Based on its maintenance-free durability for 75 years or more in most environments, hot-dip galvanized (HDG) steel has a lower economic cost and environmental impact than paint. It uses a healthy, abundant, and recyclable metal, zinc, to provide corrosion protection, therefore it should be considered the preferred construction material for architectural and industrial applications.

To measure the sustainability of hot-dip galvanized steel and provide a basis for future improvements in life-cycle performance of zinc products, the Institute for Environmental Protection Technology at the Technical University of Berlin, conducted life-cycle assessments (LCA) comparing a hot-dip galvanized parking structure to a painted parking structure.

Developed in 2009 as part of a Talking Points series to educate legislators and the general public about hot-dip galvanized steel, this one-page case study compares the life-cycle of a hot-dip galvanized parking garage to the life-cycle of a painted steel garage.

Download Free

Available for download in PDF format. Terms of Use.

Copies of this resource are available for purchase. Architects, engineers, and other specifiers in North America may request a single copy of any publication at no charge, unless otherwise indicated. Multiple copies require a $25.00 (US funds) minimum order, plus shipping and handling. Prepayment is required. (Member galvanizers are not eligible for complimentary printed copies and require a $75.00 minimum order.) Non-member galvanizers must contact the AGA directly at 720-361-4483.