In Portal Frame Steel Warehouse Construction, Should C-Shaped Steel or Z-Shaped Steel Be Used as Purlins?

In the Portal Frame Steel Warehouse Construction, the function of purlins is to ensure the load-bearing safety of the roof and the wall. They are important components that connect the roof panels and the wall panels. Among them, C-shaped steel and Z-shaped steel are the two most commonly used cold-formed thin-walled steel purlins. So, which one should we choose? This article will discuss this issue with you all.

Table of Contents

1. The differences between C-shaped steel and Z-shaped steel.

2. Why are Z-shaped steel commonly used in large portal frame warehouses?

3. Where is C-shaped steel applied?

4. Conclusion

1. The difference between C-shaped steel and Z-shaped steel

For Portal Frame Steel Warehouse Construction, both C-shaped steel and Z-shaped steel can be used as roof trusses. However, in actual engineering cases, Z-shaped steel is used the most, especially in large-scale steel structure warehouse buildings.

2. Why are Z-shaped steel commonly used in large portal frame warehouses?

● They can be connected.

Z-shaped steel is easier to be connected. This connection method enables the purlins to reduce the mid-span bending moment and enhance the overall stiffness.

● More steel is saved.

After being connected, the Z-shaped steel is more stress-efficient. Under the same load conditions, the cross-section of Z-shaped steel can be made smaller, and the steel usage is usually reduced by approximately 5% to 15% compared to C-shaped steel.

Therefore, large Portal Frame Steel Warehouse Construction usually use Z-shaped purlins.

3. Where is C-shaped steel used?

Which kind of portal frame warehouses can use C-shaped steel as the roof trusses? Usually, it is mainly for small-span warehouses, including:

● Small warehouses

● Canopies

● Car shelters

● Security rooms

● Agricultural buildings

In small-span Portal Frame Steel Warehouse Construction, C-shaped steel can fully meet the usage requirements of the building because these buildings often have a small span and do not require too much force, with smaller bending moments. Additionally, the simplicity of C-shaped steel processing and the ease of installation are its core advantages.

4. Conclusion

In Portal Frame Steel Warehouse Construction, choosing the appropriate steel structure purlins is of great significance. Generally speaking, Z-shaped steel is mostly used in large-span warehouse buildings, while C-shaped steel is commonly used in small-span warehouses. Qingdao EIHE Steel Structure Group Co., Ltd. has 20 years of experience in steel structure warehouse projects. If you are interested in such projects, please feel free to contact us. We will provide you with a customized solution.