The American Galvanizers Association, Members To Host SteelDay Events Across North America

On Friday, September 28, all facets of the steel industry throughout North America will open their doors, hoping to open specifiers’ minds to the endless opportunities of designing with structural steel. SteelDay, created by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), is an interactive networking day for the AEC community and general public to learn how the steel industry contributes to building America. Steel fabricators, mills, service centers, galvanizers, HSS producers, and others in the industry will open their facilities, job sites, and offices to offer tours, continuing education credits, and a glimpse into the industry at no charge.

Does hot-dip galvanized steel perform the same in any type of environment?

Hot-dip galvanized steel is specified in many different applications and environments. Exposure conditions include atmospheric, submerged applications, chemical environments, and soil. Although the galvanized coating provides barrier and cathodic protection in each of these environments, the mechanism of corrosion protection can be different. Let’s explore how the hot-dip galvanized coating protects the underlying steel in different environments.

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COTTON CENTER SOLAR PLANT

Gila Bend, AZ

In the mid-2000's, the Federal Government began awarding tax credits to energy producers based upon the percentage of renewable energy relative to the company's total supply. These incentives presented vast opportunities to the solar energy production industry. Because the legislation included conditions for a minimum product life of 25 years, energy companies like Arizona Public Service (APS) required corrosion protection up to the challenge. Hot-dip galvanized (HDG) steel was able to provide the required durability, even in the extreme heat and acidic soils of Arizona. To comply with the 25-year product-life restriction, other coatings, such as paint or powder coating, would require periodic repair and touch-up, which would erode the bottom line for APS. HDG will provide a minimum of 75 years of maintenance-free service, even in the harshest environments saving money over the life of the project and was also competitive with other coatings in initial cost. Another benefit of HDG is the ability of the galvanizer to customize turnaround times. Providing the support structures for over 75,000 photovoltaic panels involved tens of thousands of individual pieces that required handling, bundling and installation - stages of processing in which damage to other coating methods can occur and cause delays in production. With hot-dip galvanizing, no on-site application or touch-up was required, allowing the fabricator and erector to meet deadlines.