Masonry Support and Lintels

Masonry supports and lintels carry the weight of brickwork and blockwork above openings and at floor levels.
Steel lintels, angles, and masonry support systems are heavy items requiring manual handling controls.
Incorrect installation including wrong bearing lengths or missing fixings can cause structural collapse.
Lintels must be the correct size, type, and orientation as specified on the structural drawings.
Propping may be required during installation until the lintel or support is fully loaded and secured.
Working at height is often needed to position lintels above window and door openings.
Masonry support angles at floor levels transfer significant loads to the structural frame.
Thermal breaks and DPC trays must be correctly detailed at masonry support locations.
Building control inspection may be required at critical lintel and support installation stages.
Failure of a masonry support system can cause sudden collapse of large areas of brickwork.

Structural collapse	Incorrect lintel or support installation can cause the masonry above to collapse, endangering workers and building occupants.
Manual handling	Steel lintels and support angles are heavy and awkward, causing back and shoulder injuries during installation.
Design compliance	Using the wrong lintel size or type invalidates the structural design and building warranty.

Do

Don't

Check the structural drawings to confirm lintel type, size, and orientation before installation
Verify adequate bearing length at each end as specified by the engineer
Use mechanical aids or team lifting for heavy steel lintels and support angles
Install temporary propping where required until the masonry above is complete
Ensure masonry support fixings are installed at the specified centres and torque values
Fit thermal breaks and DPC trays correctly at all masonry support locations
Use safe working platforms for positioning lintels at height above openings
Request building control inspection at critical masonry support stages
Store lintels flat on bearers to prevent bending, twisting, or damage
Brief bricklayers on the correct lintel for each opening before they begin

DON'T install lintels upside down or back to front — check orientation markings
DON'T reduce the specified bearing length to fit around services or other elements
DON'T lift heavy lintels manually without a handling assessment and team assistance
DON'T build masonry above a lintel before confirming it is correctly positioned and fixed
DON'T omit temporary propping where the design requires it during construction
DON'T substitute a different lintel type or size without structural engineer approval
DON'T leave masonry support angle fixings incomplete or at incorrect spacings
DON'T omit thermal breaks or DPC trays — they are part of the structural detail
DON'T stack lintels where they could fall and injure passing workers
DON'T conceal masonry supports before any required inspection has taken place

See also: Bricklaying Safety | Building Works Safety Awareness

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