ASTM A 3 8 4 76 0759530 0503973 4

Designation: A 384 - 76 (Reapproved 1991)

Standard Practice for

Safeguarding Against Warpage and Distortion During Hot-Dip
Galvanizing of Steel Assemblies'
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 384; the number immediately foliowing 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.

I. Scope 4.2 The angles should be placed in position without

1.1 Steel assemblies and subassemblies fabricated by weld- clamping or pulling prior to welding so that the comers of
ing, such as composite structural members, sash, weldments, abutting edges will lie in position without restraint. Clamps
etc., that are to be hot-dip galvanized after fabrication, are may be applied to prevent shifting or movement during the
subject to warpage and distortion of the material due to the welding operation.
heating and cooling incidental to the galvanizing operation, 4.3 The stiffening angles should be placed in position and
particularly when it is necessary for the assembly to be held down to prevent their being moved when in contact
dipped more than once to cover the entire surface. with the electrode during the welding operation. In welding
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be re- any intermediate lengths along one side of a common mem-
garded as the standard. ber, care should be taken to prevent warpage of the common
member due to the application of high heat on the same side
2. Referenced Document at various intervals along its length.
2.1 ASTM Standard: 4.4 All edges of tightly contacting surfaces should be com-
A 143 Practice for Safeguarding Against Embrittlement of pletely sealed by welding. This will prevent the rusting of the
Hot-Dip Galvanized Structural Steel Products and Pro- surfaces which are so connected that molten zinc cannot cir-
cedure for Detecting Embrittlement2 culate through the crevices to galvanize the contacting sur-
faces.
3. Factors in Warpage and Distortion 4.5 The sheet steel should not be welded to the angie steel
3.1 One of the most commonly distorted and warped frame prior to galvanizing if the galvanizing kettle is not of
members of assemblies is that of sheets or plates from No. 20 sufficient size to permit the total immersion in one dip. If the
gage (0.812 mm) to Vi in. (6.35 mm) in thickness which are frame has to be dipped one half at a time, it will be better to
assembled by welding or riveting to bar-size shapes, angles, have the sheets galvanized, rolled flat after galvanizing, and
channels, tees, etc. assembled to the galvanized frame by the use of aluminum
3.2 Warpage is accentuated by the use of nonsymmetrical alloy or galvanized rivets. These rivets can be countersunk or
sections such as channels. In nearly every case, regardless of flat head if the protruding head of the ordinary button or
size, channels require straightening after galvanizing. This is round head rivet is objectionable. If the angie steel frame and
not true of an I-beam, pipe, H-column, or any other section sheets are punched prior to galvanizing (the recommended
that is symmetrical about both its major axes. Channels and procedure), the use of drift pins to bring the holes into align-
other nonsymmetrical sections should be avoided for the ment should be avoided as far as possible at the time the
framework of a sheet metal assembly that is to be hot-dip sheets and frame are assembled.
galvanized whenever it is possible to use symmetrical shapes 4.6 If the galvanizing kettle is of sufficient size to permit
or sections. total immersion of the assembly in one dip, the riveting of
3.3 The use of wide radii bends in comers is recom- fabricated parts prior to galvanizing is not recommended
mended. In the case of sheet metal, the product which has a because contacting surfaces will not be coated and rusting
right-angle bend in the sheet metal itself will remain flatter will occur due to entrapped pickling acid.
and be freer from distortion if the radius of the bend is as 4.7 Unequal thicknesses of metal should be avoided
large as practicable. wherever possible due to the different rates of heating and
cooling during the galvanizing operation and the effect of
4. Suggested Corrections for Panel Fabrication unequal expansion and contraction.
4.1 The angles selected should be in as perfect alignment
as it is practical to obtain.
5. Embrittlement
5.1 Cold working before galvanizing (straightening,
'This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A-5 on Metallic springing into position, reforming, etc.) of various steel parts
Coated Iron and Steel Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A05.13 on Structural Shapes and Hardware Specifications.
in making up an assembly, or in the cold working of the
Current edition approved Oct.29, 1976. Published January 1977. Originally individual members of an assembly, punching, cutting, etc.,
published as A 384 - 55 T. Last previous edition A 384 - 72. may result in embrittlement of the base metal following the
This practice is based upon the work of the Quality Control Committee of the hot galvanizing operation. Necessary precautions to fabricate
American Hot-Dip Galvanizers Association.
Anniral Book o/ASTM Standards, Vol 01.06. properly and prepare the material for galvanizing to prevent
embrittlement are described in Practice A 143.

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 A S T M A384 76 m 0759530 0503974 b m

NOTE-Welding, if improperly performed, may induce embrittle- conformancewith the pertinent specificationsof the American Welding
ment. It is recommended that welding procedures be carried out in Society.

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