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A cooling tower reacts much like a human being to its air supply. If it is caused to reinhale its own exhaust, it begins to smother. If that air supply is restricted, it begins to choke.

Energy costs and operating efficiency have gained considerable importance in the minds of many building owners and plant operators in recent years. Current prospects for future prices of energy resources suggest that these issues will become even more urgent as environmental concerns and the high cost of money exert an ever greater impact on building design and operation.

Factory assembled cooling towers have been manufactured from "heavy mill galvanized" (HMG) steel for many years. HMG steel is continuously hot dip coated with protective zinc at the steel processing mill. The steel is treated subsequent to coating with a chromate rinse to initially passivate the zinc surface, providing for protection during storage, fabrication and initial operation from "wet storage stain".

Evaporative cooling towers expose materials to a uniquely difficult environment where corrosion poses exceptional challenges. Every cooling tower must endure the combined corrosive effects of uncertain water chemistry, high temperatures, constant saturation and continuous natural aeration. In addition, many cooling towers must also contend with potentially harmful agents in their circulating water as well as a variety of airborne pollutants such as sulfur oxides and acid rain.