Steel Purlins
With decades of experience in the steel forming industry, Venture Steel Group manufactures steel purlins of the highest quality. Aided by the vast capacity of our two family-owned sites, totalling 75,000 square foot, and a knowledgeable, skilled workforce, Venture Steel Group creates C and Z purlins and bespoke angles for the structural support of a building.
We prioritise the quality of our UK manufactured products, and the relationships we build with clients in doing so. Venture Steel Group works closely alongside our clients when manufacturing products, aiming to accommodate all their needs, whilst meeting exacting project specifications.
Venture Steel Group has an extensive manufacturing capacity, allowing us to handle large material tonnage for mass volume production; we can provide up to 10 metre galvanised steel purlins, both drilled and undrilled, in a range of gauges. We moreover offer our expansive services globally.
Purlins are horizontal beams, typically made from galvanised steel or wood, which provide structure and support for roofs, walls, and floors. Suitable for industrial, commercial, and residential buildings, purlins are an integral part of structural engineering; for this reason, purlins must be capable of bearing loads and of maintaining this integrity over time, so as to optimise the safety and ongoing costs of a premise. Galvanised steel is a primary material choice for purlins; protected against corrosion, with an excellent strength-weight ratio, steel purlins are a durable and economic material to comprise the framework of a building, and protect against external environmental factors such as high winds.
Our structural steel suits most standards, and is available in grades ranging from DX51 through to S350-S550, including many exotic structural steels.
Steel purlins assist in constructing the framework of a building, and are applicable for:
- C Section Purlins provide support for walls and floor joists, including mezzanine flooring
- Z Section Purlins provide support for roofs and walls
- Purlins for solar power frame mounts
Steel purlins are made to measure lengths of metals that help hold up roofs, as well as bridge gaps between existing joints. They help to distribute the weight of a roof across the entire structure below, ensuring there’s a good balance between all the materials.
If you’d like to know more about steel purlins (including their sizes and applications), check out the examples of various purlins below, which are all available from Venture Steel.
A C section purlin, much like the Z type above, looks like the letter C. These purlins tend to be used towards the lower half of the building, including supporting the walls and the floor they sit on. Their C shape allows these purlins to slot straight onto the pre-existing beams without much trouble. They can also be used for indoor and outdoor balconies, which may require an extra layer of support to stand up right.
Again, any C section steel purlin we produce will be galvanised, with a tight tolerance, and able to be rolled to size time and time again when purchasing from us. Whatever thickness this purlin type needs to be rolled to, we’ll ensure they meet the standard.
A bespoke angle purlin falls under its own category, as it may be made outside of traditional specifications and needed only occasionally. However, anything we make falls under UKCA Marking standards and will be crafted to a high quality finish. The rolling process ensures a good yield no matter what material goes through, or at what rate, thanks to the relatively low temperature involved.
Plus, bespoke needs are more common than you may think. Indeed, custom rolling allows for much more control over a construction project. Instead of purchasing pre-shaped.
FAQ's
Purlins typically take form as either C section purlins, or Z section purlins, the differentiation being the profile of the sections.
The profile of a Z section purlin features two protruding angles, typically of less than 90°, located at the top and bottom of a vertical body, and on opposite sides; on the other hand, a C section has two protruding angles, generally 90°, at the top and bottom of the vertical body, but on the same side - curling the material in towards itself.
Because of the differing properties caused by the profiles of the Z and C section, they generally have different applications within the construction of a building.
Both C section purlins and Z section purlins are strong enough to support the structure of a building. However, Z section purlins are considered stronger than C section because of their ability to overlap. Their profile allows for multiple sections to be used continuously, increasing the load bearing capacity of the section, especially across longer spans.
Steel purlins are typically available in lengths of 10 metres; however, longer purlins can be created via sleeve jointing. This process involves connecting two or more short-length purlins to create one long-length purlin to the required specification. This technique is often used when constructing large structures such as warehouses and bridges where the span may exceed 10m.
BS EN 1090 is an international standard for the fabrication and installation of steel structures. It outlines the manufacturing process's requirements for factory production control, inspection, testing, marking, and traceability.
The purpose of this standard is to ensure that all steel structures are safe and fit for purpose. All steel structures used in construction must comply with BS EN 1090 to be CE marked as meeting European standards. Steel purlins manufactured in accordance with this standard can be used safely and confidently in various applications.
The correct terminology for this product is purlin. It is commonly referred to as a purline as an alternative naming; however, the official name and industry-standard term remain 'purlin'. The terms are interchangeable but should not be confused with one another. A purlin can also refer to other types of steel components with different profiles or applications in construction, such as Cee and Zee sections. As such, it is important to distinguish between these components when using either term to ensure accuracy in communication.
Steel Purlins are steel structures that support roofs and walls of industrial, commercial, and domestic buildings. They are primarily used to support the weight of a roof, but they can also be used as an aesthetic feature in building designs. Purlins are lightweight yet strong, making them ideal for construction projects where cost efficiency is important.
There are two main types of steel purlins: Z-purlins and C-purlins. Both types provide strength, durability, cost efficiency and structural length - however, each type has its advantages. Z-purlins have a 'Z' shaped profile which allows for greater span lengths, whereas C-purlins have a 'C' shaped profile which is more aesthetically pleasing.
Steel Purlins are widely used in the construction, steel erection, and fabrication industries. They are used for various structures, including buildings, sheds, warehouses, bridges, etc. Steel purlins offer strength, durability, and cost efficiency, which makes them ideal for most projects.
Yes, there are regulations in place for manufactured purlins used in construction. The two main grades of steel purlins used in the UK are Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and the United Kingdom Conformity Assessment (UKCA). CPR and UKCA-graded purlins have been tested to ensure they have the strength, durability, and cost efficiency required for various construction projects. The correct steel grade must be selected for each project, as this will determine the overall quality and performance of the structure.
UKCA is the United Kingdom Conformity Assessment marking. It is a new certification mark that has been introduced for goods placed on the UK market from 1 January 2021 (or from 1 October 2020 in Northern Ireland). To be eligible to use the UKCA marking, products must comply with applicable product safety legislation and requirements set out by the relevant regulatory body. The UKCA marking is intended to demonstrate to consumers, authorities and businesses that a product meets applicable standards and regulations. It can also be used as proof of conformity when placing goods on the UK market.
Purlin laps are splices which are used to join two steel purlins together. They provide additional strength and stability to the structure whilst also allowing flexibility when positioning the purlins on-site. Purlin laps consist of a pair of overlapping plates which are welded or mechanically fastened at either side of the lap. The length of overlap required depends upon the purlin's size and loading characteristics; however, it must always be greater than one-third of the normal unsupported span for both top and bottom chords.
Purlin cleats are a hinged support used to connect steel purlins to metal roof structures in residential buildings. These cleats provide an economical and effective way of connecting purlins without compromising structural integrity. The cleat is secured by two bolts which compress the metal plates together for a secure hold. Purlin cleats are available in a range of sizes and shapes, depending on the particular application. They can also be made from aluminium or galvanised steel, depending on the environmental conditions they will be exposed to during installation.
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Venture Steel Group seeks to accommodate the needs of our clients in all we do, and so can supply galvanised, hot, and cold rolled steel in all grades. We can do this for gauges between 0.38 - 6.00mm, and strips from 25mm to 10m long sections.