Lintel

Lintels are structural beams that carry loads over an opening such as a door, window, or HVAC penetration. Reinforced masonry lintels are usually the most convenient. Masonry lintels may be 1 or more courses tall, with horizontal reinforcement grouted in place. Use special lintel units (u-shaped, with a solid base) where the bottom of the lintel will be exposed in service. Loose steel lintels (angles, T-sections, wide-flange sections, or channels with base plates) may also be used to support masonry over an opening.

• Typical Lintel Configurations
• How to Design Reinforced Masonry Lintels

Reinforced CMU vs. Loose Steel Lintel

Reinforced masonry lintels are inherently fireproof and provide a uniform appearance once in place. Masonry lintels will have to be shored, however, until the grout has gained enough strength to resist applied loads. Steel lintels require no shoring, but can interfere with jamb steel in reinforced masonry construction where the lintel bears on each side of the opening. Steel lintels must be fire-proofed and have Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures reported by the Masonry Standards Joint Committee (MSJC). Loose steel lintels are usually a better choice to support thin veneers; reinforced masonry lintels are often used in load-bearing walls.

• Corrosion Protection Miscellaneous Steel in Masonry
• Precast Concrete Lintels for Concrete Masonry Construction
• Structural Steel Lintels

Horizontal Reinforcement, Design Tables

• Reinforced Brick Masonry - Beams
• Structural Steel Lintels
• Precast Lintels for Concrete Masonry Construction

Companies Offering Lintels

Company	City	State
Espinoza Stone, Inc.	Jarrell	TX
Hohmann and Barnard, Inc.	Hauppauge	NY
Indiana Limestone Fabricators	Spencer	IN
ACME BRICK COMPANY	FORT WORTH	TX
Ernest Maier, Inc.	Bladensburg	MD
Mutual Materials Company	Bellevue	WA
South Atlantic Masonry Products	Chattanooga	TN
York Building Products Co., Inc.	Shrewsbury	PA
Acme Brick Company	Euless	TX
Block-Lite Co. Inc.	Flagstaff	AZ
Continental Cut Stone	Florence	TX
ORCO Block & Hardscape	Stanton	CA
Thompson Building Materials, Inc.	San Diego	CA
Tucker-Kirby Co.	Charlotte	NC