Responding to Civeng and retired-chef:
Although both options given may offer the protection you are looking for....
Painting over galvanized steel should be undertaken with care and specific requirements. I've had tremendous success overcoating hot-dip galvanized steel by preparing the zinc surface in accordance with SSPC-SP 1 (cleaning residual oils from quench bath) followed by a SSPC-SP 7 (Brush off blast cleaning using a fine abrasive such as DuPont's StarBlast).
After surface preparation, you could apply a coat of "organic zinc", followed by two coats of epoxy (epoxy amines achieve a harder film) or if you have exterior exposure substitute the finish coat with an aliphatic polyurethane.
We use the "inorganic" zinc (IOZ) over hot-dipped zinc without topcoat on the East Coast of Florida and achieve long-term service (10 years plus). But you are looking for a finish color. In addition, I'm not a big fan of using IOZ when subsequent multiple coats are used (including long-term maintenance). IOZ's are best suited when they are able to be exposed to the atmosphere to achieve their oxidized "tighter/barrier" film. I also consider the relative difficulty in applying IOZs. They tend to "dry spray" and require higher humidity to fully cure. If they don't cure properly or if dry-sprayed, the subsequent coatings may delaminate. Organic zinc is very applicator friendly. There is a whole other debate about the "galvanic properties" of IOZ and organic zinc (another day).
Zincs (specifically hot-dipped galvanizing is the most abrasion resistant) will give you the best "secondary protection" from mechanical damage and/or abrasive wear. To increase abrasion resistance you could also add "chopped glass" to both the mid-coat and finish coat. But these examples are all "cadillacs" and cost should be investigated prior to finalizing your documents.
Regarding LEAD in zincs - lead is naturally occurring in the zinc raw material, although the amounts are typically (all major suppliers) below the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) definition of "lead-free" 0.06-percent by weight. Even DOTs acknowledge the "designed risk" of using zincs but the benefit outweighs the risk (worker exposure during removal) in the industrial world.
Just my two-cents worth.... Kevin A. Schweikhart, CSI CDT
Senior Professional
SSPC Protective Coatings Specialist
NACE Certified Coating Inspector
LAW Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc.
Phone

813)636-1567
Fax: (813) 289-5474
e-mail: kschweik@lawco.com