Wall purlins are horizontally arranged secondary structural members that connect the main building columns and form the intermediate supporting framework for the exterior wall system. As vital load‑transferring members, they transmit loads from wall cladding to the main frame, enhance wall stiffness and improve the overall wind‑resistant and seismic stability of the building. The wall purlins we supply are available in three profiles: C‑section, Z‑section and U‑section, with customizable dimensions to fit most mainstream wall panel installation systems.
Specification of High Strength Wall Girts
| Parameter | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|
| Profile Shape |
C Girts, Z Girts, U Girts / Channels |
| Depth (D) | 40mm to 300mm |
| Flange Width (B) | 30mm to 80mm |
| Lip Size (C) | 15mm to 25mm |
| Thickness (BMT) | 0.8mm to 3.2mm |
| Steel Grade | High Tensile: AS/NZS 1397 G350/G550, EN 10346 S350GD/S550GD Standard: ASTM A653 SQ Grade 33/50, Chinese Q235B/Q355B |
| Yield Strength | 250 MPa to 550 MPa(High strength options effectively reduce structural self-weight) |
| Anti-Corrosion | Pre-Galvanized: Z120, Z180, Z275, Z450 (Zinc coating) Alu-Zinc / AZ: AZ150 for superior coastal and industrial corrosion resistance |
| Length | Max up to 12 meters (Customized to match container loading limits and building bay spacing) |
| Pre-Punching | Fully automated online punching for standard cleat holes, lap holes, and sag rod holes per drawings |
| Primary Applications | Pre-engineered steel buildings (PEB), industrial warehouses, commercial steel framing, logistics hubs, and cold storage facilities. |
Types of High Strength Wall Girts
Our wall purlins are available in U‑section, Z‑section and C‑section profiles with full‑range supply capacity. The three types of members differ in bending resistance, lap‑joint configuration and installation compatibility. Selection can be made according to engineering conditions such as wall height, wind load and availability of continuous lap joints.
U-shaped Wall Girts
Features: Symmetrical straight‑sided or lipped cross‑section shaped like the letter C, with standardized fabrication dimensions.
Advantages: Highest versatility, easy installation and connection, interchangeable accessories and relatively cost‑effective.
Applications: Wall beams and secondary members for small‑to‑medium‑span industrial workshops, conventional warehouses and buildings.
C-shaped Wall Girts
Features: Oblique‑lipped Z‑shaped cross‑sections with opposite orientations; both ends can be designed with inward or outward lips.
Advantages: Lap‑jointable to form continuous beam systems. Their bending‑shear resistance and stiffness far exceed those of simply‑supported single‑span members, delivering higher load‑bearing capacity.
Applications: Large‑span, big‑space and heavy‑duty industrial workshops, as well as roof and wall systems.
Z-shaped Wall Girts
Features: Open U‑shaped cross‑section; some designs adopt semi‑closed integral structures.
Advantages: High torsional stiffness with excellent performance in local compression and overall stability.
Applications: Wall or floor support structures with complex specific loading conditions and special requirements for local torsion resistance or joint connections.
Core Structural Advantages of High Strength Wall Girts
Efficient Bending and Shear Resistance
Made of high‑strength cold‑formed thin‑walled steel (commonly Q235B or Q355B grade) with a high yield‑to‑tensile ratio. Compared with hot‑rolled steel sections, their moment of inertia increases by 20% to 30% for the same steel weight, resulting in greatly improved bending stiffness.
Lightweight Design and Weight‑reduction Effect
Wall thickness is generally designed between 1.5 mm and 3.0 mm. With very low self‑weight (typically accounting for 10%‑15% of the total weight of the wall system), they substantially reduce the load on foundations and main steel columns.
Excellent Span Adaptability
With proper section depth (e.g. 120 mm to 300 mm) and sag‑rod arrangement, the maximum economical span of a single wall purlin can reach 6 m to 9 m, reducing intermediate supports.
Accurate Deflection Control
Under standard wind loads, deflection limits are strictly kept within allowable values (e.g. L/150 or L/180), preventing cracking or water leakage of wall panels caused by excessive deformation.
Key Applications of Steel Wall Girts
Industrial Buildings: Widely used for perimeter wall support of single‑story and multi‑story industrial workshops, heavy‑duty or light‑duty warehouses.
Commercial and Storage Facilities: Applied in envelope systems of large‑space buildings such as logistics distribution centers, hypermarkets and exhibition halls.
Public and Civil Buildings: Used for gymnasiums, garages, prefabricated houses, as well as podiums or secondary wall frames of high‑rise buildings.
Auxiliary Facilities: Can serve as the direct mounting base for door‑and‑window systems, louvers and wall‑mounted accessories.
How to Choose the Right Steel Wall Girts?
1.Consideration of Load Factors
Self‑weight load
Calculate the dead load borne by purlins according to the weight of wall materials such as color steel sheets and sandwich panels. Generally, color steel sheets are relatively light, while some sandwich panels with thermal‑insulation and sound‑insulation functions are heavier. Purlins with matching load‑bearing capacity shall be selected accordingly.
Wind load and seismic load
For buildings located in regions with high wind load or frequent seismic activities, purlins shall possess sufficient strength and stiffness to resist these horizontal loads. For example, coastal areas are subject to large wind loads, which impose higher requirements on the wind resistance of purlins. Purlins with larger section size and better bending and torsional performance may be required.
2.Consideration of Building Type and Service Function
Industrial buildings
For large‑scale industrial workshops featuring large interior space and high walls, as well as possible operation of heavy‑duty equipment such as overhead cranes, higher requirements are placed on the load‑bearing capacity and stability of wall purlins. Roll‑formed steel purlins or cold‑formed thin‑walled steel purlins of larger sizes are normally adopted.
Civil buildings
For civil constructions such as light‑steel villas, wall loads are relatively low, with more emphasis on aesthetics and cost‑effectiveness. Cold‑formed thin‑walled steel purlins of smaller sizes, such as C‑section or Z‑section steel, can be selected to satisfy load requirements while cutting costs.
Special‑function buildings
For laboratories and electronic workshops with strict requirements on cleanliness and tightness, purlin selection shall facilitate installation and maintenance of the wall sealing system. Purlins with high surface flatness and simple connection joints may be preferred.
3.Consideration of Material Properties
Strength and stiffness
Steel of different strength grades delivers varied load‑bearing capacity and deformation performance. In general, Q345 steel has higher strength than Q235 steel. Purlins made of Q345 steel may be adopted for heavy‑load conditions; Q235 steel purlins can normally meet the requirements for buildings under light‑load conditions.
Corrosion resistance
For humid, acidic, alkaline and other corrosive environments, purlin materials with good corrosion resistance shall be selected. Options include hot‑dip galvanized cold‑formed thin‑walled steel purlins or steel sections with anti‑corrosion coating treatment on surfaces, so as to extend the service life of purlins.
4.Consideration of Cost‑effectiveness
Material cost
Roll‑formed steel purlins feature relatively high price yet great load‑bearing capacity; cold‑formed thin‑walled steel purlins are comparatively low‑priced and lightweight. Selection can be made based on project budget and load‑bearing requirements.
Installation cost
Thanks to light weight and easy installation, cold‑formed thin‑walled steel purlins help cut labor and machinery costs during installation. By contrast, installation of roll‑formed steel purlins may require larger‑sized mechanical equipment and professional construction personnel, resulting in relatively higher installation expenses.
5.Consideration of Construction Conditions
Site space and lifting equipment
Where construction site space is restricted and large‑capacity lifting equipment cannot operate properly, lightweight and easy‑to‑install cold‑formed thin‑walled steel purlins are preferable. If heavy‑duty lifting equipment is available on‑site together with high installation elevation and large spans, hot‑rolled steel purlins may be considered.
Construction season and environment
For winter construction or cold‑climate regions, the low‑temperature performance of steel shall be considered. Purlins shall be manufactured from steel with good low‑temperature toughness to avoid brittle fracture during construction and service life.
Packing & Delivery of Steel Wall Girts
Nested profiles: Steel wall girts are tightly stacked or nested to optimize space utilization and stability.
Wooden blocks and dividers: Placed between bundles to prevent frictional wear and allow forklift access.
Heavy‑duty strapping: Secured with industrial polyester or steel straps; edge protectors are applied to avoid strap cutting.
Moisture‑proof protection: When exposed to humid conditions during transportation, goods shall be wrapped with heavy‑duty stretch film or weather‑resistant tarpaulins.
Sequential loading: Bundles are loaded in reverse order of on‑site installation, so that wall columns required first can be unloaded prior to others.
FAQ:
What is the difference between a girt and a perlin?
Purlins are specific to the roof. In the shape of a "Z", a purlin is a horizontal structural member that supports roof covering and carries loads to the primary frame. They are one directional and bolt downhill of the clip. Opposite of purlins and roofs, girts are used on walls.
How to select the size and spacing of wall girts?
It depends on local wind‑speed criteria, wall loads and span requirements. The design shall comply with building codes (such as deflection limits specified in AISC or IBC).
How do high‑strength wall girts resist strong winds?
Lateral wind pressure is distributed and transferred through continuous‑span design, adequate section modulus, together with matching sag rods or support blocks.
Why choose high‑strength wall girts?
Wind pressure resistance: Meet requirements for high wind speeds and stringent building codes.
Reduced deformation: Lower wall deflection under long‑term loads.
Improved thermal insulation: Allow larger insulation cavity when used with bookshelf‑style mounting.
