Concrete Padstone 215mm x 140mm x 215mm – PAD06
The Concrete Padstone 215mm x 140mm x 215mm, also known as PAD06, is a high-strength precast concrete unit designed to provide a secure bearing beneath structural beams and lintels. It creates a strong interface between the structural element and the supporting brickwork or blockwork, helping transfer concentrated loads into the surrounding masonry.
Steel beams and structural lintels can carry significant loads from floors, roofs and walls. These loads are transferred through relatively small bearing points at each end of the beam. Standard bricks or conventional building blocks may not always be suitable for accepting this concentrated pressure directly.
A correctly specified concrete padstone spreads the imposed load over a greater area of masonry. This helps reduce excessive localised stress and provides a level, durable base for the structural element.
PAD06 measures 215mm long, 140mm wide and 215mm high. Its compact length and deeper profile make it suitable for particular wall, pier and structural bearing arrangements where this exact size has been specified.
Typical padstone applications
Concrete padstones are incorporated into structural masonry details across residential, commercial and renovation projects. PAD06 may be used for applications such as:
- Supporting structural steel beams
- Providing a bearing beneath concrete lintels
- Supporting steel lintels where specified
- Forming new openings in masonry walls
- Load-bearing wall alterations
- Residential extensions
- Renovation and refurbishment projects
- New-build construction
- Creating strong bearing points within piers
- Supporting structural elements within blockwork or brickwork
Padstones are structural components and should not be used as a general replacement for standard building blocks unless their use forms part of an approved design.
PAD06 dimensions
The nominal product dimensions are:
- Length: 215mm
- Width: 140mm
- Height: 215mm
- Product reference: PAD06
- Approximate imperial size: 9″ x 5½” x 9″
- Material: High-strength precast concrete
The 215mm height gives PAD06 a deeper profile than lower 102mm and 140mm padstones. Its 215mm length provides a compact footprint, while the 140mm width suits compatible masonry configurations.
The suitability of the product cannot be determined from its dimensions alone. Padstone selection should be based on structural calculations covering the imposed load, available bearing, masonry strength and overall wall construction.
High-strength precast concrete
PAD06 is manufactured using dense, high-strength precast concrete. This makes it better suited to concentrated structural loading than an ordinary brick or standard masonry block.
Factory production helps provide consistent dimensions and material properties. The padstone is supplied as a completed unit ready to incorporate into the masonry, avoiding the need to construct formwork and cast an individual concrete bearing on site.
Practical benefits include:
- High-strength concrete construction
- Controlled factory manufacture
- No on-site concrete casting required
- No separate shuttering or formwork
- Reduced preparation and curing delays
- Defined dimensions for easier specification
- Suitable for permanent structural applications
- Ready to install within suitable masonry
The padstone may be precast, but its bedding mortar and the supporting masonry still require adequate time to develop the necessary strength before the full load is applied.
Selecting the correct padstone
The size of padstone required will depend on several project-specific factors, including the reaction at the end of the beam, the required bearing length, the strength of the surrounding masonry and the position of the structural element.
PAD06 should only be used where a 215mm x 140mm x 215mm padstone has been specified or approved by a qualified structural engineer or another suitably competent professional.
Do not select the product solely because its dimensions match the available space. A padstone that physically fits may not provide the bearing area or load distribution required by the structural design.
It should not be substituted for another padstone size without prior approval. Always check the structural engineer’s drawings and calculations before ordering or beginning installation.
Installation guidance
The supporting masonry must be sound, stable and capable of accepting the transferred structural load. Install the padstone on a full, even bed of suitable mortar so that its base is completely supported.
The product should be positioned level and in the orientation shown on the structural drawings. Ensure the beam or lintel sits correctly on the padstone and achieves the specified end bearing.
Inspect the padstone before installation. Minor cosmetic marks are normal, but a unit with significant cracks or damage that may affect its structural performance should not be installed without professional assessment.
Do not cut, drill or otherwise modify the padstone unless the alteration has been expressly approved by the structural engineer. Allow the mortar and surrounding masonry to achieve adequate strength before applying the full structural load.
Colour, finish and size variations
Concrete is manufactured using cement, water and naturally sourced aggregates. Natural differences in these raw materials, together with production and curing conditions, can affect the finished appearance.
Please note: Colours and sizes may vary slightly due to the manufacturing process. Product photographs should be treated as a representative guide only.
Minor variations in shade, colour, texture and surface finish are normal. Small air holes, casting marks and slight edge irregularities may also occur during the manufacture of precast concrete.
These cosmetic characteristics do not necessarily indicate a fault, provided the padstone remains structurally sound and is within the manufacturer’s permitted tolerances. As padstones are functional structural products, exact colour matching between individual units cannot be guaranteed.
Key benefits
- High-strength precast concrete padstone
- Provides a stable bearing beneath beams and lintels
- Helps distribute concentrated loads into masonry
- Ready to install without casting concrete on site
- Compact footprint with a deeper 215mm profile
- Nominal dimensions of 215mm x 140mm x 215mm
- Commonly identified as PAD06
- Suitable for structural openings and wall alterations
- Ideal for new-build and renovation projects
- Consistent factory-manufactured component
The Concrete Padstone 215mm x 140mm x 215mm PAD06 provides a compact but substantial structural bearing for approved masonry applications. Always confirm the correct size, orientation and installation requirements with the project’s structural engineer before ordering or fitting the product.
