Concrete lintels are currently highly popular. In this case, reinforcing is employed to compensate for the concrete’s low malleability. They have evolved in today’s structures. They can handle huge loads and have longer spans. They are kept at a thickness of up to 8 millimeters per meter. Lintels made of RCC can be precast or cast-in-place. When the lintel span is smaller, precast reinforced cement concrete lintels are typically employed. The breadth of the lintel and the wall should be the same. The depth of the lintel is determined by the span length and the magnitude of the load.
Because concrete is weak in tensile stress but robust in compression, primary reinforcement bars are utilized at the bottom to counteract tensile stress. The ends of half of these bars are cranked. Shear stirrups are available to help alleviate shear stress. Cement concrete mortar is typically made by mixing cement, sand, and aggregates in a 1:2:4 ratio. This lintel has a handful of advantages:
- They are durable, rigid and strong.
- The reinforced concrete lintel has fire-resisting properties.
- They are economical and easy in construction.
- The main advantage of the RC lintels is adaptability to suit any size and shape.
Why use Concrete Lintels?
There are good reasons in certain situations why you need to choose concrete lintel instead of other types of lintels.
Cost
The most obvious and compelling reason to specify or choose a concrete lintel is cost. Because concrete is essentially a commodity, a concrete lintel will typically cost the builder or installer significantly less than a steel lintel. We always advise anyone buying and using lintels to learn about load values, but if money is the only consideration, concrete is usually the better option.
Strength
It is not a myth that steel lintels are stronger than concrete; this is generally the case, but it is a little more complicated.
At certain lengths, a high-strength prestressed concrete lintel can typically provide superior supporting properties than a corresponding steel variant while also being significantly less expensive. Before selecting a lintel, it is usually a good idea to consult the load span tables of the lintels or contact the manufacturer’s technical staff.
Thermal Properties
Steel lintels are used with a polystyrene inner to reduce cold bridging in walls. Concrete lintels however, can offer superior thermal properties, and in certain circumstances can almost totally eliminate cold bridging. This can be achieved through the use of a combined steel and concrete lintel, which can be at a much-reduced cost than a thermally broken steel lintel.
Conclusion
As with any structural building component, it is always advisable to consult technical teams and engineers on the most appropriate product to use in the specific situation. Lintels are no different, and our team can advise on the best, most cost-effective solution; be it concrete or any other lintels.