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Galvanised protection processes use the application of molten Zinc to a steel surface which acts as a sacrificial coating to the steel. The zinc coating degrades over a period of time which is calculable to a predictable extent, dependent on environment and thickness of the Zinc.

All steel work which we manufacture is Hot Dipped Galvanised in an approved plant to BS EN ISO 1461:2009 a thickness of Zinc in the range 75 to 85 microns would be expected.
Reference to The Zinc Millennium Map of the Galvanizers Association at www.galvanising.org.uk will give a good idea of the life of the galvanised coating. Remember this is the point at which you would have to start maintenance i.e. painting or other protection to the steel, it does not indicate that structural integrity is affected.

Hot Dipped Galvanising is an excellent protection measurable in its application and attractive on its own for many applications. It is not however a table top finish and should not be used where the finished item is expected to be smooth, unblemished and consistent in feel. Imperfections will show up there may well be bumps or changes in colour, it will weather over time once the Zinc begins to oxidise. For our Fence, Gate and Railing products, for Electricity Pylons and Structural Steel and many others products it is a perfect protection.

In reality the life to first maintenance for Galvanised products is in excess of The Galvanizers Association estimates. Ireland does not have any significant Industrial pollution (Individual plants may give some very localised pollution effects) our rainfall generally washes pollutants from a surface, our biggest issue is salt contamination from the sea and this again is much diluted by rainfall. We would comfortably expect an exposed Galvanised structure to far exceed 20 to 25 years before requiring maintenance anywhere in Ireland.

These are designed to provide a colour finish to a product where a galvanised or bare steel finish is not wanted. On their own they provide no protection to a steel substrate as they are generally porous and corrosion (Rust or Iron Oxide) will rapidly commence when exposed to the elements.

The presence of a galvanised zinc coating however has a synergetic effect and extends the expected life of the product to first maintenance, whether this is at a significant deterioration of the powder or plastic coating to a level unacceptable from an appearance point of view, or to actual rust appearing which could affect the structural integrity of the product is a decision for the user.

Generally these Powder or Polyester finishes are applied by Electrostatic spray techniques and the addition of additional coating layers or treatments can enhance them. Our Powder Coaters M/s Sprint Coatings operate to Qualisteelcoat standards independently verified as follows

We powder coat under licence to the International Standard Qualisteelcoat which is the premium standard for the powder coating of steel in its raw or galvanised form. The Qualisteelcoat standard is a more robust and demanding standard than BS1722-16:2009 and the bench mark standard for the powder coating of hot dip galvanised steel products BS EN 13438:2013. Qualisteelcoat is continuously and independently tested to the following standards.

• Surface preparation ISO 8503-1.
• Surface and thickness ISO 2808 ISO19840.
• Colour/gloss ISO 2813.
• Adhesion ISO 2409 ISO 16276-1.
• Retention of adhesion ISO4628-2.
• Impact resistance ISO 6272-1.
• Scratch resistance ISO 1518-1.
• Resistance to deformation ISO 1519.
• Resistance to mortar EN 12206-1.
• Resistance to salt spray ISO12944-2.
• Weathering Florida EN 13438 ISO 2810.
• Resistance to humidity ISO 12944-6.
• Resistance to sulphur dioxide.

The performance of a powder coating finish regardless of the substrate is determined by ISO 12944 categorised from Corrosion C1 very low to C5 very high. The location and the environment where the fencing is installed should determine the level of the finish. All hot dip galvanised material that we coat for Irish Fencing Services is coated to Corrosion Class C4 as a minimum.

We offer an extensive range of Mesh Systems and Gates utilising a mesh infill. Where we manufacture an item to your requirements such as a Gate it will be fully hot dipped galvanised and powder coated to the above specification. Some mesh systems such as Kilmainham are supplied to us with a Zinc coated substrate these we powder coat to standard. There are no Mesh systems manufactured in Ireland we offer only products from reputable EU producers with whom we have dealt for many years. We are aware of materials originating outside The EU which have caused considerable problems in particular rusting at wire joints and rapidly deteriorating powder coating.