"mike" wrote in message
...
Does anyone know if a 3.5 inch angle iron over a 12 foot span is
adequate to support 8 foot of brick wall above?

A 12 foot wide picture window was replaced in a cavity gable wall,
with the result that the outer skin of the wall started to collapse.
There's a lintel on the inner wall but the outer wall was just built
off the original frame.

The collapsed part of the wall was taken down, the angle iron
installed (I didn't see it installed but I'm calculating it's 3.5
inches as it's not the full width of the brick but the outer edge is
visible), and the brickwork rebuilt.

It wasn't inspected by BCO.

To me it looks like there's a noticeable bow in the middle.

I can see why angle iron would be used so as not to disturb the inner
skin, but it seems quite a long span, and that some sort of U-shaped
construction on its side that would allow two or three courses of
bricks to be built within the U would be required. How is the weight
of the roof factored in?

Is there a table or calculator online that deals with this? And
should it be BCO inspected?

Unless it's an inch thick or more angle iron is pretty much useless for an
unsupported span as long as that. You need a box section, H section or other
solid geometric shape that resists downward pressure without distorting
sideways. The problem is not just the vertical load but the resistance to
twist and sideways deflection which will shear the mortar joints between the
bricks and then let their unsupported weight rest on the lintel and the
window.

You need a surveyor to do the appropriate calcs, design a proper solution
and then have it implemented at the expense of whoever cocked it up in the
first place.
--
Dave Baker