Many exquisite house structures rely on purlins for support. Although modern people rarely build their own houses, especially tiled houses, knowledge about purlins remains important. In recent years, although building materials have changed, the name "purlin" has persisted. This article will explain in detail what a purlin is and its specific function.
A purlin, also known as a rafter or purlin beam, is a horizontal roof beam perpendicular to the roof truss or rafters. Its main function is to support the rafters or roofing material, and to withstand the pressure from the roof when subjected to lateral bending (usually bi-directional bending). Typically, purlins are designed as a single-span simply supported structure.
