What is Lintel? Types of Lintel and Uses in Building

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What is Lintel?

A lintel is a beam placed across the openings like doors, windows etc. in buildings to support the load from the structure above. The width of lintel beam is equal to the width of wall, and the ends of it is built into the wall. Lintels are classified based on their material of construction.

Horizontal lintels are easy to construct as compared to arches.

Bearing of Lintel

The bearing provided should be the minimum of following 3 cases.

1. 10 cm
2. Height of beam
3. 1/10^th to 1/12^th of span of the lintel.

Types of Lintel used in Building Construction

Lintels are classified based on the material of construction as:

1. Timber Lintel

In olden days of construction, Timber lintels were mostly used. But now a days they are replaced by several modern techniques, however in hilly areas these are using. The main disadvantages with timber are more cost and less durable and vulnerable to fire.

If the length of opening is more, then it is provided by joining multiple number of wooden pieces with the help of steel bolts which was shown in fig (a). In case of wider walls, it is composed of two wooden pieces kept at a distance with the help of packing pieces made of wood. Sometimes, these are strengthened by the provision of mild steel plates at their top and bottom, called as flitched lintels.

2. Stone Lintel

These are the most common type, especially where stone is abundantly available. The thickness of these are most important factor of its design. These are also provided over the openings in brick walls. Stone lintel is provided in the form of either one single piece or more than one piece.

The depth of this type is kept equal to 10 cm / meter of span, with a minimum value of 15 cm. They are used up to spans of 2 meters. In the structure is subjected to vibratory loads, cracks are formed in the stone lintel because of its weak tensile nature. Hence caution is needed.

3. Brick Lintel

These are used when the opening is less than 1m and lesser loads are acting. Its depth varies from 10 cm to 20 cm, depending up on the span. Bricks with frogs are more suitable than normal bricks because frogs when filled with mortar gives more shear resistance of end joints which is known as joggled brick lintel.

4. Reinforced Brick Lintel

These are used when loads are heavy and span is greater than 1m. The depth of reinforced brick lintel should be equal to 10 cm or 15 cm or multiple of 10 cm. the bricks are so arranged that 2 to 3 cm wide space is left length wise between adjacent bricks for the insertion of mild steel bars as reinforcement. 1:3 cement mortar is used to fill up the gaps.

Vertical stirrups of 6 mm diameter are provided in every 3^rd vertical joint. Main reinforcement is provided at the bottom consists 8 to 10 mm diameter bars, which are cranked up at the ends.

5. Steel Lintel

These are used when the superimposed loads are heavy and openings are large.  These consist of channel sections or rolled steel joists. We can use one single section or in combinations depending up on the requirement.

When used singly, the steel joist is either embedded in concrete or cladded with stone facing to keep the width same as width of wall. When more than one units are placed side by side, they are kept in position by tube separators.

6. Reinforced Cement Concrete Lintel

At present, the lintel made of reinforced concrete are widely used to span the openings for doors, windows, etc. in a structure because of their strength, rigidity, fire resistance, economy and ease in construction. These are suitable for all the loads and for any span. The width is equal to width of wall and depth depends on length of span and magnitude of loading.

Main reinforcement is provided at the bottom and half of these bars are cranked at the ends. Shear stirrups are provided to resist transverse shear as shown in fig.

R.C.C lintel over a window with projection is displayed in below fig.

R.C.C boot lintels are provided over cavity walls. These will give good appearance and economical. A flexible D.P.C is provided above as shown in fig.

FAQs

Read More:

Types of Design Loads for Masonry Lintel with Calculations

Types of Openings in Walls, its Parts and Types of Lintels and Arches for Openings

Bond Beam Block vs. Lintel Block Differences