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COMPONENTS · Steel Purlins

C Purlins & Z Purlins
Cold-Formed to Project Specs

Cold-formed C and Z steel purlins for roof and wall secondary structures — pre-punched connection holes, galvanized or color-coated, member marked and packed for export. Select the purlin type below for details. For other steel components, see all Components.

C Purlins

C Purlins

C-shaped cold-formed steel purlins are widely used as secondary structural members for roof and wall systems. With a simple C cross-section, they are easy to install and suitable for moderate spans and typical building loads.

Typical Applications

  • Industrial workshop roofs
  • Warehouse roof and wall
  • Agricultural building roofs
  • Moderate-span commercial roofs

Key Features

  • Cold-formed from galvanized or pre-painted steel coil
  • Simple support lap connections
  • Pre-punched connection holes available
  • Lightweight, high strength-to-weight ratio
  • Common sizes: C100 – C300

Supply Options

  • Hot-dip galvanized finish
  • Pre-painted / color-coated
  • Custom length to project drawings
  • Pre-punched per shop drawings
  • Member marking and packing for export
Request C Purlin Quotation →
C Purlin Profile

C-shaped cross-section with simple lap connections at supports

Z Purlins

Z Purlins

Z-shaped cold-formed steel purlins feature overlapping flanges that enable continuous lapped connections at supports, providing better continuous beam bending performance than C purlins. They are preferred for wider purlin spacing, larger spans and heavier roof loads.

Typical Applications

  • Large-span industrial roofs
  • Logistics warehouse roofs
  • Wide-spacing roof systems
  • Heavy snow / wind load regions
  • Aircraft hangars and large facilities

Key Features

  • Z-shaped cross-section with overlapping flanges
  • Continuous lapped connections at supports
  • Better continuous beam bending performance
  • Higher load capacity for wide spacing
  • Common sizes: Z140 – Z300

Supply Options

  • Hot-dip galvanized finish
  • Pre-painted / color-coated
  • Custom length to project drawings
  • Pre-punched lap and connection holes
  • Member marking and packing for export
Request Z Purlin Quotation →
Z Purlin Profile

Z-shaped cross-section with overlapping flanges for continuous lap connections

Comparison

C Purlins vs Z Purlins — How to Choose

Factor C Purlins Z Purlins
Connection type Simple lap at supports Continuous overlapping lap
Bending performance Simply-supported behavior Continuous beam behavior (higher capacity)
Typical spacing 1.0m – 1.2m 1.2m – 1.5m+
Best for Moderate spans, standard loads Wide spacing, large spans, heavy loads
Installation Simpler, easier to handle Slightly more complex lap alignment
Common sizes C100 – C300 Z140 – Z300
Stacked C and Z shaped steel purlins in factory

Cold-Formed Steel Purlins

C and Z cold-formed steel purlins are manufactured from galvanized steel coil, configured to project loading requirements and supplied with necessary accessories for roof and wall secondary structures.

  • C purlins for roof and wall support
  • Z purlins for continuous span applications
  • Galvanized corrosion protection
  • Accessories: clips, bolts, sag rods

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

C purlins have a C-shaped cross-section and are typically used with simple lap connections at supports, suitable for moderate spans and spacing. Z purlins have a Z-shaped cross-section with overlapping flanges that allow continuous lapped connections at supports, providing better continuous beam bending performance and higher load capacity for wide-spacing roofs. Z purlins are generally preferred for larger spans and heavier loads.
Purlin size and spacing are determined by: roof slope, snow/wind loads, purlin span (distance between primary frames), cladding type and thickness, and applicable design codes. Common sizes range from C100 to C300 and Z140 to Z300, with typical spacing of 1.0m to 1.5m. The exact sizing should be specified in the structural design drawings.
Common surface treatments include: hot-dip galvanized (for corrosion resistance in exposed or humid environments), pre-painted / color-coated (for visible applications and additional corrosion protection), and bare / mill finish (for interior or protected applications). The treatment is specified based on project environment, coating system and architectural requirements.
Yes. ZhongSai supplies purlins with pre-punched connection holes based on shop drawings, including holes for purlin-to-rafter connections, sag rod connections, and lap splice connections. Pre-punched purlins reduce on-site drilling work and improve erection accuracy. Please provide the purlin layout and connection details for hole positioning.

Project Inquiry

Send Your Purlin Project Requirements

Provide your purlin specifications, sizes, quantities and project details. ZhongSai engineering team will review and provide a project-based quotation.

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