Now it’s official: microZINQ® receives AbZ approval

The time has finally come! After two years of extensive testing, microZINQ® has now received general building approval (AbZ) from the German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt).

After completing the testing program, the inspectors concluded that

microZINQ® is

• a piece galvanizing process.
• Comparable to ISO 1461 in terms of corrosion protection performance.
• Can be used in all areas of application in accordance with ISO 14713 – i.e. even in highly corrosive maritime environments (with the partial restriction of extremely SO₂-rich atmospheres).

microZINQ® is a galvanizing process in which a special zinc-aluminum alloy is used to apply zinc coatings with optimized layer thicknesses – averaging 10 to 15 µm (material-independent) instead of the previously standard 60 to 200 µm (depending on the material) – but with performance comparable to that of piece galvanizing in accordance with ISO 1461.

In addition to its corrosion protection effect, the technology offers a wide range of potential applications thanks to the special characteristics of the zinc coating. This is particularly true with regard to intelligent manufacturing concepts and the use of forming and joining options that were previously not feasible with conventional galvanizing. Even after galvanizing with microZINQ®, the components can be further processed without any problems. Joining, clinching, or forming are no problem, because microZINQ® goes along with it—in the truest sense of the word. In addition, this type of surface finishing always achieves a homogeneous layer structure with a uniform appearance, regardless of the base material.

Because both the composition of the microZINQ® zinc alloy and the zinc layer thicknesses achieved are outside the specifications of ISO 1461, it has not been possible to use microZINQ®-galvanized steel components in areas regulated by building authorities. The AbZ has now verified the suitability of components galvanized with microZINQ® for use under specific construction conditions, thus laying the foundation for the application of this innovative process in new, important areas of use.

However, since a zinc coating is not a construction product in its own right, the official approval applies to prefabricated steel components for load-bearing applications that have been hot-dip galvanized with microZINQ® for static and quasi-static loads. As with piece galvanizing in accordance with ISO 1461, these steel components can be made of steel grades up to and including strength class S460, which are manufactured in accordance with standards DIN EN 10025-2 to 10025-4, EN 10210-1, and EN 10219-1. However, the use of steel grades with higher strengths is also no problem – provided that their suitability for galvanizing with microZINQ® has been verified by a process test in accordance with DASt guideline 022. Years of experience in automotive engineering have already proven this: microZINQ® has demonstrated its advantages over conventional hot-dip galvanizing, particularly in the area of higher-strength steels.

In addition, the DIBt recognizes microZINQ® as a piece galvanizing process and thus equivalent to hot-dip galvanizing in accordance with ISO 1461. This means that microZINQ® can also be used in the same way as hot-dip galvanizing in accordance with ISO 1461. In concrete terms, this means that if the customer opts for microZINQ® for surface finishing, they have the necessary legal protection when placing their components on the market. This is because microZINQ® has the AbZ and shows the customer that they are on the safe side when using it – as with all other ZINQ certifications and standards, which provide proof of conformity with, for example, EN 1090 and DASt 022.