LINTELS

Ar. RACHIT PAMNANI

 Lintels
• A lintel is a member of wood, brick, stone or concrete which is fixed horizontally and used to support the
structure above the opening. Most lintels now are of reinforced concrete.
• Lintel acts like a beam and transfers the load vertically to the supporting walls.

Lintels are classified into the following types, according to the materials of their construction:
Stone Lintel Brick Lintel Reinforced Steel lintels
Brick Lintel

Timber lintels

Reinforced cement
concrete lintels
 Lintels
WOOD LINTEL- These are usually of redwood .
• Size : Depends upon thickness of the wall, the span (distance between opposite jambs) and the weight to be
supported .
• Depth : Approximately one-twelfth of the span with a minimum of 75 mm; the width may equal the full
thickness of the wall as is necessary for internal door openings.
• Built-Up Lintels : At larger spans-
o Section B: lintel with three 175 mm by 75 mm pieces bolted together with 12 mm diameter bolts
near the ends (every 380 mm)
o Elevation C: Bolts provided
with the necessary nuts and
Washers.
• Easily available in hilly area.
• Relatively costly, structurally weak
& vulnerable to fire.
• Easily decay, if not properly taken
care.
 Lintels
Detail H : Alternative to this
built -up lintel
• Two 175 mm by 50 mm
pieces (which bridge the
opening and have a 150 mm
bearing or wall-hold at each
end) and 50 min thick
packing or distance pieces at
the ends and at 380 mm
centers.
• Holes are bored through the
continuous pieces and
packing pieces through
which bolts passes to secure
them and ensure that the
pieces will act as one unit.
• Elevation: same as C (just
broken lines for packing
piece)
 Lintels
BRICK LINTELS
Horizontal member consisting of bricks;
generally laid on end and occasionally
on edge.
• Relatively weak form of
construction - quite unsuited to
support heavy loads.
• Provided at small openings only
(span should not exceed 900 mm)
• Depth : depends on size of the opening • Cement mortar should be used, and
Varies (102.5 mm to 215 mm) pressed bricks having a frog on each
• Top of the lintel shall coincide with bed are better
horizontal joint of the walling • Joggled Brick Lintel : when bricks
• Common depth : two counts of the having frogs are used, the Joggle or
adjoining brickwork (G) notch being formed (widened joint
• Soldier arch : upright appearance of the at each frog). It assists in resisting
brick sliding or shearing action to which
• Care has to be taken to ensure each brick the lintel is subjected.
to be vertical • Brick Quality: hard, well burnt , first
class bricks
 Lintels
Support for Brick Lintel:
• Additional support : Span more than 900 mm
• Additional technique:
1. K: 75mmX10mm steel flat bar 150mm bearing is used at
each end
2. L: steel angle with 150mm bearing
3. M: Reinforced brick lintel
4. N: purpose made bricks supported by reinforced concrete
lintel – 20mm diameter steel rod, threaded before grouting,
150 mm bedded on wall at each end. Holed during moulding
before burning. Each hole 38mm from underside lintel.
Soffit (between brick intel and door frame) to be covered by
bedding of 12mm thick tile.
• Steel bar & angle: either covered with paint/ door frame
Common practice: in smaller span brick beds are directly led
upon door/window frames; which set backs up to 25mm from
external face of wall
 Lintels
Brick lintels : Construction
Constructed on temporary wood support : Turning piece

Mortar is spread before placing it in position

Grout is pored through holes – each frog must be completely filled with
liquid mortar

If not grouting, then joints must be flushed and filled with mortar

“Cement Grout : cement which has been reduced to a thick liquid consistency by the
addition of sufficient water.”
STONE LINTEL Lintels
• Rectangular blocks of stones with varying thickness and depth
Depth: At least 215mm

CONCRETE LINTEL
•• Suitable
Span more mix: 1:2:4
than – Portland
900mm: use cement: sand:
Mild steel gravel/broken
bars/ other form brick/ stone
of steel (20mm gauge)
reinforcement (P & Q) number and size of
• Can be cast independs
reinforcement situ (inonbrick
span,mould
width of
and32-38mm
load to bethickness-removed
supported; the steelafter the setting
is placed of concrete)
in the moulds and ator can 25
about be
precast.
mm from the bottom; the concrete is poured in, care being taken in packing it round the reinforcement.
•• Precast
The endsmethod is preferred:
of the bars are hookedlintels caninbeorder
as shown formed in the wood
to increase moulds
the bond well
or grip in advance
between themto allow
and them being
the concrete.
• sufficiently matured
If precast, the for lintel
top of the fixingshould
when be
required
marked and
so the
thatconstruction
the fixer willofheld
the itwalling above
with the them maylowermost.
reinforcement be continued
immediately after fixing.
• Span: not more than 900mm(plain concrete weak in compression – leading to fractures) U & Q
Lintels