What is Galvanised Sheet Metal and What Can It Be Used For?

Despite the prevalence of galvanised sheet metal, there’s still a great deal of confusion among people who aren’t too familiar with steel products about what the term actually means. We’re here to dispel the confusion and shed more light on this zinc-coated steel with significantly better corrosion resistance than regular steel.

What are the properties of galvanised sheet metal?

Galvanised sheet metal has numerous desirable properties that make it an excellent choice for a wide variety of applications in numerous industries. The most important properties include:

1. Durability: Hot dipping galvanising clean steel creates a coating with an average thickness of 85 microns (the thickness of a standard sheet of A4 paper). Inland, the coating weathers at less than one micron per year, giving galvanised sheeting excellent durability. In coastal areas, galvanised sheet has a lifespan of about 30 years.
2. Reliability: Galvanisation is a natural metallurgic reaction that creates a bond between the zinc and the steel. The bond becomes part of the steel, rather than being mechanical or chemical. As such, galvanisation is replicable and reliable. Galvanised steel sheets weather in a way that’s predictable and linear.
3. Three-way protection: Galvanisation offers three-way protection. Firstly, it creates a physical barrier which is bonded to the steel. Secondly, it offers sacrificial protection in that the zinc coating will corrode slowly over decades before the steel does. Thirdly, if in the uncommon event of the galvanised zinc coating being compromised to the point of exposing steel, the remaining coating will prevent corrosion from creeping sideways.

What is galvanised sheet metal used for?

In addition to the many applications of galvanised sheet metal in construction, this versatile & reliable product has a variety of uses in other sectors. Among them are:

1. Agriculture: Galvanised sheeting is a popular choice in the agricultural industry for the manufacturing of tools and materials that are highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation and that also offer superb resilience.
2. Automotive industry: Once used almost solely for luxury vehicles, galvanised sheet is now much more commonly used in the manufacturing of cars, buses, and other vehicles. You can find this product used for outer surfaces that are more susceptible to corrosion and rust.
3. Telecommunications: Much of the telecommunications industry’s devices, equipment, and tools, such as towers, boxes, and telephone lines, are left in the open throughout the year. Galvanised sheeting makes it possible to do this without the need to worry about maintenance, repairs, or replacement due to corrosion.
4. Wind and solar industries: Continuous workflow is characteristic of the wind and solar industries, although it’s almost impossible to achieve this using standard steel. Galvanised sheet can last for decades without maintenance, making this product ideal for these industries.

Find quality galvanised sheet metal in the UK

Durable, hard-wearing, cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable, galvanised sheet metal is an excellent choice if you are concerned about the effects of corrosion and rust. Look no further than BM Steel for the UK’s best quality galvanised sheeting. Choose from popular sizes online or get in touch with our friendly team to request a custom order.