18/07/2017 ASTM A123 for Structural Steel Products | American Galvanizers Association

Inspection Course Galvanizing Standards ASTM A123 for Structural Steel Products

ASTM A123 for Structural Steel Products

Figure 11: Single Fabrication with

Multiple Material Categories

The specification ASTM A123/A123M covers individual steel pieces as well as assemblies of various classes of material.
The six material categories covered in ASTM A123/A123M include structural shapes, strip and bar, plate, pipe and tubing,
wire, and reinforcing bar. A fabrication can have more than one material category such as a frame assembly. Any
combination of these products can be assembled into a single fabrication and then hot-dip galvanized(Figure 11).

It is the responsibility of the designer and fabricator to ensure the product has been properly designed and built before
hot-dip galvanizing. The galvanizer should be informed of any necessary special instructions or requests, preferably in
writing on the purchase order, before the materials are shipped to the galvanizing plant.

It is the responsibility of the galvanizer to ensure compliance with the specifications, as long as the product has been
designed and fabricated in accordance with the supporting specifications. However, if the galvanizer has to perform
additional work in order to prepare the product for hot-dip galvanizing, such as drilling holes to facilitate drainage or
venting, it should be approved by the customer. Once the material has been hot-dip galvanized, it can be fully inspected
at the galvanizing plant prior to shipment.

Any materials rejected by an inspector for any reason except embrittlement may be stripped, regalvanized, and
resubmitted for inspection. The ASTM specifications A143/A143M, ASTM A384/A384M, and ASTM A385 provide guidelines
for preparing products for hot-dip galvanizing. The requirements listed in ASTM A123/A123M include coating thickness,
finish, appearance, and adherence. These are each defined below and discussed in more detail later in this course.

ASTM A123/A123M Requirements

Coating Thickness / Weight dependent upon material category and steel thickness
Finish continuous, smooth, uniform
Appearance free from uncoated areas, blisters, flux deposits and gross dross inclusions as well as having no heavy
zinc deposits that interfere with intended use
Adherence the entire coating should have a strong adherence throughout the service life of galvanized steel

The hot-dip galvanized coating is intended for products fabricated into their final shape that will be exposed to corrosive
environmental conditions. Once a product has been hot-dip galvanized, any further fabrication, which rarely occurs,
may have negative e ects on the corrosion protection of the coating. The coating grade is defined as the required

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thickness of the coating and is given in microns. All coating thickness requirements in specification ASTM A123/A123M,
(Tables 1 and 2), are minimums; there are no maximum coating thickness requirements in the specification.

The time to first maintenance of hot-dip galvanized steel is directly proportional to the thickness of the zinc coating.
With all other variables held constant, the thicker the zinc coating, the longer the life of the steel. The aim of the finish
and appearance requirements is to ensure there are no problem areas deficient of zinc or with surface defects that
interfere with the intended use of the product. In addition, the coating should have a strong adherence throughout the
service of the hot-dip galvanized steel.

Table 1: Minimum Average Coating Thickness Grade by Material Category

All Specimens Tested

Steel Thickness Range (Measured) in. [mm]

1/8 to 3/16
<1/16 1/16 to <1/8 3/16 to <1/4 1/4 to <5/8 5/8
Material Category [3.2 to < 4.8]
[<1.6] [1.6 to <3.2] [4.8 to <6.4] [6.4 to <16.0] [16.0]

Structural Shapes 45 65 75 75 100 100

Strip and Bar 45 65 75 75 75 100

Plate 45 65 75 75 75 100

Pire & Tubing 45 45 75 75 75 75

Wire 35 50 60 65 80 80

Reinforcing Bar -- -- -- -- 100 100

Table 2: Coating Thickness GradeA

Coating Grade mils oz/ 2 m g/m2

35 1.4 .8 35 245

45 1.8 1.0 45 320

50 2.0 1.2 50 355

55 2.2 1.3 55 390

60 2.4 1.4 60 425

65 2.6 1.5 65 460

75 3.0 1.7 75 530

80 3.1 1.9 80 656

85 3.3 2.0 85 600

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Table 2: Coating Thickness GradeA

100 3.9 2.3 100 705

A: The values in micrometresm are based o nCoating Grade. The other values are based on conversions using the

following formulas: mils=m x 0.0.937; oz/ 2=m x 0.02316; g/m2=m x 7.067

The time to first maintenance of hot-dip galvanized steel is directly proportional to the thickness of the hot-dip
galvanized coating. With all other variables held constant, the thicker the zinc coating, the longer the life of the steel.
The aim of the finish and appearance requirements is to ensure no coatings have problem areas that are deficient of
zinc or have surface defects that would interfere with the intended use of the product. In addition, the coating should
have a strong adherence throughout the service of the hot-dip galvanized steel.

2017 American Galvanizers Association

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