Concrete Lintels
(22 Products)Prestressed concrete lintels utilise high-tensile steel reinforcement to support heavy structural loads across masonry openings. Featuring a textured finish for effective mortar and plaster bonding, these beams are essential for maintaining stability in brick and blockwork walls.
Understanding Concrete Lintels
Concrete lintels serve as the primary horizontal structural support across openings in masonry walls, transferring overhead loads to the surrounding fabric. This specific inventory consists entirely of prestressed units, a manufacturing process where high-tensile steel wires are tensioned prior to casting. This induces compressive stress within the concrete, increasing the beam's resistance to bending and allowing for high load capacities relative to the cross-sectional size.
Unlike smooth-finish alternatives, these lintels feature a textured surface. This roughness is intentional, designed to provide a mechanical key that improves the bond strength of mortar, plaster, or render. This ensures that the lintel integrates seamlessly with the wall finish, reducing the risk of hairline cracks at material junctions.
Material Range
- 65mm Coursing Lintels (Planks): Low-profile units designed to match the height of a standard brick course (65mm). These are ideal for maintaining continuous coursing without cutting bricks. The range includes widths of 100mm, 140mm, and 215mm to suit various wall thicknesses, including standard cavity leaves and solid 9-inch walls.
- Heavy Duty Rectangular Lintels: Deeper profile units, such as the 100mm x 140mm section, designed for applications requiring higher load capacities. These stockier beams offer increased resistance to bending and are typically used where the span or the load above exceeds the capacity of a standard 65mm plank.
Performance Benefits
- High Strength-to-Weight Ratio: The prestressed manufacturing process ensures high resistance to shear and bending forces, allowing for reliable support over various span lengths up to 3000mm.
- Effective Bonding: A textured finish runs across the surface of these lintels, maximising the grip for wet finishes such as mortar bedding and plaster.
- Fire Resistance: Concrete composition provides inherent non-combustible properties, maintaining structural integrity during fire events without the need for additional treatment.
Typical Applications
- Internal Blockwork Walls: Bridging doorways and openings in standard partition walls where plaster finish is required.
- Cavity Wall Inner Leaves: Acting as the load-bearing component for the inner leaf of masonry, often supporting floor joists or roof trusses.
- Direct Coursing: Using 65mm high units to align perfectly with brick courses, or stacking units to match standard 215mm block courses.
Specification & Standards
- BS EN 845-2: Specification for ancillary components for masonry - Lintels.
- BS EN 206: Concrete specification, performance, production, and conformity.
Related Materials and Construction Uses
Prestressed concrete lintels are designed to work in unison with dense and lightweight aggregate blocks. For spans carrying concentrated heavy loads, they should be installed on padstones to prevent masonry crushing at the bearing ends. To ensure a consistent finish, these textured units are compatible with standard sand and cement mortar mixes and gypsum-based plasters.
Frequently Asked Concrete Lintels Questions
How Should a Concrete Lintel be Installed?
Installation of a concrete lintel involves placing it on temporary supports, ensuring it is level and aligned, and then securing it with mortar or concrete.
The lintel must be cured before any load is applied.
It’s crucial to follow engineering specifications and local building codes during installation.
Are There Any Maintenance Requirements for Concrete Lintels?
Concrete lintels generally require minimal maintenance. However, it’s important to periodically check for signs of damage, such as cracks or spalling.
Any issues should be addressed promptly to prevent structural problems. Ensuring sufficient drainage around the lintel can also help prolong its lifespan.
What Are Fair-Faced Lintels?
These are concrete lintels designed with a smooth, aesthetically pleasing finish that can be left exposed, eliminating the need for plastering or rendering. They are often used in modern designs or where a raw, industrial look is preferred.
Can Concrete Lintels Be Cut or Modified On-Site? What Happens If They're Damaged?
Generally, concrete lintels should not be cut or modified on-site. This is especially true for pre-stressed lintels, where cutting can release the internal tensioning wires, severely compromising their load-bearing capacity and potentially leading to catastrophic failure.
Even with reinforced lintels, cutting can expose the steel reinforcement to corrosion and weaken the overall structure.
If a lintel arrives damaged or is found to be cracked during installation, it must be replaced. A damaged lintel cannot reliably carry its intended load and poses a significant safety risk. Always order the correct size to avoid the temptation to cut.
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