Steels and lintels are structural, load bearing components that are installed as a part of structural openings in order to allow for the building to continue upwards above the opening. 

Steels are engineered load bearing components that are typically installed over larger openings, such as those that receive bifold or sliding doors, as well as a part of an engineered detail in a building. These are designed in accordance with the structural requirements of the building and are fabricated by steel companies according to the requirements. They must sit on engineered concrete padstones to provide a structural bearing on the masonry. Steels may also be used on the inside of a building to achieve otherwise impossible feats of construction. In this diagram, we can see a steel that is installed amongst the first floor joists and so is hidden in the floor and ceiling. The steel allows for load bearing masonry to be erected on the first floor of the building, without a wall or footing directly below it on the ground floor. This allows for open plan designs. They are also commonly installed during renovation works to support existing masonry on the first floor when ground floor walls are removed. Steel posts installed on concrete pads are also used in these scenarios to support the steels inside buildings. 

Lintels are more general-purpose load bearing components that are made of steel or reinforced concrete. Precast reinforced single concrete lintels are available off of the shelf in a variety of length and depths, each rated for different loads. These lintels have standardised classifications, so that engineers are easily able to denote a specific size of lintel for use. Whilst concrete lintels can be used inside, as well as outside in scenarios where concrete blocks are present, other solutions are required for face brickwork. In order to support the face brickwork without disrupting it with an ugly concrete lintel, steel “L shaped”, “box”, and cavity wall lintels are used. Each of these styles are fit for a specific purpose, though the common characteristic that they share is the thin external skin lip. Masonry can be erected on top of this lip to allow for an uninterrupted face brickwork appearance. For cavity lintels, the correct depth of lintel must be acquired in relation to the width of the cavity so that the leaves of the lintel do not project past the masonry. Engineered steel above large openings that feature external face brickwork will have an additional plate welded to it to achieve this same effect.  

Shaped lintels are also available in order to create arches above openings. 

During heavy periods of rainfall, especially over the winter months, rainwater absorbs into the external masonry and is able to pass through into the cavity in small quantities. For most places in the building, this is not a problem, as there is no way for the water to penetrate across to the inside skin. Wall ties are designed in a way to prevent the tracking of water across the cavity, and so any moisture that does enter the cavity simply trickles down to the concrete cavity fill below the DPC. That being said, windows and lintels are construction components that physically breach the cavity. Water that trickles down the cavity above a lintel will come down to rest upon it. If proper provisions are not allowed for then this water can sit and potentially breach the internal masonry, or trickle down into the head of the opening. As such, weep vents are installed in the mortar joints of the masonry directly above the lintel. These vents sit on the lip of the lintel in the many of the perp joints between the bricks or blocks allowing any water that does enter the cavity to successfully exit.