"Andy Wade" wrote in message
...
G&M wrote:

Also if you have more than three courses of brick above a 80cm
opening all loads above and outside the triangle are taken by the
side walls so the only loading on the lintel is a few bricks.

I think that's crap of IMM proportions from yourself, actually. I've
got in front of me the BRE's 'Good Building Guide' no. 10 (dated
November '91 - so probably not the latest version). This gives
simplified methods for estimating loadings where temporary openings are
to be made.

Sorry - I accept I made a typo there as I was thinking about blocks which I
was using that day but typed bricks. However the original point still
stands that good lintels don't need these layers for strength purposes.