Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Fish Hatchery

Hot-dip galvanizing will outlast paint coating systems and will likely outlast the concrete structures that the metals are attached to and embedded in. The hatchery is in the business of raising fish, not maintaining coating systems. Hot-dip galvanizing will allow the Tribe to concentrate on aquaculture and not maintenance.

Hot-dip galvanized steel provides a surface that is harder than the base steel itself. This provides more resistantance to material handling and steel erection during construction. There are 3 factors giving hot-dip galvanizing its lasting corrosion protection. Barrier protection (protects against corrosion by protecting the steel from immediate environment), cathodic protection (zinc will sacrifice itself to corrosion to protect the underlying steel) & zinc patina (natural barrier produced from zinc corrosion byproducts on the surface of the steel). The service life of hot-dip galvanized steel products meets the Federal Life Expectancy Mandates of 50 - 70 years in a harsh environment.