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Head Restraints
Secure the Top of Your Wall to Any Frame
Head restraints do the job ordinary wall ties can’t: they lock the uppermost course of masonry to structural steel, concrete or timber so wind suction, sway or impact can’t topple the leaf. Each system below is Grade 304/316 stainless or hot-dip galvanised, tested to BS EN 845-1 and sized for quick installation in new build or retrofit.
Order before 12 : 00 and spend £200 ex-VAT for free next-day delivery. Unsure which restraint fits your detail? Call 0118 922 7941 and we’ll match the plate while your brickies set out.
Pick the right head restraint in seconds
| Framing substrate | Go-to restraint | Cavity range | Quick-add link* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel beams / angles | Vista VIR 215 mm plate | 50–100 mm | VIR 215 |
| Concrete frame | Ancon IHR-B / IHR-S 225 mm | 50–100 mm | IHR-B • IHR-S |
| Brick returns to SFS | Vista VHR 100–140 mm | 75–125 mm | VHR |
| Heavy axial load / high wind | Ancon FHR 100–140 mm dual restraint | 75–125 mm | FHR |
*Each link jumps straight to the SKU on Spechunter for rapid checkout.
Need a sliding connection instead? See Sliding Anchor Ties.
Why builders trust our head restraints
High tension & compression resistance – meets PD 6697 Table 14 for walls up to 15 m.
Tangle-free plates – arrive flat-packed, ready to slot under the top course.
Insulation-friendly – slim profiles minimise cold bridges; pair with compression sleeves on cavities over 150 mm.
Easy fix – M8 set screws into steel, concrete screws into frame or 35 mm nails to timber—no site welding.
Full stainless option – for aggressive coastal sites or swimming-pool air.
Installation essentials
Position the plate flush with the inner leaf; ensure 50 ± 10 mm embedment into the masonry bed.
Fix to steel or concrete at max 225 mm centres with 6.3 mm stainless TEC screws or ETA concrete screws.
Bed the final brick course fully; do not wedge with slate slips—use mortar for full bearing.
Overlap outer-leaf ties: within 225 mm of the head restraint double the standard wall-tie density.
Movement joints: leave 10 mm clear each side of a vertical joint; switch to movement ties in that panel.
Frequently asked questions
Are head restraints mandatory?
Yes where masonry stops below a slab edge or parapet and cannot be bonded over. NHBC 6.1 and Eurocode 6 require positive restraint.
Can I weld plates to the steel frame?
Prefer mechanical fixings; welding risks heat distortion and voids the plate’s CE mark.
Timber frame allowed?
Use stainless ring-shank nails or helical screws through the plate into the top rail—see Ancon TIM6 tool.
Do they replace shelf angles?
No. Head restraints prevent overturning; shelf angles carry vertical dead load of high brick panels.
Delivery cut-off & surcharges?
Mid-day; £200 ex-VAT threshold. Check delivery information for Highlands & Islands.
Finish the restraint package
Stainless wall ties – Type 1 Heavy-Duty Ties
Bed-joint mesh – Ladder Reinforcement to control shrinkage under sills
Non-combustible DPCs – Visqueen A1 Zedex for façades > 18 m
Need CAD details, UKCA certificates or toolbox-talk slides? Contact us or call 0118 922 7941—Spechunter chases down every specification so you don’t have to.
Spechunter.co.uk – Chasing down specialist construction specifications since 1988. Fact checked and updated May 2025.
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