What is Lintel in Construction?
Understanding its Types and Functionality

In construction, numerous components come together to create solid and enduring structures. From the foundation to the roof, each element plays a vital role in ensuring stability and longevity. Among these crucial components, the lintel stands tall as an unsung hero, providing essential support and structural integrity to openings such as doors, windows, and archways. Let's learn more about what is lintel and its types.
 

What is lintel in construction?

A lintel, in its simplest form, can be defined as a horizontal beam that spans on opening, effectively distributing the weight of the structure above it to the surrounding vertical supports. Its significance lies in its ability to bear the load, prevent sagging, and preserve the overall strength of the building.

• 1) Wood Lintels

• Wood lintels are the oldest type of lintels and their use is persistent in areas where timber is abundantly available. However, their usage is limited due to fire susceptibility, decay, and termite vulnerability. There are two main types of wooden lintels: single-piece timber lintels (for smaller spans) and multiple pieces held by bolts (for larger spans). Ideally, the choice of timber (teak, sal, rosewood) and its depth and width should all be considered when considering using wooden lintels.
  

• 2) Stone Lintels

• Stone lintels have been employed for centuries and continue to showcase their durability and aesthetic appeal in various construction projects. Stone lintels are particularly prevalent in regions with an abundance of natural and different types of stones. These robust lintels offer strength, longevity, and a timeless charm to architectural designs. There are a few things to consider when choosing stone lintels:-.
  

1.  Stone lintels are significantly heavier than other types of lintels, requiring careful structural planning and support

2. Stone lintels can be more expensive compared to other options

3. Stone lintels may have limitations in terms of span capacity and must be calculated accurately prior

4. Installing stone lintels can be more labour-intensive and time-consuming compared to other lintel types

• 3) Brick lintels

• Brick lintels offer a versatile and commonly used option for spanning openings in construction. They are particularly popular due to the widespread availability of bricks and their compatibility with brick masonry structures. Brick lintels provide structural support, aesthetic appeal, and ease of installation, making them a practical choice in many building projects.
  
  
• When choosing brick lintels for your construction project, here are some key pointers to keep in mind:

1. Opt for high brick quality that is durable, strong, and free from defects. 

2. Consider the anticipated loads and span requirements of the lintels. 

3. Ensure that the type and size of the bricks used for the lintels are compatible with the surrounding brickwork in terms of colour, texture, and dimensions.

4) Reinforced Brick Lintels

Reinforced brick lintels offer an enhanced level of strength and load-bearing capacity compared to traditional brick lintels. The process of constructing reinforced brick lintels involves placing the reinforcement within the brickwork. This reinforcement provides additional tensile strength, which is crucial for withstanding heavy loads and preventing cracking or failure. The reinforcement is carefully positioned and securely embedded in the mortar joints to ensure proper bonding and structural integrity.

5) Concrete Lintels

Concrete lintels are widely used in construction due to their exceptional strength, durability, and versatility. They can be categorized into two main types: plain concrete lintels and reinforced concrete lintels.

• 1) Plain Concrete Lintels

• Plain concrete lintels refer to lintels that are made solely of concrete without any additional reinforcement. They are typically used for smaller spans and lighter loads where the self-weight and compressive strength of the concrete are sufficient to support the required loads.
  
  

• 2) Reinforced Concrete Lintels

Reinforced concrete lintels incorporate steel reinforcement within the concrete to enhance their load-bearing capacity and structural performance. They are capable of spanning larger openings and supporting heavier loads. Reinforced concrete lintels can be further divided into two subtypes:

• 1. Precast Lintels

• Precast lintels are produced in standardized sizes and shapes, allowing for efficient production and quick installation. They offer consistent quality, dimensional accuracy, and can be customized with various finishes as per project requirements.
  
  

• 2. Cast-in-situ Lintels

Cast-in situ lintels are made on site, where a reinforcement is placed within formwork, and concrete is poured to create the lintel structure. They offer flexibility in design and style and versatility in complex or unique construction situations and can be integrated seamlessly with the surrounding elements.

6) Steel Lintels

Reinforced brick lintels offer an enhanced level of strength and load-bearing capacity compared to traditional brick lintels. The process of constructing reinforced brick lintels involves placing the reinforcement within the brickwork. This reinforcement provides additional tensile strength, which is crucial for withstanding heavy loads and preventing cracking or failure. The reinforcement is carefully positioned and securely embedded in the mortar joints to ensure proper bonding and structural integrity.

• 1) Standard cavity steel lintels

• Standard cavity steel lintels are designed for use in cavity wall constructions. They consist of a horizontal steel beam with a cavity tray that helps manage moisture within the wall. These lintels are suitable for applications where an insulated cavity is present, providing support for the inner and outer leaves of the wall while maintaining thermal efficiency.
  
  

• 2) Short outer leaf steel lintels

Short outer leaf steel lintels are used when the outer leaf of a wall is shorter in height compared to the inner leaf. These lintels provide support specifically for the outer leaf, ensuring structural integrity and proper load distribution. They are typically used in situations where the outer leaf needs to be accommodated, such as in facade designs or architectural features.
 

• 3) Wide inner leaf steel lintels

• Wide inner leaf steel lintels are designed to support the inner leaf of a cavity wall that is wider than the outer leaf. These lintels are used when the inner leaf requires additional load-bearing capacity or when there is a need to accommodate thicker insulation or services within the wall. They ensure proper support and stability for the wider inner leaf while maintaining the integrity of the wall structure.
  
  

• 4) Wide outer leaf steel lintels

Wide outer leaf steel lintels are used when the outer leaf of a cavity wall is wider than the inner leaf. These lintels provide support for the wider outer leaf, ensuring structural stability and load distribution. They are commonly employed in architectural designs that require wider external walls or when additional space is needed for aesthetic or functional purposes.

7) Specialist Lintels

Specialist lintels are engineered products designed to address specific construction requirements and challenges. They are built to meet the demands of modern construction methods. These lintels are available in different materials, each with a unique set of properties and benefits. They offer features such as thermal insulation, fire resistance, sound insulation, and structural support, catering to specific project requirements.

8) Cavity Lintels

Cavity lintels are a specific type of lintel designed for use in cavity wall constructions. These lintels are used to span the openings in the wall while accommodating the cavity between the inner and outer leaves of the wall. Cavity lintels are typically made of materials such as steel or concrete and are specifically designed to provide support for both the inner and outer leaves of the wall. One of the key features of cavity lintels is the presence of a cavity tray. This tray acts as a barrier, preventing moisture from penetrating into the cavity and causing damage to the wall. When selecting cavity lintels, it is important to consider factors such as the type of wall construction, and load requirements and also consider consulting with structural engineers.
 

Function of lintels

The function of a lintel in construction is crucial to ensure the stability, support, and structural integrity of the building.

1) Load support

Acting as horizontal beams, lintels bear the load from the masonry or structural elements above the openings such as doors, windows, and ventilators.

2) Structural stability

Lintels resist tension, compression, and shear forces acting on them, ensuring the overall strength and stability of the wall or structure.