23
PRO INSTALLER MARCH 2015
PRO ALUMINIUM
@proinstaller1
Lasting
longer and
going from
strength to
strength
With aluminium having recently been shown to last
longer in buildings than originally thought, it’s no wonder
more and more suppliers in construction, particularly
the fenestration industry, are turning to the material.
Interestingly, many
suppliers are seeing
aluminium combined
with other materials as
an effective approach
to building durable and
stylish windows and
doors.
‘Aluminium is making something
of a comeback in the fenestration
industry, thanks to its lightweight
yet highly durable qualities’
The University of Nottingham’s Professor Michael
Stacey, in a study commissioned by the International
Aluminium Institute, found
that aluminium used in
buildings had a much extended lifespan. In window
frames the metal, which
is 100% recyclable, had a
life expectancy of 80 years,
representing a significant increase on original estimates
of 40 years.
Coated aluminium was
also seen to be lasting
well.
The research looked at
several examples of coated
aluminium in an external
built setting that had been
installed in the 1970s and
originally given a 10-year
guarantee. It is still performing well to this day.
The growth of aluminium
in fenestration products
has largely been driven by
an increased demand for
bi-folding doors, which is
creating awareness around
the benefits of aluminium
amongst installers and
homeowners.
The authoritative Insight
Data Fabricator and Installer Market Report in 2013
found that PVCu fabricators were expanding their
offering by combining PVCu
with other materials, including aluminium. In fact, the
report showed tha Ё