"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

Angle iron IMHO is pretty useless for this sort of thing - to make it
rigid enough would require far more material - ie iron - than a better
shape. Traditionally this would be an H section as in an RSJ. Or a box
section if fabricated. Or, of course a pre-stressed concrete lintel.


What you and the OP describe as "angle iron" is very likely to be rolled
steel angle. If properly designed, and especially when used in pairs,
rolled steel angles can be structurally very effective.


I guess what the BCO will say - get in a structural engineer to do the
proper calcs.


The BCO would be right. Nothing less than consulting a professional
will do here.