Lintels
A lintel is defined as a structural horizontal
block that spans the space or opening
between two vertical supports. In classical
western construction methods, defining lintel
by its Merriam-Webster definition, a lintel is a
load-bearing member and is placed over an
entranceway.
Lintel is a structural component of a building.
It is made above door and window opening.
Its main function is to support the masonry
wall above openings and transfer its load to
side walls
• Material for lintel: Lintel can be made from
various materials. Such as steel, wood, stone,
RCC, etc
• The most used material for lintel is RCC
(Reinforced Cement Concrete). Normally used
concrete ratio for RCC lintel is 1:2:4
Purpose of providing lintels
• The main purpose of providing a lintel is to
transfer load coming on an opening to nearby
wall and load coming in a wall above it to
below wall uniformly and to form a rigid
connection.
Classification of lintels
• Concrete lintels
• Wooden lintels
• Steel lintels
• Reinforced brick lintels
• Stone lintels
RCC Lintels
• Types of RCC lintel: RCC lintel can be two types
depending on casting methods: Pre-cast RCC lintel and
Cast-in-place RCC lintel.
• The procedure of making both types of RCC lintel is
almost same. Both have advantages and disadvantages.
I personally prefer cast-in-place type of lintel.
• Pre-cast RCC lintel: This type of lintel is casted
separately somewhere on floor. When wall is ready to
place lintel then it is just placed on both sides walls of
opening.
• Cast-in-place RCC lintel: When wall making is
finished up to lintel level then formwork is
made on wall for lintel. After making
formwork, concrete is poured into it.
Advantage and disadvantage of them:
• Pre-cast RCC lintel is made on floor. So, we don’t need to lift
formwork up to lintel level. That reduces required time to
make lintel. On the other hand, cast-in-place RCC lintel
requires more time to make.
• As formwork for cast-in-place RCC lintel is made on wall, so it
requires to make formwork in three sides. But pre-cast lintel
requires only two-side formwork.
• Cast-in-place lintel requires more supports to hold its
formwork in place. On the other hand, pre-cast lintel
requires only few supports as it is poured on floor.
• Pre-cast lintel is cost effective than cast-place-lintel.
• Surface finishes of pre-cast lintel can be better
than cast-in-place lintel. As pre-cast lintel is
made separately, so lintel and masonry wall
can be done simultaneously. The reason why I
prefer cast-in-place RCC lintel is its bond-
ability with masonry wall. The bond between
cast-in-place RCC lintel and masonry wall is
very well. But pre-cast lintel doesn’t make any
bond with masonry wall.
Wooden lintels
• These lintels consist of pieces of timber which are placed across
the opening. The timber lintels are the oldest types of lintels
and they have become obsolete except in hilly areas or places
where timber is easily available.
• A single piece of timber can be used as a lintel or built-up
sections may be formed as shown in fig. 18-1 and fig. 18-1, three
timber pieces are bolted to serve as a lintel. Bolted to serve as a
lintel. Fig. 18-2 shows a wood lintel composed of two timber
pieces and two distances of packing pieces. The bolts are
provided through the packing pieces as shown if the timber
lintels are strengthened by the provision of mild steel plates at
their top and bottom, they are known as the Fetched lintels. )
The important features of wood lintels are as
follows:
• 1) A bearing of about 150 mm to 200 mm should be provided on the wall
and the ends of lintel should be placed on mortar so as to create a level and
firm bearing.
• 2) The width of lintel should be equal to the thickness of the opening and
the depth of lintel should be about 1/12 to 1/8 of the span with a minimum
value of 80 mm.
• 3) The wood lintels are liable to be destroyed by fire and also are liable to
decay, if not properly ventilated. Hence sound and hard timber like teak
should be used in the construction of wood lintels and a coat of suitable
preservative should be applied.
• 4) The wood lintels help in securing the beads of frames of timber doors
and windows.
• 5) If wood lintel is to be used for larger spans, it is necessary to design it
as a timber beam simply supported at its ends.
Wooden lintels
Steel Lintels
• These lintels consist of steel angles or rolled steel joists. The former is used
for small spans and light loading and the latter is used for large spans and
heavy loading. A steel lintel becomes useful when there is no space available
to and heavy loading. A steel lintel becomes useful when there is no space
available to accommodate the rise of an arch. The steel joists may be used
singly or in combination of two or three units.
• When used singly, the steel joist is either embedded in concrete or gladded
with stone facing to match with the width of opening. When more than one
unit are placed side by side, the tube stone facing to match with the width of
opening. When more than one units are placed side by side, the tube
separators are provided to keep the still joists in position. Side by see, the
tube separators are provided to keep the steel joists in position.
• The joists are usually embedded in concrete to protect the steel corrosion
and fire. The steel collapses quickly due to fire and hence the casing of
concrete make the steel more fire-resistant.
Steel Lintels
Stone lintels
• These lintels consist of slabs of stones which are placed across the openings.
The stone lintels may be formed of a single piece or more than one piece. The
stone lintels are not generally favoured mainly due to the following reasons:
• The stone possesses low tensile resistance. Hence the relieving arches are
to be provided when the span exceeds I m. Otherwise the depth of stone lintel
becomes considerable. The depth of stone lintel should be at least one mm
per ten mm length of the opening.
• The stone cracks when subjected to the vibratory loads. Hence the stone
lintels should be used with caution where shock waves are likely to occur
frequently.
• It is difficult sot obtain a good stone of required depth. Hence the stone is
not available. Moreover the stone which are to be used for lintels. Are to be
properly dressed on site of work. This will increase the cost of work .
Stone lintels
Brick lintels
• These lintels consist of bricks which are generally placed on end or edge as shown in fig. A
better way of providing and of a brick lintel is shown in fig. 18-4 The important features of
brink lintels are as follows :
• The bricks should be well –burnt, copper-coloured, free from cracks and with sharp and
square edges.
• A temporary wood support, known as a turning piece, is used to construct a brink lintel.
• In order to maintain the appearance of brickwork, a brink lintel should have a depth
equal to some multiple of brick courses.
• It is found that the bricks having frogs are more suitable for the brink lintels. It is due to
the fact that the forge, filled with mortar, form keys between different layers and thus the
shear resistance of brink lintels. Results in overall increases of the strength of brink, lintel.
• A brick lintel is a weak form of construction and hence it is suitable up to a span of I mm
with light loading for greater. Spans and slightly heavy
• a) A brick lintel with reinforcement, as shown in fig. 11-41, may be provided.
• b) A steel angle or steel flat bar of length equal to brick lintel, may be provided at the
bottom of lintel. The exposed surfaces of steel angle or steel. Angle or steel flat bar may
be suitably painted so as to make them inconspicuous. )
Brick lintels
• Reinforced brick lintels
• Unreinforced brick lintels
