How to Avoid Steel Lintels Twisting During Installation
At Keystone Lintels we understand the importance of structural stability when it comes to steel lintels. In our latest video we demonstrate how steel lintels which are open at the bottom can be prone to twisting under unequal loading conditions during the installation process.
In cavity wall construction there tends to be significantly more weight placed on the inner leaf of the lintel due to floor loads and roof loads which creates an imbalance on the lintel flange and as a result, open bottom lintels can be prone to twisting which can have a detrimental effect on the lintel.
To avoid this twisting effect, other manufacturers recommend propping the lintel however this can be time consuming, expensive and a precarious practice.
Keystone’s steel lintels however, are specially designed with a steel plate on the underside of the lintel providing superior structural stability to avoid twisting of the lintel during installation.
Keystone’s patented design enhances the structural performance of the lintel without compromising the thermal performance. The innovative thermal break plate features intermittent tabs that connect the other leaf to the inner leaf resulting in a 90% reduction in thermal bridging.
This simple yet brilliant innovation significantly reduces thermal bridging while adding vast improvements to the structural integrity of the lintel.