Aluminum Alloy Sheet
Aluminium alloy sheet is a lightweight, corrosion-resistant metal cladding and roofing material manufactured from rolled aluminium alloys, primarily 3003, 5052, and 5251 series for architectural applications. With a density approximately one-third of steel (~2680-2730 kg/m3) and excellent corrosion resistance from its natural oxide layer, aluminium sheet is widely used in building facades, roofing, rainscreen cladding, soffits, fascias, and decorative architectural elements. Solid aluminium sheet (as distinct from aluminium composite panels with polyethylene cores) is classified as non-combustible when tested to AS 1530.1, making it fully NCC-compliant for external wall cladding on Type A and Type B buildings. Available finishes include mill finish, anodised (various colours), powder-coated (PVDF or polyester), and pre-painted coil. In Australia, major suppliers include Capral, Ullrich Aluminium, and various fabricators. While aluminium has high embodied energy due to energy-intensive smelting (~14-16 MJ/kg primary), it is 100% recyclable with recycling requiring only 5% of the energy of primary production, and products with >90% recycled content are available.
- External wall cladding
- Metal roofing
- Decorative screening
- Fascia and soffit
- Rainscreen cladding
Commercial aluminium production began with the Hall-Heroult electrolytic process (1886), with architectural use expanding rapidly in the 20th century. Aluminium curtain walls first appeared in the 1930s-40s, becoming standard for commercial facades by the 1960s. In Australia, aluminium roofing (corrugated and standing seam) became popular from the 1960s as an alternative to galvanised steel. The development of high-durability coatings (PVDF/Kynar in the 1960s, powder coating in the 1980s) expanded the design palette for architectural aluminium. The Australian aluminium industry, supported by domestic bauxite mining and smelting, made aluminium sheet widely available at competitive prices. The 2014 Lacrosse Tower fire in Melbourne and the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy in London exposed the fire risks of polyethylene-core aluminium composite panels (ACP), leading to a nationwide cladding audit and remediation program in Australia. This drove a major shift toward solid (non-composite) aluminium cladding products that are genuinely non-combustible. NCC amendments in 2019 and 2022 tightened external wall fire performance requirements, with AS 5113 testing now required for facade systems. Current trends include low-carbon aluminium (Capral LocAl), high-recycled-content products, and advanced surface finishes including wood-grain and textured powder coatings.
DISCLAIMER: This specification document is generated from the CLAD Materials Atlas Database. Information is for general guidance only and does not constitute professional engineering advice. Values are typical and may vary by batch, manufacturer, and production run. Verify suitability for specific project applications independently.