What is S280GD galvanized steel?
S280GD is the structural galvanized grade that the purlin industry standardised on: 280 MPa minimum yield gives a C or Z section in 1.5–2.5 mm the capacity for 5–7 m bays under normal roof loads, while the strip is still soft enough (18 % elongation, bend radius 1 × t) to roll-form lips, stiffeners and swages on ordinary tooling. It comes from a low-carbon, manganese-strengthened heat (C ≤ 0.20 %, Mn ≤ 1.70 %), hot-rolled pickled or cold-rolled substrate, hot-dip galvanized with Z275 as the industry coating — the old EN 10147 name Fe E 280 G still appears on drawings, as does the DIN StE 280 Z. Beyond purlins it is the strip for side rails, eave beams, sigma and omega framing sections, heavier cable ladders and solar mounting rails, and for any roll-formed part that carries a design load and lives outdoors. We keep the purlin gauges in stock and slit to the developed width of the section.
Chemical composition
| Element | C | Si | Mn | P | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| max. % (ladle) | 0.20 | 0.60 | 1.70 | 0.10 | 0.045 |
Typical heat: C 0.07–0.10, Mn 0.50–0.80.
Mechanical properties
| Property | Requirement | Typical value | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield strength ReH / Rp0.2 | ≥ 280 MPa | 310–360 MPa | fyb = 280 |
| Tensile strength Rm | ≥ 360 MPa | 390–450 MPa | |
| Elongation A80 | ≥ 18 % | 22–28 % | |
| Bend radius (180°) | 1 × t | passes |
Equivalent grades
| System | Grade | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EN 10147 (old) | Fe E 280 G / S280GD+Z | withdrawn |
| DIN 17162 | StE 280 Z | historic |
| ASTM A653 | SS Grade 40 (275 MPa) | Structural Steel |
| JIS G3302 | SGC440 | |
| GB/T 2518 | S280GD+Z |
Matching the zinc class to the exposure
| Class | Zinc mass (g/m², both sides) | Thickness per side (µm) | Typical life C3 | Where used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z200 | 200 | ≈ 14 | 9–13 years | C2 rural and dry inland (Anatolia, Iraq interior) |
| Z275 | 275 | ≈ 20 | 12–18 years | C3 urban and industrial — the common export class |
| Z350 | 350 | ≈ 25 | 15–22 years | C4 coastal and humid industrial (Gulf, West Africa) |
The corrosivity category, not the country, sets the class: a warehouse 30 km inland from Jeddah is C3 and the same building on the corniche is C4–C5. Tell us the site and the design life and we quote the class against it; a wrong class costs more in ten years than the coating premium does today.
Thickness range and stock sizes
| Thickness | Widths × lengths | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 / 2.0 / 2.5 / 3.0 mm | coil 1 250 / 1 500 mm; slit to purlin widths | stock Z275 |
| 1.0 / 1.2 mm | coil 1 250 mm | to order 2–3 weeks |
| 0.50–0.80 mm | coil 1 000 / 1 250 mm | to order 2–3 weeks |
| finished purlins | C / Z 100–350 mm from our line | see C & Z purlins |
Weight per m² and per sheet
| Thickness | kg/m² | 1 000 × 2 000 (kg) | 1 250 × 2 500 (kg) | 1 500 × 3 000 (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 mm | 4.20 | 8.4 | 13.1 | 18.9 |
| 0.7 mm | 5.77 | 11.5 | 18.0 | 26.0 |
| 1 mm | 8.13 | 16.3 | 25.4 | 36.6 |
| 1.2 mm | 9.70 | 19.4 | 30.3 | 43.6 |
| 1.5 mm | 12.05 | 24.1 | 37.7 | 54.2 |
| 2 mm | 15.98 | 32.0 | 49.9 | 71.9 |
| 2.5 mm | 19.90 | 39.8 | 62.2 | 89.6 |
| 3 mm | 23.83 | 47.7 | 74.5 | 107.2 |
Includes Z275 coating; subtract 0.135 kg/m² for Z140.
Forming, welding and design
Roll-forms C, Z, sigma and omega sections with lips and stiffeners at 1 × t inside radius; punching of bolt holes and cleats in-line is routine (clearance 10 %). MAG welding with fume extraction where sections are welded to cleats; bolted connections (M12/M16) are standard. Design to EN 1993-1-3 with fyb = 280 MPa, fu = 360 MPa, core thickness = nominal − 0.04 mm for Z275. For long spans and heavy snow, step up to S350GD rather than to thicker S280GD — the weight saving is usually larger.
Where it is used
- C and Z purlins and side rails, 100–350 mm
- Sigma, omega and heavy light-gauge framing sections
- Eave beams, bracing and sag-rod systems
- Solar mounting rails and posts
- Heavy cable ladders and support systems
- Trailer floor and body cross-members
S280GD vs S350GD for purlins
For bays up to about 6 m under moderate loads S280GD in 1.5–2.0 mm is the economical purlin; beyond that, or under heavy snow and wind, S350GD lets the same section carry 25 % more or the bay grow by a metre for a price difference of about 20 USD/t. Below S280GD, S250GD serves roofing sheet and light profiles. Our finished C & Z purlins are rolled from S280GD by default and S350GD on request.
Price
S280GD is priced about 20 USD/t over DX51D of the same thickness; the bands below are indicative FOB Istanbul for the stocked purlin gauges and for thin coil to order. Slitting to purlin width is priced per ton.
Bands from our weekly export list (September 2026), FOB Istanbul, full-container quantities, excluding freight and certificates. Firm price per project on RFQ within one working day.
Export and packing
S280GD usually leaves as slit strip at the developed width of the section, banded in sets per profile and labelled with the coil number so the roll-former can trace a bad metre back to the heat. Full coils are cradled eye-to-sky, 8-25 t. Finished purlins ship in nested bundles on a flat-bed or in a 40' HC. HS 7210.49 (7216.91 for rolled sections).
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| MOQ | One coil (10–20 t) or 5 t of slit strip |
| Incoterms | FOB Istanbul · CIF / CFR Gulf, Africa · DAP EU, Balkans, Iraq, Caucasus · DAP Aktau |
| Lead time | Stock 1.5–3.0 mm Z275: 3–5 working days; 0.50–1.2 mm to order 2–3 weeks |
| Packing | Coil eye-to-sky, VCI wrap; slit coils on pallets |
| Container / truck | 20' one coil ≤ 20 t; 40' HC two coils |
| Documents | Invoice, packing list, EN 10204 3.1 (3.2 on request), certificate of origin; SASO / SONCAP / PVoC on request |
| Payment | 30% advance, balance against B/L copy; L/C at sight for orders above 100 t |
Certificates and testing
S280GD is delivered against an EN 10204 3.1 certificate covering the guaranteed 280 MPa yield, the tensile and elongation and the zinc mass. When we roll the purlins ourselves, the section drawing, the hole schedule and the coating check travel in the same file. Third-party 3.2 inspection is priced per project.
How to order
Specify thickness, coil width or slit widths (developed width of the section), coating Z275 / Z140, tonnage, and whether you want us to roll the purlins — send the schedule and we quote finished sections.
Standards
- EN 10346:2015 — S280GD+Z, 1.0244
- EN 10143 — tolerances
- EN 1993-1-3 — cold-formed design (fyb = 280 MPa)
- EN 10204 3.1
- Former EN 10147 Fe E 280 G
Grades
Grade data sheets (chemistry, mechanicals, equivalents) are on our reference site: S280GD · S250GD · S350GD
Frequently asked questions
What is S280GD?
A structural hot-dip galvanized strip to EN 10346 (1.0244) with guaranteed yield ≥ 280 MPa and tensile ≥ 360 MPa — the standard grade for C and Z purlins and heavier roll-formed profiles; old name Fe E 280 G.
Which grade of steel is used for purlins?
S280GD+Z275 is the industry standard for cold-formed C/Z purlins in Europe and the Middle East; S350GD for long spans and heavy loads; S250GD for light profiles.
What is the difference between S280GD and S350GD?
Guaranteed yield 280 vs 350 MPa: S350GD carries about 25 % more for the same section but bends at 1.5 × t and costs about 20 USD/t more.
What is the ASTM equivalent of S280GD?
ASTM A653 SS Grade 40 (275 MPa yield); JIS G3302 SGC440.
Is S280GD+Z275 in stock?
Yes — 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mm in 1 250 / 1 500 mm at Dilovası, slit to purlin widths in 3–5 days; thinner gauges in 2–3 weeks.