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IS 4759 — Zinc Coating Mass on Structural Steel

The standard behind the 610 g/m² line in almost every state utility purchase specification. Here is the table, the conversion into microns, and what we certify against it.

IS 4759 specifies the minimum mass of zinc that must remain on hot-dip galvanized structural steel, expressed in grams per square metre of surface. It is the requirement clause — IS 2629 governs how the coating is applied, IS 4759 governs how much of it there has to be.

The figure most buyers quote is 610 g/m², which applies to sections over 5 mm thick. Because it is written as a mass and inspected as a thickness, the conversion matters: at a zinc density of 7.14 g/m² per micron, 610 g/m² is approximately 85 microns.

The coating mass requirement

Minimum mass of zinc coating by article thickness.

Steel thicknessMinimum coating massApprox. equivalent thickness
Over 5 mm610 g/m²≈ 85 microns
3 mm to 5 mm460 g/m²≈ 64 microns
1.5 mm to 3 mm395 g/m²≈ 55 microns

Conversion uses 7.14 g/m² of zinc per micron of coating — divide the mass by 7.14 to get the thickness. The standard states the requirement as mass; a DFT gauge reads thickness, which is why the two numbers appear side by side on our inspection reports.

What Indo East certifies

Read this before writing 610 g/m² into an order.

  • Our standard coating range is 75–85 microns, which is what we publish and what most structural work receives.
  • Where a purchase specification calls for 610 g/m² — as WBSEDCL and most state utility line-hardware specifications do — we galvanize to the equivalent thickness at the top of that range or above, and certify the coating mass rather than only the gauge reading. We confirm this at quotation, in writing, against the specific section thickness in your drawing.
  • Coating mass is determined by the IS 6745 stripping method where the buyer asks for mass. Uniformity is checked by the IS 2633 copper sulphate dip test.
  • Every batch leaves with a galvanizing inspection report carrying the readings. Third-party witness by SGS, Bureau Veritas, TÜV, DNV or Intertek is supported at the buyer's cost.

Uniformity — the dip test

A mass average can pass while a corner fails. That is what the dip test is for.

  • IS 4759 requires the coating to be continuous and uniform, not merely heavy enough on average. Uniformity is verified by the copper sulphate (Preece) dip test in IS 2633: the specimen is dipped repeatedly in a standard copper sulphate solution, and a bright adherent copper deposit marks a thin or bare area.
  • This is why a certificate quoting only an average figure is weak evidence. Ask for the number of readings, where on the component they were taken, and whether the dip test was run.

Questions engineers ask

Answered from our own line, not from the standard's cover page.

What does 610 g/m2 mean in microns?

Approximately 85 microns. Zinc runs about 7.14 g/m² per micron of coating, so 610 divided by 7.14 gives roughly 85. A DFT gauge reads thickness while the standard states mass, so both numbers belong on the inspection report.

Which IS 4759 grade applies to my section?

It is set by the steel thickness, not by the product: over 5 mm calls for 610 g/m², 3 to 5 mm for 460 g/m², and 1.5 to 3 mm for 395 g/m². Send the drawing and we will confirm the grade against each section in it.

Can Indo East meet 610 g/m2?

Yes, and we confirm it in writing at quotation against your section thicknesses. Our published standard range is 75–85 microns; a 610 g/m² requirement is met at the top of that range or above, and we certify the mass rather than only the gauge reading.

How is the coating mass actually measured?

By the stripping method in IS 6745 — the specimen is weighed, the zinc dissolved in inhibited acid, and the specimen reweighed, giving mass per unit area directly. Thickness by DFT gauge is the faster production check; stripping is the referee method.

Is IS 4759 the same as ASTM A123?

They serve the same purpose but express it differently. IS 4759 states a coating mass in g/m²; ASTM A123 states coating grades in microns by material category and steel thickness. We treat them as equivalent practice and quote against whichever the buyer specifies — we do not claim to hold either as a certification.

Do you supply the test certificates with the material?

Yes. Mill test certificates for the steel and a galvanizing inspection report for the coating travel with the consignment, along with the packing list and, for export, the certificate of origin.

Related standards and pages

Send us the specification

Tell us the standard, the coating requirement and the component, and we will confirm in writing what we can hold and how we will certify it. Galvanizing is on our own floor, so the answer comes from us and not from a sub-contractor.

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