This specification covers the requirements for zinc coatings applied by the electrolytic process to any grade of hot-rolled or cold-rolled steel sheets for applications requiring designation of the coating mass on each surface. Coating application shall be done on one or both surfaces with equal or differential coating masses and similar levels of corrosion protection, and shall have no effect on the base metal mechanical properties. The coated sheets may be available as commercial steel (CS), drawing steel (DS), deep drawing steel (DDS), extra-deep drawing steel (EDDS), structural steel (SS), high-strength low-alloy steel (HSLAS), high-strength low-alloy steel with improved formability (HSLAS-F), solution-hardened steel (SHS), or bake-hardenable steel (BHS). Coatings shall be designated accordingly, and shall undergo test methods such as weigh-strip-weigh method, nondestructive X-ray fluorescence measurement, and Coulometric method. Accordingly, individual coating designations should conform to coating weight, mass per surface, and thickness requirements.

1.1 This specification covers zinc coatings applied by the electrolytic process to hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel sheet. The coating has a smooth, spangle-free surface. The zinc-coated sheet covered in this specification is produced in a wide range of coating masses to provide coatings that are compatible with the anticipated service life required. The coating mass varies, from very thin coatings that are usually painted to provide good service, to relatively heavy masses that provide good corrosion resistance in the bare (unpainted) condition.

1.2 The product shall be coated on one or both surfaces with equal or differential coating masses on the two surfaces. Sheet coated with equal coating masses on each surface has similar levels of corrosion protection on each surface. Often, however, a higher level of corrosion protection is required on one surface than is required on the other. Thus, one surface is specified to have a heavier coating mass than the other. Either surface, when specified to be painted, will provide additional corrosion protection as compared to an unpainted surface.

1.3 This coating process has essentially no effect on the base metal mechanical properties and use is permitted on any grade of hot- or cold-rolled steel sheet. The coated sheet is available as Commercial Steel (CS), Drawing Steel (DS), Deep Drawing Steel (DDS), Extra-Deep Drawing Steel (EDDS), Structural Steel (SS), High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel (HSLAS), High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel with Improved Formability (HSLAS-F), Solution-Hardened Steel (SHS), Bake-Hardenable Steel (BHS), Required Hardness Steel (RHS), or Special Forming Steel (SFS); see Specifications A1008/A1008M and A1011/A1011M.

1.4 Ordered dimensions are specified based on the finished coated steel sheet product and all dimensional tolerances are defined per Specification A568/A568M, Section 8.

1.5 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.