Zinc and zinc-alloy coated steel is used to enhance a structures protection against corrosion degradation. For the purpose of this SAE Recommended Practice, a galvanized coating is defined as a zinc or zinc-alloy metallic coating. The selection of the optimum galvanized steel sheet product depends on many factors, the most important being: desired corrosion protection, formability, weldability, surface characteristics, and paintability. The trade-offs of these product characteristics are more complex than is the case with uncoated steel sheet products.

This document defines preferred product characteristics. It also explains the various manufacturing processes, presents the advantages and disadvantages of the resulting product characteristics, and discusses the trade-offs between corrosion protection properties and fabricating, assembling, and finish-coating process.