Hot-Dip Galvanized Steel
Providing Maintenance-Free Corrosion Protection of Our Infrastructure for Generations
- No maintenance costs
- Aesthetically pleasing, consistent appearance for decades
- 100% recyclability at end-of service life
- Safe structural steel, handrail, and deck
- Sustainable project lasting 75-100 years
- Immediate availability for construction in any weather condition
What is Hot-Dip Galvanizing
A coating of naturally occurring zinc metallurgically bonded to steel that protects steel from corrosion for 75-199 years with no maintenance.
How Does it Work?
The zinc sacrificially corrodes at a very slow rate. Protecting steel bridges, sign structures, guide rail, light poles, water/wastewater facilities, power generation stations, distribution poles, and much more for generations.
Benefits of Utilizing Galvanized Steel
Durable
Hot-dip galvanized steel delivers maintenance-free corrosion protection for 75-100 years, in even the most corrosive atmospheres (industrial—plant emissions, urban – vehicle exhaust, northern – road salts). The zinc coating is actually harder than the steel it is protecting, and will retain the consistent matte gray finish throughout its service life.
Economical
Because galvanizing requires no maintenance, the initial cost of a bridge, rail yard structure, etc. is the final cost. Therefore, hot-dip galvanized steel is the lowest life-cycle cost corrosion protection system available, far more economical than painted steel or concrete, which requires frequent and costly maintenance according to a predictable cycle.
Recyclable
Zinc and steel are 100% recyclable, without the loss of chemical or physical properties. Galvanized steel has been used to protect automobile and truck body panels for decades, because it protects the consumer’s investment and there is no end-of-life impact to the environment.
Safe
Hot-dip galvanizing makes steel structures (handrail, guide rail, bridges, signs) safer. The galvanizing process applies zinc on difficult to reach corners and the inside of poles, box griders, towers, and handrail; places where corrosion usually begins. Additionally, galvanized reinforcing steel in concrete bridge decks corrodes slowly and in such microscopic form it does not cause the spalling of concrete like epoxy coated and black reinforcing steel can. Zinc is a natural metal (27th the most abundant in the Earth’s crust), safe, healthy, and a necessary part of our diet, with a recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 15 mg.
Sustainable
Because galvanized steel structures last for 75-100 years with no maintenance, the energy input over the life (60 year study) of hot-dip galvanized steel is less than half of painted steel. There is no energy, material, or labor input for maintenance throughout the project lifetime (including no unnecessary transportation of material and labor to the project site for every maintenance cycle). The CO2 emission of hot-dip galvanized steel is one-third, and the SO2 output is less than half of painted steel (VTT Building & Transport Study). In another study, the CO2 footprint of hot-dip galvanized steel is 70% of that for concrete (GaBi Database). As reported by the Technical University of Berlin, galvanizing a 550-ton parking garage saves the environment over 55 tons of CO2 emission and the reduction in water and air quality (eutrophication) is just 30% of that for a painted garage.
Available
The factory controlled galvanized process is independent of weather. Steel can be coated with zinc 24/7/365.
