Today the urbanscape is dotted with buildings that have glossy exteriors. Although it may seem like they are only for beautification, these external installations serve more than one purpose. Known as claddings, these surfaces not only add to the aesthetics of buildings but also regulate the temperature as well as protect from external forces such as wind and dust.
Aluminium Composite Panels or ACPs have become popular as cladding materials. Not only are they available in a wide range of colours, patterns, dimensions, and thicknesses, but they are also cost-effective. In this blog, we discuss more advantages of using ACP cladding in modern constructions.
Benefits of Using ACP as Cladding
They Are Quite Durable
It is natural that building exteriors are subjected to weather conditions like rain, heat, and dust. Other traditional alternatives like steel, wood, or ply do not enjoy a longer lifespan due to these external forces. However, aluminium composite panels are known for their durability.
The panels are designed using the sandwich mechanism, where two sheets of aluminium have a thermoplastic core. The design gives them great strength to endure external impact. As a result, ACPs are highly resistant to weathering, corrosion, and rot, making them ideal for outdoor use.
They are Lightweight
Structures made from heavy materials can put additional weight on the structures. Especially for older or taller buildings, putting on added weight can pose threat to the structure. Hence, aluminium composite panels serve as fantastic alternatives as compared to traditional cladding materials.
This is because ACP is much lighter than other cladding materials such as timber, metal, fibre cement, and PVC. That also makes ACP easier to handle and install as facades. The ease of handling also results in reduced construction costs and faster completion times.
Low on Maintenance
Time-to-time maintenance is an important part of any installation process. For instance, buildings often need to be re-painted for them to retain their overall look as well as protect the exposed exteriors. Similarly, metal installations may require coatings to be done to prevent rusting and corrosion.
However, maintenance for ACP is not an issue. This cladding material requires low maintenance and does not require regular repainting. This is a great advantage when it comes to saving time and money in the long run.
Fire Resistant Properties
Fire hazards are a constant threat to the structural safety of buildings. Besides, they also pose a threat to life. Most cladding materials do not offer any sort of safety from fire hazards. This is where ACP cladding gets a major edge over other conventional facade materials.
Perhaps the best advantage that aluminium composite panels offer, is that they can safeguard a building from fire-related accidents. ACP is a fire-resistant material that does not contribute to the spread of fire, making it a safer option for both internal and exterior cladding. Besides, ACPs offered by certain manufacturers can in fact delay the spread of fire for up to a couple of hours, increasing the time to escape or evacuate.
They are Versatile
Conventional cladding materials had a very narrow range of look and feel. There were not many variations in colour or design. However, with ACPs, the market saw the scope of which cladding materials could be different and diverse.
Currently, ACP is available in a wide range of colors, textures, and finishes. This allows architects, builders, and designers to choose a style that best fits a certain building's needs.
Efficiency on Energy
Buildings often have to spend on regulating the temperature. The process takes up a lot of energy resources and money. ACPs naturally play the part of thermal insulators.
ACP cladding has insulating properties that can help improve the energy efficiency of a building. This feature consequently saves and reduces heating and cooling costs.
Conclusion
When the world is looking for sustainable yet economical cladding options, aluminium composite panels have emerged as just the right option. From offering a variety of colour and texture options, ACPs are becoming the ultimate requirement of modern constructions.