Old Wood Header Reinforcement Design

[zurch1818]

I'm hoping to get some mod guidance on this. I'm working on a project where significant rooftop equipment is right above this header. See below:

As you can see in the photos, the joists have already been tripled up (notice the difference in joist width between original and modified) but I don't think the header as part of the bearing wall was ever looked at. Additionally, the stud is showing signs of bowing out (which could be from the additional rooftop equipment). It was good to see my calculations lined up with observations from the field. I'm thinking of trying to put a channel in below this to help keep the head space and then put in some knee braces and sistering up the joists with some additional studs(see below).

Does anyone else have any other recommendations I should try? I looked at an LVL but I just don't think that will be practical for this site given their depth. Also, I'm hesitant to want to put any connections between the header and the steel channel as it is cracking already. I feel the extra stiffness of the channel (as long as it can carry the load by itself) should help stabilize the existing header. The existing header would then be more of a transfer member and not a member to resist load. I'm not quite sure what member to use for the kicker. I'm thinking it would be nice to have it be wood but I'm not sure how to best connect this. Does anyone have any recommendations on this connection?

 

[jerseyshore]

If you're looking to keep the existing headroom and not encroach any lower, just put a flush beam in. That eliminates the notches and gives back a few inches.

A channel/W4/W6 could also do the job with a couple of steel posts at either end.