Corrosion of steel, whether in atmospheric, soil, water, or chemical exposure, annually costs the economy about 3.1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Estimates show 25-30% of corrosion could be eliminated if proper corrosion protection methods, such as: hot-dip galvanizing, painting/powder coating over galvanized steel, stainless or weathering steel, or paints were employed. Selecting the most effective corrosion protection system is important, and your analysis of each method should include such things as the durability, maintenance schedule, coating’s service life, and initial and life-cycle costs. The information in this section will help you evaluate hot-dip galvanized steel in each of these areas, and also provide a comparison to other corrosion protection systems. Hot-dip galvanizing, with its superior durability, life-cycle cost, and maintenance schedule make it suitable for most applications.