Difference between Purlin Structure and Light Gauge Steel Structure

Difference between Purlin Structure and Light Gauge Steel Structure

It is true that there is not a unified standard to determine whether a structure is a purlin structure or a light gauge steel structure, and many experienced designers or project managers often cannot fully explain it’s difference, but we can use some data for comprehensive consideration and judgment.

(NOVOTEK Light Gauge Steel Framing Machine)

1. Capacity of workshop crane: if more than 25 tons, then can be regarded as purlin structure.

2. Steel quantity per square meter: above 50kg/m2, can be seen as purlin structure.

3. Steel plate thickness of main components: if no less than 10mm, then it is light gauge steel structure.

4. In addition, there are other important factors: cost per square meter, maximum component weight, maximum span, structural form, cornice height, etc., which can provide empirical data for judging whether plants are purlin structure or light gauge structure.

5. Of course, now many buildings are lightweight but with purlin steel used, however some of them are definitely heavy steel, such as: petrochemical facilities, power plants, large-span stadiums, exhibition centers, high-rise or super-high-rise steel structures.

6. As a matter of fact, purlin structure is not covered by national standard specifications and technical documents. In order to distinguish the purlin steel structure of lightweight buildings, it may be more suitable to refer to the general steel structure as "ordinary steel". Due to the widely application of ordinary steel structure, it can accommodate all kinds of steel structure, no matter what is the loading size.

7. Even though it contains a lot of content of light gauge steel structure, the Technical Specification for Building Light Gauge Steel structure only specifies some relatively specific content according to its "light" characteristics, and its scope is limited to single-layer portal rigid frame.

8. Light steel is also a vague term, generally can be understood from two aspects. One is the current "Steel Structure Design Code" (GBJ 17-88), chapter 11 "round steel and small Angle steel light gauge steel structure", refers to the use of round steel and less than L45*4 and L56

9. The light gauge steel structure made of * 36 * 4 Angle steel is mainly used for small size structure which is not suitable for reinforced concrete structure when the steel degree is insufficient. Therefore, in this revision of steel structure design specification, it is generally inclined to be deleted.

10. According to the technical Specification for Light gauge steel structure of Portal frame building, it is single solid belly portal frame structure, light roof and light external wall (masonry external wall can also be used conditionally). Lightweight here refers primarily to the lightweight material used in the case.

It can be seen that the difference between light steel and purlin steel lies not in the weight of the structure itself, but in the weight of load-bearing and the structure design concept.

(Universal Cutter of NTK-CZ-400 CZ Purlin Machine)

Notes for installation of steel structure:

1. According to the installation sequence and process requirements, prefabricate and assemble steel components on the steel platform to ensure the welding quality.

2. The distance between flange splicing joint and section steel web should be more than 200mm.The splicing length of the wing plate is not less than two times the width of the wing plate; Web splicing width is not less than 300 mm and length is not less than 600 mm.

3. In order to facilitate welding and ensure welding quality, stiffeners, connecting plates, bottom plates and cantilever beams on columns and beams shall be assembled and welded on the ground steel platform according to the dimensions of construction drawings.

The prefabricated steel members on the steel platform should not only be made and assembled according to the construction drawings and specifications, but also take into account the changes of on-site installation process and installation size.

Tips: CZ Purlin Roll Forming Machine, Light Gauge Steel Framing Machine