CMA ADDRESSES NEED FOR GREATER CONTROL OF LINTELS:
Article Date: 16 January 2007
 The Concrete Manufacturers Association’s (CMA) Floor Slab division has initiated the formation of a lintel sub-committee to address the need for greater control of South African concrete lintel standards, both in the manufacture of lintels and their usage. The committee comprises CMA floor slab members, the Cement and Concrete Institute (C&CI), lintel manufacturers and structural engineers.
CMA director John Cairns, says although a SABS lintel standard, SANS 1540, does exist, no manufacturer holds the mark.
“The current situation is a free-for-all in which any lintel appears to match any application. This hit and miss approach has resulted in high incidence of lintel failure which in turn leads to injury and potential loss of life.
“We have found lintels sagging away from the brickwork and in some instances we even seen gaps between the two. In such cases the brick course must do the job of the lintel. Should there be insufficient brick courses above the lintel and inadequate reinforcing between each course, the whole structure can collapse.
“The only way to rectify the situation is for lintel manufacturers and the construction industry to operate to a single standard. Furthermore, we believe the current SABS standard needs revision and we are working with half a dozen manufacturers towards this end.
“The committee is currently analyzing various lintels produced by these manufacturers and once this process is completed it will begin drafting recommendations on the revision of the current SABS standard,” comments Cairns.
CAPTION -1
A typical example of a lintel bearing a load in excess of its carrying capacity.
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