ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | OCTOBER 2025 1 7 anchors labeled AA, A, BB, B, CC, and C. While the tower itself was unaffected, some anchors showed signs of fire- related residue. Visual examination. Figure 1 shows the condition of the site. The site included six anchor foundations comprised of galvanized steel I-beam shafts. Visual examination revealed that anchors B and BB exhibited dark deposits resembling soot or char, indicating exposure to wildfire. Anchors A, AA, C, and CC remained clean and free of discoloration, suggesting they were either shielded or located in a less affected area. Figures 2 through 5 show the condition of anchors BB and CC. The site was impacted by wildfire. As shown in Fig. 6, a comparison of the conditions around anchors AA and BB with the site conditions during the previous inspection on June 8, 2024, reveals significant changes. Vegetation in the surrounding area was severely affected by the wildfire with noticeable damage including burnt and scorched plant life. These visual changes highlight the wildfire’s impact on the site and its immediate surroundings. Electrochemical potential mapping using Zee Probe. To assess the condition of the galvanized coating and remaining corrosion protection on the anchors, electrochemical potential measurements were conducted using a Zee Probe (Fig. 7) on anchors AA, B, and BB. This technique helps identify whether the surface consists of intact zinc, a zinc-iron intermetallic layer, or bare steel. Anchor AA, which was unaffected by fire, showed readings between -0.91 and -0.97 V, confirming a well-preserved galvanized coating. In contrast, fire-exposed anchors B and BB showed readings from -0.56 to -0.88 V, indicating partial degradation of the zinc layer, with some regions likely retaining intermetallic layers or thermally altered zinc. These results sug- gest that although some thermal damage occurred, the galvanizing layer still offers a degree of corrosion protection. Galvanized layer thickness measurement using a coating thickness gauge. The galvanized layer thickness Fig. 6 — Photographs showing that the site is affected by wildfire. Images on the left were taken during the inspection on June 8, 2024, while images on the right were captured during the inspection on January 21, 2025. Fig. 7 — Zee Probe from Matergenics. Fig. 8 — Photographs show galvanized layer thickness of anchor B (I-beam): (a) Galvanized layer thickness at flange; and (b) galvanized layer thickness at web. TABLE 1 — GALVANIZED LAYER THICKNESS, mils Location Anchor shaft Fan plate Anchor AA 6.1 6.2 7.0 6.2 5.6 6.6 12.1 7.6 Anchor B 8.6 6.9 6.6 7.0 6.6 7.0 5.9 6.3 Anchor BB 14.2 7.1 6.4 7.2 6.3 6.8 7.1 8.1 (b) (a)
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