1.1 This specification covers zinc coatings applied by the electrolytic process to hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel sheet. The coating has a smooth, spangle-free surface. The zinc-coated sheet covered in this specification is produced in a wide range of coating masses to provide coatings that are compatible with the anticipated service life required. The coating mass varies, from very thin coatings that are usually painted to provide good service, to relatively heavy masses that provide good corrosion resistance in the bare (unpainted) condition.

1.2 The product shall be coated on one or both surfaces with equal or differential coating masses on the two surfaces. Sheet coated with equal coating masses on each surface has similar levels of corrosion protection on each surface. Often, however, a higher level of corrosion protection is required on one surface than is required on the other. Thus one surface is specified to have a heavier coating mass than the other. Either surface, when specified to be painted will provide additional corrosion protection as compared to an unpainted surface.

1.3 This coating process has essentially no effect on the base metal mechanical properties and use is permitted on any grade of hot- or cold-rolled steel sheet. The coated sheet is available as Commercial Steel (CS), Drawing Steel (DS), Deep Drawing Steel (DDS), Extra-Deep Drawing Steel (EDDS), Structural Steel (SS), High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel (HSLAS), High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel with Improved Formability (HSLAS-F), Solution-Hardened Steel (SHS), or Bake-Hardenable Steel (BHS), see Specifications A1008/A1008M and A1011/A1011M.

1.4 The values stated in either SI or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as the standard. Within the text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other.