When it comes to construction, some elements remain hidden from plain sight yet play a crucial role in maintaining a building’s structural integrity. One such unsung hero is the steel lintel. Steel lintels are essential components that provide support to openings in walls, ensuring stability and preventing sagging over time. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of steel lintels, exploring their purpose, benefits, and different types.
A lintel is one type of beam which is utilized to support the above wall or partition material when openings like doors, windows, and so forth are necessary to provide a building structure. The primary function of the lintel is to take loads originating from the high wall and transfer its heap to the side walls.
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Types of lintels
There are several different types of structural steel lintels used in masonry. They vary from single angle lintels in cavity or veneer walls, to steel beams with plates in solid walls, to shelf angles in brick veneer panel walls. Most building codes permit steel angle lintels to be used for openings up to 8 feet. Openings larger than this are usually required to have fire protected lintels.
Loose Angle Lintels:
Loose angle lintels are used in brick veneer and cavity wall constructions where the lintel is laid in the wall and spans the opening. This type of lintel has no lateral support.
Combination Lintels:
In solid masonry walls, single loose angle lintels are usually not capable of doing the job. Therefore, combination lintels are required. These combination lintels can take many forms, from a clustering of steel angles, such as combination of steel beam and plates.
Angle Lintels: In solid masonry walls, it is usually satisfactory to use multiple steel angles as a lintel. These angles are usually placed back-to-back.
Steel Beam/Plate Lintels: In solid walls with large super imposed loads, or in walls where the openings are greater than 8 feet. It may be necessary to use lintels composed of steel beams with attached or suspended plates. This permits the beam to be fully encased in masonry, and fire protected.
Shelf Angles:
In panel walls systems, the exterior wythe of brickwork may be supported by shelf angles rigidly attached to the structural frame. These shelf angles, in some cases, also act as lintels over openings in the masonry.
In conclusion, Steel lintels might not be the most visible components of a building, but they are certainly among the most essential. Their role in distributing weight and maintaining the structural integrity of load-bearing walls is paramount. With benefits like strength, durability, and design flexibility, steel lintels continue to serve as indispensable elements in construction projects worldwide.