The materials, physical design, manufacture and allocated load capacity of our lintels are all governed by relevant British and European Norm Standards. ALL our lintels are designed to comply with ALL the following standards where relevant, even our special or custom designed lintels.
We have recently been advised by the standard committee that Duplex Stainless steels including our new LDX2101 are to be formally recognised in the lintel codes! See below for details..
BS EN 845-2:2003 Specification for ancillary components for masonry - Lintels
This is the primary British standard for lintel design, including steel lintels. It applies to all lintels up to a maximum of 4.5 meters in length. Our lintels over this length are designed to meet the (extrapolated) requirements of this standard but also BS 5950-1 & BS5950-5 and are designed in accordance with standard structural engineering practice. We have been advised that duplex stainless steels have recently been accepted into BS EN 845 alongside the established austenitic grades by the presiding standard committee. The updated BS EN 845 is expected to be released in the first half of 2012 once the formal review period is through.
BS EN 845-1:2003 Specification for ancillary components for masonry - Ties, tension straps, hangers and brackets
We often design and supply more than just the lintel, or design the lintel as an integral part of a steel masonry support system. Elements such as brick ties, straps and hangers may attach directly to some of our special lintels, so it is important that the materials match to minimise corrosion, and that our lintel design ensures the other elements remain compliant with BS EN 845-1.
BS 5977-1:1981 Lintels - Method for assessment of load
This is the most important standard with regard to the calculation of load being applied to a lintel. BS5977-1 is used in the lintel specification process when selecting lintels for particular applications, and also when giving examples of loads that could be applied to a given standard lintel.
BS 5977-2:1983 Lintels - Specification for prefabricated lintels
This has now been superseeded by BS EN 845-2:2003, but many manufacturer's lintels were designed to this standard. BS 5977-2 may occasionally be referred to in lintel design.
BS 5950-5:1998 Code of practice for design of cold formed thin gauge sections
This standard is the primary structural steel code to which all our light gauge sections are designed. It is far more applicable to light gauge design than BS449. Calculation guidelines for web buckling, bearing buckling, bending yeild, flange buckling and more are given.
BS 5950-1:2000 Code of practice for design - Rolled and welded sections
This standard is used in conjunction with part 5 where our lintels contain standard structural sections, such as I-Beams, required to carry heavier loads over longer spans.
BS 5628-1:2005 Code of practice for the use of masonry - Structural use of unreinforced masonry
Governs the design of masonry bearings for lintels. We assume that the supported masonry walls are built in accordance with this standard, and where required, be undertake bearing calculations using this standard.
BS 5628-3:2005 Code of practice for the use of masonry - Materials and components, design and workmanship
Our lintels are designed to comply with BS 5628-3 with regard damp control / exclusion of water, movement and structural stability. Unlike concrete lintels, Steel lintels are carefully designed to perform more functions than simply support the masonry, so items such as integrated stop-ends and the slope are designed to meet the water control requirements of BS 5628-3. This standard also implies that buildings over 3 stories high or in coastal or agressive environments must use Austenitic stainless steel lintels for corrosion resistance. LDX 2101 has even higher corrosion resistance.
BS 8215:1991 Design and installation of damp-proof courses in masonry construction
Similar to BS 5628, our stainless steel lintels often provide integral DPC elements, so must also comply with BS8215.
BS 6399-1:1996 Loading for Buildings - Code of practice for dead and imposed loads
BS 6399-2:1997 Loading for Buildings - Code of practice for wind loads
BS 6399-3:1988 Loading for Buildings - Code of practice for imposed roof loads.
These 3 standards are not used for lintel design but are referenced by our technical department when assessing the loads applied to a lintel. |
