Bricking up a fireplace and serving hatch - do I need ties?

[OldKettle]

Hi,
I am going to be bricking up a serving hatch and a hole that held a gas fire, both approx 900mm x 600mm on the same single brick, loading bearing, internal wall.

Do I need to tie into the existing brickwork with ties or a wall starters? If so, which is best and should I put them every other course?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

[OldKettle]

I am thinking of using these ties along with these plugs. Will they be OK, on every other course?

 

[Bluepeppo]

They'll do. Two or three at each side.

 

[OldKettle]

Thanks. The mortar beds are quite thick (at least 16mm) and appear inconsistent (measure one that was at least 20mm).

It appears that the hatch is original (so the two sides were never tied together), and, with a level across, the brick courses do not match up exactly. In some places they are bang on, but in others out by half a mortar bed

Should I,

1) Start on the left, and stay dead level, rather than attempt to match the brick on the right
2) Try to match the brick on the left and right, even if I need to slope the mortar bed
3) Ignore both sides and lay 10mm beds
4) Something else

I'm guessing that 1) is the correct approach but any thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

[OldKettle]

Turns out that even the bricks aren't a uniform size. Some are 65mm, most are 70mm and couple appear to be 73mm (wall built circa 1955).

I wonder if I should go with 3) instead

3) Ignore both sides and lay 10mm beds

Hole is 955mm.

12 courses of class B engineering brick (65 x 12 = 780mm) + 13 beds of mortar (at about 13.5mm per bed = 175mm) and tie in (to existing brick or mortar) every couple of courses?

 

[Lower]

I wouldn't get overly hung up about it. As long as your mortar beds are decently sized, you've used wall ties and you've not used loads of mortar to fill gaps, it'll be strong enough.