N.M. Code R. § 14.7.4.26 – Lintels

A. General. Lintels of wood or concrete are allowed. The bearing length of any lintel shall not be reduced by an angled or splayed window or door opening. Other lintel designs are accepted providing that engineering is submitted for review by the building official.
B. Wood lintels. When an engineer’s drawing and seal is not provided for lintels, all wood lintels shall conform to Table 5 and have a fiber stress rating of at least 850 psi.
Table 5 CEB WALL WOOD LINTEL SCHEDULE MINIMUM FIBER STRESS 850 PSI Wall Width Max. Span Size Bearing length on earth wall Load Capacity 10” 4'-0” 10” x 6” 12” 860 PLF 6'-0” 10” x 8” 12” 1020 PLF 8'-0” 10” x 10” 18” 1150 PLF 10'-0” 10” x 12” 24” 1000 PLF 12'-0” 10” x 14” 24” 1000 PLF 12” 4'-0” 10” x 6” 12” 860 PLF 6'-0” 10” x 8” 12” 1020 PLF 8'-0” 10” x 10” 18” 1150 PLF 10'-0” 10” x 12” 24” 1000 PLF 12'-0” 10” x 14” 24” 1000 PLF 14” 14” 4'-0” 12” x 6” 12” 950 PLF 6'-0” 12” x 8” 12” 1150 PLF 8'-0” 12” x 10” 18” 1300 PLF 10'-0” 12” x 12” 24” 1300 PLF 12'-0” 12” x 14” 24” 1200 PLF
Table 5 CEB WALL WOOD LINTEL SCHEDULE
MINIMUM FIBER STRESS 850 PSI
Wall
Width
Max. Span
Size
Bearing length on earth wall
Load
Capacity
10”
4'-0”
10” x 6”
12”
860 PLF
6'-0”
10” x 8”
12”
1020 PLF
8'-0”
10” x 10”
18”
1150 PLF
10'-0”
10” x 12”
24”
1000 PLF
12'-0”
10” x 14”
24”
1000 PLF
12”
4'-0”
10” x 6”
12”
860 PLF
6'-0”
10” x 8”
12”
1020 PLF
8'-0”
10” x 10”
18”
1150 PLF
10'-0”
10” x 12”
24”
1000 PLF
12'-0”
10” x 14”
24”
1000 PLF
14”
14”
4'-0”
12” x 6”
12”
950 PLF
6'-0”
12” x 8”
12”
1150 PLF
8'-0”
12” x 10”
18”
1300 PLF
10'-0”
12” x 12”
24”
1300 PLF
12'-0”
12” x 14”
24”
1200 PLF
C. Concrete lintels. When an engineer’s drawing and seal is not provided for lintels, all concrete lintels shall conform to table 6 and have a minimum strength of 3000 psi.
Table 6 CEB WALL CONCRETE LINTEL SCHEDULE MIN. 3000 psi Maximum Span Minimum depth* Reinforcing Maximum Capacity per linear foot Bearing length on earth wall Less than 6' - 0" 8” 2 - # 4 1500 lbs. 12” 6' - 0" to 10'- 0" 12” 3 - # 5 1500 lbs. 18” 11' - 0" to 16'- 0" 16” 3 - # 6 1500 lbs. 24” * SIZE Wall width X depth of lintel
Table 6 CEB WALL CONCRETE LINTEL SCHEDULE MIN. 3000 psi
Maximum Span
Minimum depth*
Reinforcing
Maximum Capacity per linear foot
Bearing length on earth wall
Less than 6' - 0"
8”
2 - # 4
1500 lbs.
12”
6' - 0" to 10'- 0"
12”
3 - # 5
1500 lbs.
18”
11' - 0" to 16'- 0"
16”
3 - # 6
1500 lbs.
24”
* SIZE Wall width X depth of lintel

[14.7.4.26 NMAC - Rp, 14.7.4.26 NMAC, 11/15/2016]