tables.

 

1. Select Wall Type

Wall Types

Cavity Wall

Timber Frame

Single Leaf

Solid Wall

Internal Partition

External Solid Wall

Example 1: Cavity Wall Construction

You will need to know: A Outer Leaf = 102mm B Cavity = 100mm C Inner Leaf = 100mm Block

2. What is the length of the lintel?

Example 2: Lintel Length

How wide is the structural opening?

 

  1. Measure the size of the structural opening i.e. the clear span between the masonry supports.
  2. Add 150mm minimum bearing to each end.

 

Example lintel length = 150 + 1800 + 150 = 2100mm

3. What is the load to be supported by the lintel

Example 3: Load on lintel

The load on a lintel comes from ......
1. Masonry. 2. Roof loads, Truss/Attic/Cut. 3. Floor loads, Joists/slabs. 4. Live loads, Residential use/Commercial use/Industrial use. 5. Combination of the above. If any advice is needed then please contact us and we will do our best to help.

4. What is the load ratio between the inner and outer leaves of cavity wall

Total UDL kN 3:1, up to 75% load is on the inner leaf i.e. less than or equal to 75% load on the inner leaf and greater than or equal to 25% on the inner leaf or .......
Total UDL kN 19:1, up to 95% load is on the inner leaf i.e. less than or equal to 95% load on the inner leaf and greater than or equal to 5% on the inner leaf.

5. Interpreting the load table

Interpreting the load table