This guidance augments the basic guidance given in Clause 6.7.5 of EN ISO 14713 Part 2: 2019. Liquid metal assisted cracking (LMAC), or liquid metal embrittlement (LME), occurs when a combination of steel characteristics, fabrication detailing and galvanizing processing variables create conditions for brittle cracking of a steel article during galvanizing. Such a combination of factors rarely occurs in practice. For fabrications that might be susceptible to LMAC, it is recommended to follow the guidance contained in this document.

Hot dip galvanizing to EN ISO 1461 and CE marking of structural steelwork to EN 1090. CE Marking for all construction products, covered by a harmonised European standard or conforming to a European Technical Assessment became mandatory from 1 July 2013. CE Marking for fabricated structural steelwork came into force one year later – on 1 July 2014. This is a major development for engineers, contractors and steelwork fabricators and it demands careful attention to these new obligations. Sub-contract operations are also affected by the CE marking obligations of the steel fabricator.