What is a Girt in Steel Structure?
If you’ve been researching metal buildings or steel construction, you may have run across a term that sounds a little confusing at first: girt. So, you may be asking, “What is a girt in a steel structure?”.
It’s one of those components most people never see, but it plays a big role in how a steel building performs day in and day out.
What is a Girt in a Steel Structure?
In a steel structure, a girt is a horizontal framing member that runs along the exterior walls of a metal building. Girts are attached to the main steel columns and provide support for wall panels, much like purlins support the roof panels.
If columns are the skeleton of the building, girts are what tie everything together along the walls. They help transfer loads and give the wall system strength and stability.
Most girts in pre-engineered metal buildings are made from cold-formed steel and shaped as ‘C’ or ‘Z’ sections, depending on design requirements.
What Do Girts Do?
Understanding what a girt is in a steel structure becomes easier when you look at its job:
1. Support Wall Panels
Girts give metal siding something solid to attach to. Without girts, wall panels wouldn’t have the structural backing they need to stay secure.
2. Add Strength to the Building Walls
Girts help the walls resist wind pressure and other lateral forces. This is especially important in areas where strong storms and high winds are common.
3. Maintain Building Shape and Alignment
They help keep the building square and straight, preventing wall movement and panel distortion over time.
4. Allow for Customization
Girt spacing can be adjusted based on building height, use, and local design requirements. That flexibility is one of the reasons steel buildings work so well for agricultural, commercial, and residential applications.
Girts vs. Purlins: What’s the Difference?
This is a question we hear all the time. While both are horizontal members, they serve different areas of the building:
Girts run along the walls
Purlins run across the roof
Together, they form the framework that supports metal panels and helps the building perform as a complete system.
Why Girts Matter More Than You Think
When buyers ask what is girt in steel structure, they’re usually trying to understand quality, not just terminology.
Well-designed girts affect:
Wall strength and rigidity
Wind resistance
Panel performance
Long-term durability
Poorly designed or improperly spaced girts can lead to oil-canning (which happens when metal panels are stressed, causing waviness or distortions in the panels), loose panels, or unnecessary movement in the walls. That’s why professional engineering and proper material selection matter so much in steel building construction.
Girts in Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings
In pre-engineered metal buildings, girts aren’t random pieces of steel; they’re part of a carefully designed system. Every girt is sized and spaced to match the building’s intended use, wall height, and environmental demands.
This approach provides:
Efficient material use
Faster construction timelines
Reliable structural performance
A cleaner, more professional finish
It’s one of the reasons metal buildings continue to grow in popularity for storage buildings, workshops, warehouses, and residential metal structures.
Why Working with Experienced Builders Matters
Knowing the role of girts helps buyers ask better questions, but partnering with an experienced metal building team like Phoenix Building Solutions ensures those details are handled correctly from the start. From engineering to installation, every component works together to create a building that performs the way it should.
Where Strength Meets Smart Design
So, what is a girt in steel structure? It’s a critical wall support system that strengthens your building, supports metal siding, and helps protect your investment over time.
It may not be the most visible part of a steel building, but it’s one of the reasons a well-built metal structure feels solid, secure, and built right. And when you’re planning a metal building, those details matter more than most people realize.
Design your own metal building with our free 3D design tool or reach out to a sales representative to discuss your building. If you’re ready to start building, get your free metal building quote now.
