CONCEALED LINTEL SYSTEMS FOR BRICK

Halfen Anchoring Systems Provider # J814

by Meadow Burke Products
P. O. Box 547
Course # LIN001
Converse, TX 78109 Learning Credits 1.0

www.halfenusa.com
“HALFEN ANCHORING SYSTEMS” is a Registered Provider with
The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems.
Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to
CES Records for AIA Members. Certificates for completion for
non AIA Members available upon Request.

This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional

registration. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed
or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any
material or construction or any method or manner of handling, using,
distributing or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to
specific materials, methods and services should be directed to the
program instructor.
Copyright Materials
This presentation is protected by US and
International copyright laws. Reproduction,
distribution, display and use of the
presentation without written permission of
the speaker is prohibited.
© HALFEN ANCHORING SYSTEMS
2006
 Learning Objectives
After this program, participants will:
• Understand the benefits and advantages of 2
different Concealed Lintel Systems for brick

• Understand the “space requirements” needed to

install the 2 different Concealed Lintel Systems

• Understand the masonry opening and soffit size

limitations and conditions

• Be able to design and detail an “all brick” soffit

to enhance the look, safety and maintenance of
buildings
Masonry Anchoring Systems
Shelf Angle Supports – toothed anchor
to be embedded in concrete

• Vertical channel allows up –

Toothed Anchor Channel
down adjustment

Rotate
• Toothed anchor channel used
with toothed tee bolt achieves
Insert
positive mechanical connection

Toothed T-Bolt

• Slotting the shelf angle also

allows left – right adjustment
Masonry Anchoring Systems
Brick Shelf Angle – Typical Application using
Adjustable Toothed Anchor embedded in concrete

Toothed embed allows angle iron to be placed in the correct

location to match the mortar joints
Masonry Veneer Anchoring
Systems
• Masonry veneer restraint
system
• Wind load and seismic load
rated
• Works on steel studs, wood
studs, concrete & masonry
block
• Anchors available in 4 sizes
to accommodate different
gaps
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine/Horseshoe Plate System – Stack Bond
Concealed Lintel Systems
Channel / Custom Bracket – Running Bond
 Concealed Lintel Systems
ADVANTAGES:
• Allows for all brick soffits –
no exposed steel – no
maintenance

• Accommodates unlimited
combinations and designs

• Engineered to fit architect’s

specified openings

• Shop drawings & calculations

provided for each opening

• Field Adjustable

• State Stamp is available

Concealed Lintel Systems
Design Samples
Flat Arch – Wide Masonry Opening
Concealed Lintel Systems
Design Samples
Flat Arch – Spine System hung from structure
Concealed Lintel Systems
Design Samples
Gothic Arch – Spine System
Concealed Lintel Systems
Design Samples
Half Arch – Spine System
Concealed Lintel Systems
Design Samples
Jack Arch – 22’ Masonry Opening – 24” Soffit
Custom Channel Bracket System
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Design Samples
Section View – Jack Arch Channel Bracket System

Channel / Custom Channel w/ tee

Bracket Design allows bolts & nuts
the bracket to be
rotated to match the Angle Iron
mortar joints in a
Jack Arch design.

Custom Bracket

Stitching Rods
(overlap at every
bracket)
Concealed Lintel Systems
Design Samples
Radiused Jack Arch – Spine System – 28” Soffit
Concealed Lintel Systems
Design Samples
Section View of Radiused Jack Arch Design
Concealed Lintel Systems
Design Samples
“Eyebrow” Radiused Arch – Spine System
Concealed Lintel Systems
Design Samples
Elliptical Arch – Combination System
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Design Samples
Low Rise Arch – Channel Embedded in Concrete
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
COMPONENTS:
• Load Bearing Spines
Horseshoe plates
Stitching
• End Support Brackets Rods

• Horseshoe Plates

Spine
• Stitching Rods
End
Supports
• Mid Span Supports
(as required)
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
MATERIALS

• Manufactured from carbon steel and then Hot Dip

Galvanized or from Type 304 Stainless Steel

• Standard spines and end supports for spine system are

manufactured from 3/8” thick material

• Horseshoe plates are made from 3/16” thick material with

notches to allow the plates to fit over the spine. Holes
are then punched to match the specified brick cores
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Concealed Lintel Types – Double Soldier Course

Double
Horseshoe Plate Soldier
Stitching Rods
Course
Lintel

Spine

End Supports
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Concealed Lintel Types – Triple Soldier Course
Alternating
Horseshoe
Plates

Triple Soldier
Stitching Rods Course Lintel
Spine

Stitching Rods

Spine

End Supports
1st, 4th, 7th, etc. 2nd, 5th, 8th, etc.
Mortar Joint Mortar Joint
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Concealed Lintel Types - Four Soldier Course
Stitching Rods
Horseshoe
Plates

Four Soldier
Course Lintel
Spine
Horseshoe
All Thread Plates

Stitching Rods
End
Supports
Spine
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Concealed Lintel Types–Soldier/Rowlock/Soldier

Stitching Rods

Composite 16"
Horseshoe Wide Lintel
Plates

Stitching Rods

Spine
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Concealed Lintel Type-Soldier, Dbl.Rowlock, Soldier
Horseshoe Plates

Stitching Rods

Spine Composite 24"

Wide Lintel

End Supports
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Concealed Lintel Types - Arched 24” Soffit
Stitching Rods

Horseshoe Plates

Composite 24"
Arched Spine
Arched Lintel

Arched Spine

End Supports

30
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Custom Design
Concealed Lintel Types – Single Soldier Course

Stitching Rods
Horseshoe Plate
Single Soldier
Course Lintel

Angle Iron

Custom End Supports

 Concealed Lintel Systems
Single Soldier
Special Design issues regarding a single soldier soffit
• All the weight of the brick is on one side
of the spine or angle

• Because of the “twisting” the free span

distance is normally 4’ instead of 8’

• To counter the “twisting” problem, mid

span supports are required every 4’

• When using angle iron, custom end

supports are also required

• Air Gap – Engineered systems require a

minimum of 4” to allow room for angle
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Single Soldier
Options when designing a single soldier soffit

• If the structure does require a 4” soffit, the best option is for an angle iron or tube steel to
be provided by the structural steel supplier. Channel is then welded to the bottom of the
angle iron or to the side or bottom of the tube steel. Custom brackets are then provided that
will carry the 4” brick soffit. When this design is used a large amount of brick veneer can be
carried by the system.
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine System
Elevation View – Arched Opening – Mid Span Supports

Mid Span Support welded to structural component, every 8’ across opening

Arched spines burnt to

specified radius

End Supports-sit on brick veneer

 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Mid-Span Support

• Openings over 8’ wide

will require a mid span
support

• The structural beam

must be able to help
support the brick soffit

• On wide openings, make

sure there are no studs
or sheathing installed
prior to installing the
concealed lintel
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Mid-Span Support

Mid Span Supports are either welded to a structural component

or embedded in a concrete member over the masonry opening.
Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Mid-Span Support

• Mid span supports are then

connected to the spines. All
thread connects the “top”
bracket to the bracket at the
spine.

• All thread also is used to stabilize

and connect the spines.

• This design of using all thread at

the mid spans and at the
connections allows for adjustments
in the field due to steel locations or
variances in brick sizes.
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Mid-Span Support – Section View

Mid Span welded to angle iron

Minimum clearance
of 12” required
from bottom of
structural component
Mid Span Support Assy
to bottom of brick
(modular brick size)

Spines All thread connects &

Six Soldier Lintel Course Stabilizes the spines
Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Staggered Horseshoe Plates / Stitching Rods
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Horseshoe plate – Section View

Horseshoe plates at Horseshoe plates at

every 1st, 4th, 7th, every 2nd, 5th, 8th,
10th mortar joint,etc 11th mortar joint, etc.

Stitching Rods-overlap at
every horseshoe plate
Spines Spines
3 soldier brick / 1 stretcher / 3 soldier brick
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
End Support Layout – Section View

All Thread –Connecting

& Stabilizing Spines

End Supports
Long & Short
Bolts & Nuts
Attaching spines
To end supports
Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
End Supports sitting on Brick Veneer
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Channel / Bracket
EMBEDDED DESIGN
• Channel / bracket design used
for openings with small clearance

• Channel(s) with I anchors are

embedded in concrete beam or Anchor
slab. Custom bracket is attached Channel

to channel with tee bolt & nut

Horseshoe
• Custom brackets are designed to Bracket

work on any soffit design

Stitching Rods
• Custom brackets are designed to
be installed every 3 brick course
with stitching rods overlapping
at every bracket
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Channel / Bracket
Channel Embedded in precast or poured in place concrete
Concealed Lintel Systems
Channel / Bracket
WELDED DESIGN
• Channel is provided that can be welded to
any steel structural member

• Custom brackets are designed to work

with any soffit design

• Custom brackets are attached to the

channel with tee bolts and nuts

• Custom brackets are normally installed

every 3 brick course with stitching rods
overlapping at every bracket
Concealed Lintel Systems
Channel / Bracket
Channel welded to structural steel component
Concealed Lintel Systems
Channel / Bracket
Channel can be rolled to radius required
 Brick Veneer
Dead Load Support
Engineered Concealed Lintel Systems are capable
of supporting dead load of the brick veneer
• Most Engineered Spine designs are capable of supporting 6’ to
8’ of brick veneer – wide openings will use mid span supports
and will support greater amounts of brick veneer.
• Engineered Channel Bracket designs will usually be able to
support a greater amount of brick veneer
• No Structural steel framework is required to support the
Concealed Lintel System

• Brick VeneerSupport Angles do not need to be installed “close”

to the lintel.

• Framework or studs are still required for the lateral Load

 Concealed Lintel Systems
Combination
This “custom” design used both the spine system and the
channel bracket system
Horseshoe Plat e
St it ching Rods
Concret e Beam

Spine
Anchor Channel Cast
Tee-Bolt Nut & Washer Int o Concret e Beam
St eel Beams
Of f set Bracket
Anchor Channel
Welded t o Beam Tee-Bolt Nut & Washer
Cored St andard Brick
Bracket
Sof t Joint
Spine, Horseshoe Plat e
& St it ching Rods
Combination System
 Channel / Bracket Design
Channel welded to I beam / custom bracket

Stitching Rods – overlap

at every custom bracket

Custom Bracket
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine System
Installation Instructions:
• Minimum of 12” clearance
required from bottom of
structural component to the
bottom of the brick soffit

• Formwork is required and

can be installed prior to the
installation of spines or after

• Formwork is to remain in
place until mortar is cured.

• Spines are installed approx.

¾” above the formwork
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Installation
The Spine System is a “Dead Load” Design

The engineered design of a spine

system eliminates most of the “thrust
loading” associated with the “old”
arch designs.

• End supports are designed to

sit on the brick veneer
• Most components are bolted
together allowing for field
adjustments
• All Thread at end supports
allow for adjustment due to
brick variances
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Installation
• Mid span supports are engineered to help support the brick soffit and to stabilize the pine
design & are normally installed at 8’ intervals across wide openings.
• The mid span supports must be positioned properly over the spines prior to attachment to
the structural component

Minimum of 12”
clearance from
structure to
bottom of brick
Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Installation
• Engineered Shop Drawings
will detail the placement of the
horseshoe plates
• Normally a horseshoe plate is
placed in the first mortar joint &
then in every 3rd mortar joint
• In wide soffits, horseshoe plates
are placed in alternating joints
(1st & 2nd) and then in every 3rd
mortar joint (4th & 5th) etc
• When working around mid span
supports, the horseshoe plates
are sometimes required to be
placed at every 2 mortar joints
to avoid interference issues
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Installation

• Concealed lintel designs

require cored brick

• Solid brick must be drilled

or fabricated with a minimum
of 2 core holes

• Brick core holes that receive

stitching rods must be filled
with mortar

• Stitching rods are designed

to overlap at every
horseshoe plate
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Spine Design
Installation

• Formwork must stay in place

until mortar has cured

• After mortar has cured, the

formwork is removed and the
exposed bottom joints are
tuck pointed to give the brick
soffit a “finished” look.
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Channel Bracket Design
Installation Instructions
• Engineered Channel Size is welded to
a structural component.
• On Arched openings, the channel is
rolled to match the radius of the steel
• Engineered shop drawings will detail the
placement of the channel

• On buildings with concrete structural

components, engineered channel is
provided with I anchors attached

• Nail holes in channel allow for easy

attachment to form work

• Engineered shop drawings will detail

the placement of embeds in formwork
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Channel Bracket Design
Installation Instructions
• Formwork is required on
Channel systems also
• Engineered tee bolts are
inserted into the channel
• Custom Brackets are then
attached to the tee bolts
with nuts.
• Nuts can be left “loose” so
the bracket can slide along
the channel and be inserted
every 3rd mortar joint
• When the brackets are in
the correct location, the
nuts should be “snug tight”
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Channel Bracket Design
Installation Instructions

• This application shows a channel

bracket system used in a Jack
Arch application

• The custom bracket can be

adjusted to the correct angle
and then the nut is tightened
 Concealed Lintel Systems
Channel Bracket Design
Installation Instructions
• As in all Engineered Concealed Lintel Designs, once the formwork is
removed, the exposed joints will be tuck pointed to give the desired
finished look on the right
 Specifying Concealed Lintel
Systems
Part 1: General

• Adjustable concealed lintel systems designed to carry brick

soffit and veneer ONLY!!

• Engineered specifically for each unique opening and

provided with detailed shop drawings

• Should be manufactured by fabricator with at least

five years of experience in manufacture of anchoring

• Calculations are provided for each opening and a

State Stamp is available if required
 Specifying Concealed Lintel
Systems
Part 2: Products

• Material is provided in Hot Dipped Galvanized or Type

304 Stainless Steel

• Material is shipped “knocked down” to minimize freight

damage and lower the freight costs

• Field Welding (on channel or mid span supports) should

be performed by a certified welder

• Bolted System allows for adjustment due to field

variances
 Specifying Concealed Lintel
Systems
Part 3: Execution / Installation

• Verify site conditions, dimensions, tolerances and method

of attachment prior to installation

• System should be installed plumb and level, accurately

fitted and free from distortion or defects

• Provisions shall be made for placement in masonry to

maintain true alignment until completion of brick installation
 Custom Design
Rolled Angle, Custom Brackets
 Custom Design
Rolled Angle, Custom Brackets
 Jack Arch
with Deep Soffit
 Custom Design
for High-End Residence
 12’ x 24’ Flat Arch
Channel/Bracket, Running Bond
 Cast in Place
Channel Embeds
 Parking Garage
Channel / Bracket
Gothic Arch
Spine Design
 Concealed Lintel
Channel / Bracket Design
 Half Arch
Channel Bracket
Concealed Lintel
Spine Design
Palladian Arch
Spine Design
“Eyebrow” Arch
Spine Design
Running Arches
Spine Design
Thank you for Attending
This concludes the American Institute of Architects
Continuing Education System Program

(800) 423-9140
www.halfenusa.com Converse, TX 78109