Why hot dip galvanize steel?

Galvanizing is a steel protection method used to protect steel against corrosion, and there are many benefits to hot dip galvanizing you may not know. We’ve covered some of the main benefits of galvanizing steel here.

Two galvanizing operatives hot dip galvanizing

Galvanizing saves money

A study commissioned by the Galvanizer’s Association found, when comparing painted and hot dip galvanized coating systems on a typical 240 tonne steel frame building, the paint system was found to be 35% more expensive than hot dip galvanizing. It is also estimated that up to 80% of a building’s whole-life cost can be attributed to maintenance, refurbishments and running costs. Therefore, the initial material and coating choice for projects is vital, and hot dip galvanizing comes out much cheaper in the long term.

Increased lifespan

A hot dip galvanized finish gives steel a long life and durability of between 34 and 100 years, depending on the environment. In addition, it creates a maintenance-free finish, lessening the carbon emissions usually associated with the upkeep of non-galvanized steel.

Complete coverage

Galvanizing involves submerging the entire fabrication in zinc, so all surfaces – both internal and external – are coated, meaning the fabrication is fully protected from corrosion without areas being missed.

An electronic probe measures the thickness of the zinc layer from galvanizing to checks it meets BS EN ISO 1461 standards, so you can be sure your steel is reliably protected from corrosion, every time. Not only is the galvanized coating quality standardised, it’s also much quicker to dry than paint. This means your steel fabrication is fit for use much sooner – a necessity for fast turnaround times.

Galvanizing is sustainable

Both the galvanized steel product and the galvanizing process itself are sustainable, fitting into a circular economy. Once the galvanized steel eventually reaches its end of life, it can be melted, repurposed, and repeatedly used without losing quality.

Our galvanizing plants are self-contained; steel goes in at one end and the final product comes out at the other. As a result, the emission levels are controlled and the excess waste products can be repurposed. We’ve created a useful animation that shows the galvanizing process and how we control emissions.

Our galvanizing services are to Environmental Management ISO14001 Standards, so you can be sure you’re partnered with a company that cares about the future.

Galvanizing provides triple protection for steel

Galvanizing provides three-way protection for steel, contributing to its reliability as a corrosion protection method.

The physical barrier

The physical zinc barrier is metallurgically bonded to the underlying steel and provides protection against atmospheric attack. The metallurgically bonded alloys are often harder than the steel they protect, with the outer zinc layer being softer and able to absorb impact.

These factors allow hot dip galvanized steel to have excellent abrasion and chip resistance, weathering at a slow rate and providing maintenance-free corrosion protection for upwards of 60 years.

Sacrificial protection

The second layer of protection is that the galvanized coating will corrode preferentially to the underlying steel, known as cathodic protection. Due to the scientific nature of this process, hot dip galvanizing is very reliable in providing long-term protection.

Prevention of sideways creep

In the unlikely event that bare steel becomes exposed, the zinc coating will limit damage and prevent sideways creep, which is a type of corrosion. Painted steel items can be severely affected by sideways creep from rust deposits that can accumulate on bare steel, spreading underneath the existing paint coating. However, the zinc coating achieved from hot dip galvanizing prevents the damage that can occur from sideways creep.