Purlins & Sections

STRUCTURAL SECTIONS

Slotted Side Rail Supports

Thomas Panels and Profiles Slotted Side Rail Supports are designed to provide reliable intermediate support to wall cladding rails, improving structural stability and maintaining accurate alignment across the building envelope.

These supports help transfer loads from the side rail system back into the primary structure, assisting in controlling deflection and preventing unwanted movement under wind pressure or cladding weight.

MAIN FEATURES

We supply two dedicated support assemblies to suit the full range of structural sections:

A system designed specifically for Z and C Sections

A system engineered for Sigma Sections

Each assembly is available to suit the standard series sizes within the Thomas Panels and Profiles main section range, ensuring correct fitment and compatibility with existing bracket centres and punching details.

C section

connection

Z Purlin

connection

Sigma

connection

Technical Function

Intermediate Support and Load Distribution

Slotted side rail supports provide additional restraint to cladding rails between primary structural members. By introducing intermediate support points, they help reduce span deflection, maintain straight wall lines, and improve the overall performance of the cladding system.

Lateral and Rotational Stability

By securing the side rails back to the structural frame, these supports assist in preventing rotation or twisting of the rail sections, particularly where eccentric cladding loads or wind forces are present.

Integrated Diagonal Wire Tie Provision

A key feature of the Thomas Panels and Profiles design is the inclusion of a slotted bracket detail, allowing the diagonal wire tie bracket to pass through the support without requiring deductions for bracket thickness. This simplifies installation, maintains correct geometry, and ensures accurate alignment of the diagonal bracing system.

TECHNICAL:

As with our roof systems, all following layouts are relevant to restrained cladding sytems. This is applicable to vertical and horizontal, single skin and insulated cladding types. Should you require a system, layout or component to suit your non-restrained cladding, please contact our sales or technical team for asssitance. Slotted side rail supports provide a sturdy restraint to side rails and prevent sagging prior to installation of

C/Z Section

specification

C section

connection

Z purlin

connection

The slot offers a convenient entry point for the wire tie bracket, simplifying the side rail support specification by eliminating the need to account for the bracket’s thickness.

This slot is not provided for the Sigma series, additional holes are punched at 50mm c/c in the rail to accomodate the wire tie brackets.