How have you dealt with point loads over windows and garage doors?

This is the first ICF design for my architect and he is concerned about some point loads over two windows and a garage door.

For example, over a 6' window opening there is a girder truss point load which is in the 6100 lbs.  The standard lintel designs only go up to a 24" lintel.  I have a 30" lintel with a 6" core.

Do we need to go to a structural engineer for designing a lintel?

Unfortunately, the manufacturer and the distributor haven't been much of a help, but that is probably due to me not putting down a down payment.  I'll put a down payment once I have a permit, but right now I'm just trying to prevent the use of LVLs in those lintels.


Thanks,
Mike

Prescriptive Method is the standard for ICF design. In NY you would need a engineer's stamp on the plans.

Prescriptive Method is the standard for ICF design. In NY you would need a engineer's stamp on the plans.

Both prescriptive method and ICF manufacturer lintel design tables assume a uniformly distributed load (e.g., 2000 lb/ft). So yes, if you have anything other than that (e.g., beams or penetrations in the lintels) you need to have your lintel design accomplished and stamped by a structural professional engineer. It's usually best and possible to avoid having beams or penetrations in the lintels.

A little late here but thought I'd share nonetheless.
6" wide by 18" deep x 6' long concrete lintel (you said you have 30" so treat the difference as dead weight),
with 2-#6 bottom bars and 2-#4 top bars with #3 O-stirrups @ 6" o/c
will safely carry a 12,000 pound point load at center and 4000 pounds per linear foot distributed load...
but always rely on your engineer for things outside of the prescriptive path.

I'm always amazed when designers substitute a concrete lintel with LVL...
Do you really think wood can do better than concrete and steel...

Thank you, at this point the cost of the engineer vs the cost of the LVLs has left me with LVLs. It's just makes the setting/attaching of them difficult since they are calling for (2) 1 3/4" by 9 1/4" LVLs and a regular 24" lintel underneath it.

Maybe it is worth having an engineer design it...

Defeats the purpose of ICF if you use LVL headers

Yes there is a cost to the engineer, the design will fit within the 6" ICF core, although upper and lower lintle bars and strips may increase

I know it will cost slightly more for the engineer over the LVL, but the fact you are willing to use a premium ICF product and then run short to do it right doesn't make sense

Cost me a little over $1,300, but I have had the lintels designed and the changes were minimal from the standard lintel tables. Actually, a couple are much simpler. Disappointed I had to spend the extra money, but happy I don't have to mess with the LVLS.

Still the right solution and you won't regret it...

surely that misses the whole point of ICF --your designer should have factored in required rebars for openings -should be no need for any lintels --which when all said and done are made exactly the same as ICF with right rebar enforcement why would you not allow ICF maker to do the calcs to start with -seems your deposit would have been the best and cheapest way then any problems in future would be his .I,m all for DIY but sometimes it should be called FIY