Purlins and Girts – Cold-Formed Steel Structural Sections

Purlins and girts support roofing and wall cladding systems in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Freeman Roofing manufactures FR purlins and girts from roll-formed, zinc-coated high-tensile steel for a wide range of construction applications.

Freeman Roofing roll-forms these sections, punches them in-line, and cuts them to length. As a result, installation is more efficient and integrates well with metal roofing and wall cladding systems. In addition, this process improves consistency on site.

Key Features of FR Purlins and Girts

• Manufactured from zinc-coated high-tensile steel
• Cold-formed C-section profiles for structural efficiency
• Available in a range of depths and thicknesses
• Punched and cut to length for efficient installation
• Suitable for both roof purlins and wall girts

The optimised section geometry and material selection provide a strong, lightweight solution for supporting metal roofing and wall cladding systems. As a result, these sections are widely used across a range of building types. In particular, they suit lightweight steel construction.

Typical Applications

Roof Purlins

Purlins support metal roofing systems and transfer loads to the primary structure.

Wall Girts

Girts act as horizontal framing members and support wall cladding systems.

Commercial and Industrial Buildings

Designers commonly use these sections in sheds, warehouses, garages, and pre-engineered buildings.

Design and Engineering

Designers must size purlins and girts in accordance with project-specific structural requirements, including span, loading, wind conditions, and bracing configuration. Therefore, engineers should select sections based on design calculations and verify them against span tables. In practice, this approach ensures structural performance.

Freeman Roofing tests FR purlins and girts for use within the New Zealand construction industry. In addition, we provide section properties and span tables to support engineering design.

Important Considerations

Structural Design

A suitably qualified designer must select section size, thickness, and spacing based on load requirements and building configuration.

Corrosion Protection

Zinc-coated steel provides durability; however, designers should also consider environmental exposure conditions when selecting material specification.

Compatibility

Purlins and girts must align with the selected roofing and cladding system. In addition, designers must consider fixing methods and support requirements.

Talk to Your Local Freeman Roofing Branch

For product availability, section selection, and project-specific support, contact your local Freeman Roofing branch.

Our team can help you select the appropriate purlin and girt system for your project. We can also provide supporting technical information where required.