Each reference area uses the average of five measurements within a small area to determine an average. ISO 1461 requires that after a control sample is produced from the lot, the articles need to be further broken down into reference areas.

However, a difference lies in how the average coating thickness is determined after the lot is broken down into this control sample. The number of articles or specimens to be pulled from the lot is determined by ISO 1461 Table 1, which is exactly the same as the charts found in ASTM A123 section 7.3 and ASTM A153 section 6.2. Each standard requires a certain number of test articles or specimens to be randomly pulled from a lot and then be tested for coating thickness. The sampling requirements are extremely similar between the standards. Both standards also rely on the weigh-strip-weigh procedure (referred to as the gravimetric method in ISO 1461) as an alternate method of determining coating thickness when magnetic gauges are not appropriate or as a referee method. Both A1 use a magnetic or electronic coating thickness gauge as the primary means for determining mean coating thickness of hot-dip galvanized steel. The ASTM and ISO standards share similar testing requirements for coating thickness.

These differences exist within the testing methods of the two standards and slight overlaps in coating thickness requirements. However, galvanizers should be aware of some small differences between the two specifications if they are going to be using ISO 1461 frequently. As North American galvanizers, the question becomes, If I galvanize the steel to ASTM A123, will I meet the requirements of ISO 1461? The simple answer: Yes, if the requirements of ASTM A123 are met, then the requirements of ISO 1461 will more than likely also be met. If a customer wishes to use ISO 1461 on their project, galvanizers need to know what the requirements of the standard are and if they can meet them. However, ISO 1461 which standardizes the European galvanizing industry both large structural pieces and centrifuged hardware is also sometimes used in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. North American specifiers and galvanizers typically use ASTM A123 and A153 for steel products and fasteners to be hot-dip galvanized. The standard holds requirements for hot-dip galvanized steel comparable to those found in both ASTM A123, Standard Specification for Zinc (Hot-Dip Galvanized) Coatings on Iron and Steel Products, and ASTM A153, Standard Specification for Zinc Coating (Hot-Dip) on Iron and Steel Hardware.

ISO 1461, Hot-dip galvanized coatings on fabricated iron and steel articles Specifications and test methods , is produced by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as an industry standard for galvanizing.

If I galvanize to ASTM A123 or A153, will I meet the requirements of ISO 1461?

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