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Aluminium – the sustainable solution
In a construction industry driven by the green agenda, aluminium still ranks as a leading choice for specifiers as they seek sustainable fenestration solutions. Steve Wightman from Senior Architectural Systems explains why.
and curtain wall solutions. It’s not difficult to see why – architects and specifiers are responding positively to decreasing resources, and alumi- nium’s unique properties place it at the top of the agenda. Aluminium still retains its status as a credible option because it is both recyclable and sustainable. Arguably, it’s the most sustainable building
O
material in the world. For example, when the old Wembley Stadium was demolished, 96 per cent of the aluminium recovered from the site was reclaimed and recycled – impressive statistics in an industry that strives to re-use materials in order to meet legislative demands and keep a tight rein on costs.
ver the past decade, the word ‘sustainable’ has shot to the top of specifiers’ require- ments when it comes to window, door
The recycling argument for aluminium is
strong: processing it creates high quality alu- minium, which loses none of the physical proper- ties of primary aluminium and also uses just 5 per cent of the energy required to create primary alu- minium. The European Aluminium Association refers to it as a ‘cradle to cradle’ material because aluminium as a material can be continually recy- cled and manufactured into new products.
Lifecycle The life cycle of aluminium products can be meas- ured in decades rather than years. As a building material it is durable, requiring little long-term maintenance and it is a lightweight, high strength material. It is resistant to both corrosion and to common industrial pollutants, meaning products manufac- tured from aluminium enjoy a much longer life cycle, even in extreme environmental condi- tions. Because of this it is used in virtually every facet of construction – from ground level treat- ments to curtain walling on the tallest skyscrapers.
Holiday Inn Express Hotel The eight-storey, 161-bed `next generation’ Holiday Inn Express Hotel – the first of its kind in any major UK city – is conveniently situated within a few minutes’ walk of Sheffield City Centre and over- looks the River Don. Completed a month ahead of schedule, the £10
million landmark building on Blonk Street features almost 200 windows fabricated from a thermally- broken, internally-beaded system, selected for its impressive BS6375 performance results, for air permeability, water tightness and wind resistance. Similarly, a medium rise curtain wall was spec-
‘Aluminium, the ‘cradle to cradle’ material’
ified for the ground floor, designed to comple- ment the building’s high weather resistance and thermal performance. The systems mullions and transoms are of hollow box construction. The mullions are designed to run through for optimum strength and the tran- soms are easily front-loaded on
site using a unique jointing method, all of which contributed to its specification. Prior to delivery, the window and curtain wall
profiles were powder coated in Doncaster, provid- ing the fabricators with a cost-effective, highly effi- cient and time-sensitive turnaround service. The curtain wall fabrication and installation of
800 linear metres of glazing valued at more than £300,000 was used on this major project. The use of sustainable building materials is only
one response to the environmental issues that affect us all. Through the use of aluminium prod- ucts specifiers are choosing a material whose pro- duction has minimal long-term impact on the environment, is sustainable over hundreds of years and is endlessly recyclable. Aluminium can rightly be said to be the ultimate building material choice for the future.
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