The building and construction industry is today faced with many environmental challenges - from its impact on climate change to its choice of materials and methods of waste disposal. The growing understanding that the entire life cycle of a building and its fittings must be considered and balanced against the realities of design, function and economy has seen aluminium fast become the material of choice.

Its properties mean that intricate, stable and lightweight structures can be designed without concern, as even thin structures do not warp. Aluminium is a material that has given architects and designers the physical means to achieve creative innovations in design.

Aluminium allows a high degree of prefabrication with a variety of finishes before components leave the factory, which reduces the workload at the construction site.

Design, function and economy

Architects and designers have been aware of aluminium's unique qualities for more than 100 years. As well as being one of the most abundant metals in the world, aluminium's formability, high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and ease of recycling make it ideal for:

Windows, skylights, screens and doors

Highly resistant and rigid, they have low rates of expansion and contraction and also of condensation. They are extremely stable, durable and thermally efficient.

Facades, cladding/siding, weatherproofing

Aluminium siding is available with insulation and reflective foil backing, so walls can be made weatherproof and energy-efficient.

Roofs and canopies

Aluminium building products help keep homes cool in summer, warm in winter, and snug and dry all the year round.

Structures

Structural uses range from a glazed shop front to the superstructure of a shopping centre or stadium. Its resistance to corrosion means it is virtually maintenance-free which is particularly important if used in an inaccessible area.

Door handles, window catches, shower units and staircases

Aluminium is easy to form and join. Its lightness makes it easy to handle.

Support frames for solar panels, solar collectors and light shelves

New technologies mean solar power captors can be inserted in aluminium frames, thus saving considerable amounts of energy and protecting the environment.

Safety in building

Metallic aluminium in "massive" form will not burn, together with its relatively low melting point (660°C) means it will "vent" early during a severe fire, releasing heat and thereby saving lives and property.

Life cycle and recycling

Today when a material is chosen for any application the product's whole life cycle is considered. This goes far beyond the production processes as it also covers the impacts and benefits of the material throughout the lifespan of the different products, including its recycling and re-use.

Building aluminium has a very long life cycle of about 30 to 50 years. Aluminium stored in such long life products is therefore in effect warehoused for future use. As almost all aluminium used in construction is recycled, the considerable energy invested in the production of primary aluminium can be reinvested into other aluminium products. Scrap may not necessarily be recycled back into its original product or even reused in the country in which it was first manufactured but the original energy investment will not be lost.

A large amount of waste building materials go to landfill sites at a cost to both the economy and the environment, others are recycled at a cost to the community. Aluminium however, is recycled in a way that pays for itself and is sustainable.

Aluminium has a low melting temperature and is therefore able to be recycled with comparatively little energy. The energy required to produce recycled ingot from scrap is only about 5% of that required to produce primary aluminium. 

Aluminium recycling not only has important economic implications but also contributes to environmental protection.

Life cycle of a building

Analysing the life cycle of buildings presents some very interesting challenges. Overall the building's design, along with the behaviour of the building's users will have a very large impact on its environmental and energy performance. The typical building will have four major parts to its life cycle:

• materials and construction
• use (mainly heating, lighting & air conditioning)
• maintenance
• demolition.

The graph below shows the energy used in a typical office building over its 50 year life:

In this typical example the "use" phase of the building's life takes 63% of the building's energy requirements while the repair and maintenance take 19%. The materials and construction account for 10% of the building's energy requirements. Choosing the right material for the right application is therefore critical in reducing all the energy requirements over the life cycle of the building.

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