Galvanized sheet metals is used in many different location for item such as air duct and barn siding. The gauge of the galvanized sheet metal tell you the thickness of the metal. The higher the gauge number, the more thinner the metal.
The lower the gauge number the thicker the metal. Thus, the gauge impact the metals behavior under a load, its corrosion resistances and the cost of the metal itself. A reference chart will show the gauge number, the thickness of the metal, the weight of the zinc coating and the use of the metal.
How Gauge and Zinc Coating Affect Galvanized Sheet Metal
Using the chart, a person can determine what gauge numbers is best suit for environment with heavy traffic as opposed to those with light traffic. Furthermore, the reference chart will help a person who work in a variety of different industries to understand how the gauge relate to the various uses of the metal. The gauge system measure the thickness of the metal.
The system is used as a short way to describe the thickness of the metal. Because of the galvanizing process, the metal is thicker than it would be without the zinc coating. The thickness of the zinc coating is important because the zinc is use to protect the metal from corrosion.
The weight of the coating will determine the metals length of life in dry air vs. Salt air. It is important to choose the correct weight of the zinc coating for a project. Choosing the correct weight will prevent a project from fail.
While a light zinc layer and a heavy zinc layer may appear the same when the metal is deliver to a job site, the difference will be visible at the metals cut edges after many year of exposure to the elements. A reference chart can be used to decide the best zinc coating weight for specific environment. Furthermore, the chart can be used to tell a client the cost effectiveness of one type of coating vs. Another.
The gauge impact the way in which the metal is fabricated. Thin metal will be easier to form into the desired shape. However, more force will be require to bend thin metal.
Thicker metal is more resistant to distortion from welding but require very precise tooling to fabricate. Safety is of concern when working with galvanized sheet metal. Regardless of the gauge of metal being used, cutting and grinding the metal will release zinc oxide fume which is dangerous to a person.
To protect crew members from harmful fumes, the use of ventilation and respiratory protection are required when working with galvanized sheet metal. A reference chart can display to the crew members the gauges that are common in certain trades so that the necessary ventilation can be plan for the job. The zinc coating will protect the metal from corrosion by sacrifice itself instead of the metal.
Thus, the metal can survive scratches that would immediately lead to corrosion in steel that is painted. The weight of the zinc coating will determine how long the metal will last in its environment. A heavy weight of zinc will allow the metal to endure longer in rural area or coastal area.
A gauge reference chart is useful as a way to make an invisible property of the metal into a visible decision for the metal fabricator. By using the chart to examine the relationship between the thickness of the metal, the weight of the zinc coating and the use for which the metal will be used, a decision can be made based off engineering. Furthermore, by using the reference chart, an assumption can be eliminate and the metal guaranteed to meet the necessary specification for the project.
