Steel beam on brick wall

[jimtheengineer10]

I need to come up with a support unit for a condensing unit. The architect/contractor proposed taking some brick out of an existing wall and installing a plate and having a steel beam bear on the plate/brick wall. The other end will be supported by two steel columns fastened to an existing steel beam. The unit only weighs about 1,200 pounds so there is not a huge load. How would I determine the size of the plate that is needed? The length of the plate would be just long enough for the beam to bear on. To fasten the plate to the brick a non-shrink grout would be applied between the plate and brick. Is this the best way to fasten the plate to the brick? Thanks.

 

[msquared48]

Just a clarification, but is this a multi-wythe brick wall, a CMU wall (grouted and/or reinforced, or a brick veneer wall?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[IsaacStructural]

If this is a CMU wall, I'd consider placing some anchors onto the bottom of the plate. This would allow the grout to lock the plate in place. ACI 318 and 530 both of sections on bearing capacity to help you determine the size of plate you need, though with such a load, you won't have a problem of bearing failure.

Personally I don't really like this detail, it tends to cause problems in the future when someone wants to do work on that wall. They want to knock a hole in the wall for a door, or window or something and you've got this darn beam bearing above. I'd prefer the beam to have a column on either end, though it isn't always an option.

M.S. Structural Engineering
Licensed Structural Engineer and Licensed Professional Engineer (Illinois)