Why You Should Galvanise Steel Builders Beams
09 June 2021
Builders beams are commonly used across the construction industry, with advantages that make them suitable for residential and commercial projects. Structural steel beams are used to support both floors and ceilings, playing an essential role in maintaining the structural integrity of a building and making every construction project safer.
Structural steel is such a useful material due to its incredible strength-to-weight ratio. It is durable under various conditions, but an extra layer of protection is often required, created by galvanising steel beams.
What is Galvanised Steel?
Galvanised steel is a type of steel with extra protection due to the layer of molten zinc coated through the galvanising process. Zinc is used because it prevents corrosive substances from reaching the base steel and also prevents the steel underneath from being scratched or damaged. This form of protection covers many potential issues that could affect the strength of your steel builders beams. Still, it is less effective if you’re working in a coastal area or deal with acid rain (in these cases, consider using stainless steel instead).
The process of galvanising steel is as follows:
- Degreasing - The structural steel beams must be treated and cleaned to remove any dirt, paint, or any other surface contaminants, all of which could affect the zinc coating.
- Fluxing - The steel is then immersed in a flux solution, which is done to prevent any further oxidisation happening before the galvanising is complete, and then dried to create a solid layer.
- Galvanising - The steel is now fully immersed in a bath of molten zinc, which coats the steel through metallurgic bonding. The molten zinc solidifies as it cools, forming a galvanised coating that helps to protect the steel beam.
This process is quick and easy, meaning it takes just a few minutes to dip prepared steelwork into molten zinc and form a durable, reliable coating that’ll last for years.
Why Steel Builders Beams Should Be Galvanised
By this point in the blog, you should understand the advantages of using galvanised steel, but how does that apply to builders beams and the construction industry directly? Here are some reasons why choosing to galvanise your steel beams could be crucial to the success of your project:
- Durability - A galvanised coating is one of the most durable forms of corrosion protection on the market. It can protect a steel beam for almost 100 years, ensuring that whatever it’s being used to create can be enjoyed for decades to come.
- Sustainability - This long-term durability is achieved with a low environmental burden, especially in comparison with alternative methods such as repeatedly painting structural steel beams to achieve the same level of protection.
- Cost-Effective - Galvanised steel beams are often perceived to be more expensive than they are, as the cost of the process has remained constant whilst its alternatives have become much more costly. For example, using paint now costs 35% more on average than galvanising, whilst coming with fewer advantages.
- Proven - The history of galvanised steel goes back more than 150 years, so examples of the material can be found in many parts of society, the longevity of which proves the benefits of galvanising steel before using it for construction.
- Reliable - Galvanising is a straightforward and controlled process, with rules and regulations in place to ensure that it remains a reliable process. As a result, the coating formed is consistent, predictable and straightforward to specify, making it easy to order what you need for your project.
Uses for Galvanised Steel Products
Plenty of industries use galvanised steel to reap its benefits, including road, rail, energy plants, agriculture, water and waste, and sports and leisure. Over the last 150 years, galvanised steel has often been used to create buildings and bridges. Many people will have seen garden buildings or sheds built from this material before, as the protection that galvanisation offers against weather conditions is second to none.
In summary - wherever there is a risk for steel corrosion, galvanised steel should be used.
Online Steel Builders Beams Supplier
If you’re looking to buy steel online, Buy A Beam is an easy-to-use online steel shopping tool that connects you with local steel fabricators to create orders to your specifications, including galvanised steel builders beams.
Use our online shop and free steel beam calculator to find out more. Alternatively, contact us today; our team has plenty of experience and knowledge about the galvanising process, so we’d be happy to help.