How galvanised Steel Can Benefit You

Hot dip galvanised steel is used in a variety of industries and plays an important role within our built environment. If you are unfamiliar, galvanizing is the process where clean steel is immersed into molten zinc to obtain a coating that is metallurgically bonded to it. The reason this is done is to provide long-term corrosion protection and strength to the metal in years to come. Galvanised steel has been used for over 150 years, in many different environments across the world. Its main practical uses include:

• road, 
• rail, 
• energy plants, 
• oil and gas, 
• agriculture, 
• water and waste 
• sports and leisure

Wherever there is a risk for corrosion of steel, due to contact with water or exposure to elements, galvanising should be used to ensure the longevity of your steel. Have a read below to learn more about the ways galvanised steel pipes can be beneficial to your facility. 

Galvanizing is Durable

If you are looking for one of the most durable forms of corrosion protection on the market, A galvanised coating will exceed your expectation. With an average coating thickness of 85 microns, which is only the same thickness as a sheet of A4 paper, this coating can successfully protect a steel structure from corrosion for almost 100 years.
Most corrosion protection is required to be of at least 85 microns, and any clean steel of a size greater than 6mm thick will develop a coating of this required size upon being dipped into molten zinc. This is because, in most normal scenarios, a galvanised coating is expected to weather less than one micron per year, giving it longevity of at least 85 years. Even in extreme conditions, you can expect more than 30 years of life from a galvanised steel pipe. 

Galvanizing is Sustainable

Because galvanizing provides long-term durability at a relatively low environmental burden in terms of energy and other globally relevant impacts, you can be certain that purchasing galvanised steel pipe fittings in the UK is better for the environment than other alternatives. 

There are high economic and environmental costs associated with the repeated maintenance painting of steel structures, and buying steel that is galvanised provides long-term protection without the need for maintenance due to corrosion, which can both save you money and help the environment. 

Galvanizing is Cost-effective

As previously mentioned, using galvanised metal is the best way to reduce the true cost of purchasing your steel. As while many remember to take into consideration the initial cost, the price of the future maintenance costs can often be overlooked, so purchasing steel that needs less repair saves you money in the long run. 

Hot dip galvanizing is often perceived to be more expensive than it is. There are two reasons for this: Firstly, such a high-performance coating is automatically assumed to be expensive. Secondly, the initial cost of galvanising relative to paint has changed significantly over recent years. The cost of corrosion protecting your metals with paint has increased over time, making galvanizing the more financially viable alternative.

Galvanizing is Proven

The galvanising industry is recording increased production year on year, companies big and small are using galvanization to protect their steel from the elements because it proves itself time and time again as trustworthy and reliable.

UK and Irish galvanizers can point to a history spanning over one hundred and sixty years of using this method and many plants have been in the same family for generations, providing complete reliability in their products and methods.  It is an industry built upon a solid track record and proven performance, which is rigorously tested through expert monitoring and performance data collection.

If you decide to invest in galvanised steel pipe fittings in the UK, you can guarantee that you are getting the best corrosion protection possible on your steel and that it will last for years to come. Galvanising is a proven method of protection.

Galvanizing is Tough

Galvanizing has an abrasion resistance of up to ten times better than organic paint coatings. The process of galvanizing is unique and manages to produce a coating that bonds metallurgically to the steel.  This means that it is more resistant to common causes of metal fatigue and corrosion such as mechanical damage during handling, storage, and transportation.

Due to this unique metallurgical bond, steel that has been galvanised can offer exceptional performance across multiple layers, making it stronger than regular steel as the initial outer layer provides reliability as a buffer zone, helping to absorb any initial shock to the coating.

So if you need to purchase any sort of pipage for your facility and aren’t sure what to get, be sure to consider galvanised steel pipe as it is one of the most durable, long-lasting and effective options on the market. Protect your steel from corrosion for decades to come.