Aluminium is an incredibly recyclable material, which makes it one of the best construction materials for environmental sustainability. Aluminium is widely used in buildings because of its intrinsic properties of lightness and corrosion resistance. Aluminium is used in external facades, roofs and walls, in windows and doors, in staircases, railings, shelves, and other several applications. Aluminium's high strength-to-weight ratio is one of its major advantages in the construction industry. Aluminium has a density of 2.7, which means that it is a third the density of steel. The strength of the metal can be adjusted to suit the application by proper alloying. Find aluminium construction materials here.
Window frames, panels, domed roofs and other wide-span constructions and ornaments were increasingly made with Aluminium. Today, it is used for roofs, siding, translucent panes, window and doorframes, staircases, air conditioning systems, solar protection, heating systems, furniture and many other things.
Aluminium is widely used in buildings because of its intrinsic properties of lightness and corrosion resistance. Aluminium is used in external facades, roofs and walls, in windows and doors, staircases, railings, shelves, and other several applications.
The minimum design service life of Aluminium structures is 80 years. Within this timespan, Aluminium can be used in any climatic conditions and does not lose its properties in temperatures ranging between –80 °C and +300 °C. Aluminium structures can be slightly prone to damage in fires, but the metal becomes even stronger at low temperatures.
For example, heat-insulated Aluminium siding with reflective foil covering protects premises from cold temperatures four times better than 10 cm thick brick facing or 20 cm thick stone masonry. That is why it is widely used in construction in cold areas, like the Northern Urals, Siberia and Yakutia in Russia.
No less important, or perhaps an even more important quality of Aluminium is its lightness. Thanks to its low specific weight, Aluminium plate constitutes half the weight of steel with the same stiffness. So, the weight of Aluminium structures is one half to two-thirds the weight of steel structures and up to one-seventh the weight of reinforced concrete structures with the same bearing capacity.
That is why Aluminium today is used in high-rise buildings and skyscrapers: just imagine how much they would weigh if steel were used, how deep the foundation would have to be and how much more expensive the whole building would be. The lightweight of Aluminium drawbridges makes their mechanical components lighter, minimizes counterbalances and in general gives more space for the architect to realise his or her creative vision. In addition, it is simpler, faster and more convenient to work with lightweight structures.