Lowest First Cost - Hot Dip Galvanizing is lower in first cost than many other commonly specified protective coatings for steel. This is true because today larger and larger modular sections are capable of being fabricated and then hot dipped galvanized. Finally these much larger sections require less stick building on the jobsite, reducing significantly the erection labor costs.

Lowest Annual Cost - Fleet managers will notice that Annual expense will decline, or be completely non-existence, since Hot Dip Galvanizing is very durable. The need for annual touchups, or full-blown reconditioning by sandblasting and re-painting every 12 to 15 years is NOT necessary. Fleet managers will notice that manpower requirements, shop supplies, and capital equipment costs for sandblasters and painting equipment and booths will be less and in some cases non existence for up to 60-90 years.

Lowest Long Term Cost - Even in cases where the initial cost of hot dip galvanizing is higher than alternative coatings, hot dip galvanizing is almost invariably more cost effective in the long term because it lasts longer and needs less maintenance. This factual occurrence is driving the study of FLCA, known as full life cycle assessment.

Long Life - The life expectancy of hot dip galvanized coatings on typical structural members is far in excess of 80 years in most rural environments, and 35 to 50 years plus for truss bridges, even in severe urban and coastal exposure.

Exclusive feature of galvanizing - Hot Dipped Galvanizing has one KEY EXCLUSIVE feature that out performs all other metal coating, hands down. Edge protection on sheet metal, I-beams, sharp corners; under bolt spacers and washers, boltholes is outstanding. In fact, no other metal coating paint, E-coatings, powered coatings can compete with hot dipped galvanizing when it comes to protecting edge areas, areas that are mechanically abused, through normal assembly, operation use, or abuse.

Reliability - Finally galvanizing thickness controlled by the dipping in the zinc bath rather than applied by humans, who are known to have vacations in application. Bottomline the ASTM 123 industry standard for hot dip galvanizing is far more complete and reliable than any paint gun. Finally, annual inspections will never see galvanizing rusting from the inside, as the steel is 100 percent immersed in zinc covering the top bottom sides, inside outside every crack crevice, and metal edge. Once applied coating life and performance are reliable and very predictable as to the life of the coating.

Toughest Coating - A hot dip galvanized coating has a unique metallurgical structure which gives outstanding resistance to mechanical damage in transport, erection, and service. If the engineering specs require double duty, double thickness for longer life, the specs for double thickness of galvanizing on the product can be written, and a thicker coat of galvanizing can be applied. Double thickness for any type of paint coatings is a waste of money, and accomplishes absolutely nothing in attempts to increase the longevity of the equipment.

Automatic Protection For Damaged Areas - Hot Dip Galvanized coatings corrode have a unique feature in providing cathodic or sacrificial protection to small areas of steel exposed through damage. Unlike organic coatings, small damaged areas to the galvanized coat do not need touch up.

Complete Protection - Every part of a hot dip galvanized steel structure is protected, even recesses, sharp corners and inaccessible areas. No coating applied to a structure or fabrication after completion can provide the same protection as hot dip galvanizing.

Ease of Inspection - Hot Dip Galvanized coatings are assessed readily by eye, and simple non-destructive thickness testing methods can be used. The hot dip galvanizing process is such that if coatings appear sound and continuous then they are sound and continuous.

Faster Erection Time - As hot dip galvanized steel members are received they are ready for use. No time is lost on-site in surface preparation, painting and inspection. When assembly of the structure is complete, it is ready for use immediately, or ready for the next construction stage.

Three-way protection - Galvanized coatings protect steel in three ways. Firstly, the coating weathers at a very slow rate giving a long and predictable life. Secondly, the coating corrodes preferentially to provide cathodic protection (sacrificial) to any small areas of steel exposed through drilling, cutting or accidental damage; scratches are sealed by weathering pro- ducts from the zinc. Thirdly, if the damage area is larger, the sacrificial protection of galvanizing prevents the sideways creep of rust which can undermine paint coatings.

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