Concrete Masonry Lintel Design – A Practical Guide Using the CMHA/BDC Design Manual

Speaker: Jason Thompson, Coltivomae

A joint effort between the Concrete Masonry Hardscapes Association and the Block Design Collective, the new Concrete Masonry Lintel Design Manual provides engineers and design professionals with a practical resource for designing reinforced concrete masonry lintels. This seminar introduces the manual’s organization, design methodology, and pre-engineered tables while reviewing load distribution, allowable stress and strength design, reinforcement requirements, and code provisions from TMS 402/602. Through worked design examples, participants will gain confidence applying the manual to efficiently design safe, economical, and code-compliant masonry lintels.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain the role of reinforced concrete masonry lintels in supporting wall openings and identify the design approaches permitted by TMS 402/602, including allowable stress and strength design.
2. Apply the procedures presented in the CMHA Concrete Masonry Lintel Design Manual to determine loads, reinforcement, shear, flexure, and deflection requirements for common masonry lintel applications.
3. Utilize the manual’s design examples, reference formulas, and pre-engineered design tables to streamline the design process and improve efficiency.
4. Evaluate reinforced concrete masonry lintel designs for compliance with applicable code requirements while selecting practical, economical solutions for a variety of construction conditions.