Astm A 384

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what
changes have been made to the previous version. Because

it may not be technically possible to adequetely depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: A 384 76 (Reapproved 1996) 384/A 384M 02
Standard Practice for
Safeguarding Against Warpage and Distortion During HotDip Galvanizing of Steel Assemblies1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 384/A 384M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A-5 A05 on Metallic Coated Iron and Steel Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee A05.13
on Structural Shapes and Hardware Specifications.
Current edition approved Oct. 29, 1976. October 10, 2002. Published January 1977. December 2002. Originally published as A 384 55 T. Last previous edition
A 384 726(96).
This practice is based upon the work of the Quality Control Technical Services Committee of the American Hot-Dip Galvanizers Association.
1. Scope
1.1 Steel assemblies and subassemblies fabricated by welding, such as composite structural members, sash, weldments, etc., that
are to be hot-dip galvanized after fabrication, are subject to warpage and distortion of the material due to the heating and cooling
incidental to the galvanizing operation, particularly when it is necessary for the assembly to be dipped more than once to cover
the entire surface.
1.2 The values stated
1.2 This specification is applicable in either inch- pounds or SI units. Inch pounds and SI units are to be regarded as not
necessarily exact equivalents. Within the text of this specification and where apprdopriate, SI units are shown in parentheses.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A 143 Practice for Safeguarding Against Embrittlement of Hot-Dip Galvanized Structural Steel Products and Procedure for
Detecting Embrittlement2
A 385 Practice for Providing High-Quality Zinc Coatings (Hot-Dip)2
3. Factors in Warpage and Distortion
3.1 One of the most commonly distorted and warped members of assemblies is that of sheets or plates from No. 20 gage ( [0.812
mm)] to 14 in. ( [6.35 mm)] in thickness which are assembled by welding or riveting to bar-size shapes, angles, channels, tees,
etc.
3.2 Warpage is accentuated by the use of nonsymmetrical sections such as channels. In nearly every case, regardless of size,
channels require straightening after galvanizing. This is not true of an I-beam, pipe, H-column, or any other section that is
symmetrical about both its major axes. Channels and other nonsymmetrical sections should be avoided for the framework of a sheet
metal assembly that is to be hot-dip galvanized whenever it is possible to use symmetrical shapes or sections.
3.3 The use of wide radii bends in corners is recommended. In the case of sheet metal, the product which has a right-angle bend
in the sheet metal itself will remain flatter and be freer from distortion if the radius of the bend is as large as practicable.
3.4 Certain welding practices, weld sizes and configurations, and thickness differences between welded components can
introduce imbalanced stresses into the weldments. If these stresses are combined with other stresses during hot-dip galvanizing,
the stress relieving effect of galvanizing may permit distortion to occur.
3.5 When two pieces of steel are seal welded in an overlapping joint, the overlapping section must be properly vented per
Practice A 385. If the overlapped area is not properly vented or if it is incorrectly sealed, the pressure from the expansion of the
trapped gases in the overlapped area can distort the two pieces of steel that are welded together and, in the worst case, can cause
an explosion underneath the zinc bath surface destroying the parts and causing a potential safety problem at the hot-dip galvanizing
facility.
4. Suggested Corrections for Panel Fabrication
4.1 The angles selected should be in as perfect alignment as it is practical to obtain.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.06.
Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
A 384 76 (1996) 384/A 384M 02

4.2 The angles should be placed in position without clamping or pulling prior to welding so that the corners of abutting edges
will lie in position without restraint. Clamps may be applied to prevent shifting or movement during the welding operation.
4.3 The stiffening angles should be placed in position and held down to prevent their being moved when in contact with the
electrode during the welding operation. In welding any intermediate lengths along one side of a common member, care should be
taken to prevent warpage of the common member due to the application of high heat on the same side at various intervals along
its length.
4.4 All edges of tightly contacting surfaces should be completely sealed by welding unless the area exceeds the recommended
size detailed in Practice A 385. This will prevent the rusting of the surfaces which that are so connected that molten zinc cannot
circulate through the crevices to galvanize the contacting surfaces.
4.5 The sheet steel should not be welded to the angle steel frame prior to galvanizing if the galvanizing kettle is not of sufficient
size to permit the total immersion in one dip. If the frame has to be dipped one half at a time, it will be better to have the sheets
galvanized, rolled flat after galvanizing, and assembled to the galvanized frame by the use of aluminum alloy or galvanized rivets.
These rivets can be countersunk or flat head if the protruding head of the ordinary button or round head rivet is objectionable. If
the angle steel frame and sheets are punched prior to galvanizing (the recommended procedure), the use of drift pins to bring the
holes into alignment should be avoided as far as possible at the time the sheets and frame are assembled.
4.6 If the galvanizing kettle is of sufficient size to permit total immersion of the assembly in one dip, the riveting of fabricated
parts prior to galvanizing is not recommended because contacting surfaces will not be coated and rusting will occur due to
entrapped pickling acid.
4.7 Unequal thicknesses of metal should be avoided wherever possible due to the different rates of heating and cooling during
the galvanizing operation and the effect of unequal expansion and contraction.
5. Embrittlement
5.1 Cold working before galvanizing (straightening, springing into position, reforming, etc.) of various steel parts in making up
an assembly, or in the cold working of the individual members of an assembly, punching, cutting, etc., may result in embrittlement
of the base metal following the hot galvanizing operation. Necessary precautions to fabricate properly and prepare the material for
galvanizing to prevent embrittlement are described in Practice A 143.
NOTE 1Welding, if improperly performed, may induce embrittlement. It is recommended that welding procedures be carried out in conformance with
the pertinent specifications of the American Welding Society.
6. Keywords
6.1 coatings-zinc; galvanized coatings; steel products-metallic coated; zinc coatings-steel products
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Astm A 384

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This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what

changes have been made to the previous version. Because

Designation: A 384 76 (Reapproved 1996) 384/A 384M 02

Standard Practice for

Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.06.

A 384 76 (1996) 384/A 384M 02

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