Sustainability is increasingly important in modern life, and, in terms of construction practices, it is not just a buzzword but a critical component of architectural design and building itself. So too, the fire safety performance of buildings is crucial. By making clever, considered choices for eco-friendly, Deemed to Satisfy (DtS) non-combustible exterior cladding, the safety and environmental impact of construction can be balanced for optimal outcomes.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Sustainable building practices strive to reduce environmental impact while at the same time improving occupant health and safety. Selecting DtS non-combustible, eco-friendly cladding materials helps maintain both regulatory compliance and environmental responsibility.
- Using durable, low-maintenance materials reduces energy consumption, waste, and carbon emissions. Building material sustainability needs to be considered across the full lifecycle from sourcing of materials to manufacturing, installation, use, and recyclability at the end of their life.
- There are several readily available eco-friendly DtS non-combustible cladding options. Arguably the best of these is ALPOLIC™ DtS non-combustible aluminium cladding, a revolutionary product that combines durability, recyclability, and fire safety.
What are Sustainable Building Practices?
Sustainable or “Green” building strives to create buildings that use design, construction, and operational practices when completed that reduce or even eliminate the construction’s negative impact on both the environment and occupants. It aims to use resources more effectively and create healthier interior environments, promoting efficiency to reduce the costs of both construction and ongoing performance.
This may include:
- Reducing resource consumption
- Reducing carbon emissions
- Minimising waste
- Prioritising recyclability, recycling, and reuse
- Emphasising energy efficiency
- Minimising water consumption
- Improving the quality of indoor environments
Key principles of sustainable building include:
- The use of renewable, recyclable, or recycled materials to minimise waste and optimise energy performance.
- Selecting materials for durability and longevity, which require less maintenance and replacement frequency. This helps reduce overall carbon emissions.
- Prioritising health and safety by choosing materials that not only enhance a building’s resilience but also do not release toxins.
- Consideration of the lifecycle and full environmental cost of materials, including the extraction, manufacture, transport, use, and end-of-life disposal or recyclability.
Exterior façade cladding plays an important role within the framework of sustainable building.
What is DtS Non-Combustible Cladding?
Cladding is a building’s external “skin”, not only providing aesthetic benefits and defining architectural identity, but also contributing to thermal insulation, weather protection and, critically, fire safety.
DtS non-combustible cladding is any cladding material that will not ignite in a fire nor contribute to the spread of flames. Following several high-profile incidents over the last decade or so, both in Australia and internationally, the importance of using Deemed-to-Satisfy (DtS) non-combustible cladding on buildings, especially high-rise and high-occupancy buildings, has never been clearer.
Sustainable DtS Non-Combustible Cladding – and Why It’s Important
Some conventional cladding materials carry a heavy and unacceptable environmental burden. They are also unsafe. Specifically, aluminium composite panels that feature PVC or polyethylene cores not only use large amounts of energy to manufacture, but they also rely on finite raw materials and have a high level of toxic emissions. At the end of their lifecycle, they are difficult (or impossible) to recycle and are often dumped in a landfill.
Sustainable cladding uses responsibly-sourced raw materials or recycled materials, emits fewer greenhouse gases during the manufacturing process, and is easier to recycle or reuse later on. It also enhances the energy efficiency of a building by reducing thermal bridging and improving insulation. This stabilises the internal temperature, requiring less mechanical cooling or heating and reducing power demand and energy costs for the building.
Safety is paramount – and sustainability must never come at its expense. Non-combustible cladding must, by law, meet local fire safety standards; the right choice of material will be both eco-friendly and inherently safe.
Eco-Friendly DtS Non-Combustible Cladding Options
There are several eco-friendly non-combustible cladding options currently on the market.
- Solid Recycled Metal Cladding – often made using recycled metal, fully recyclable, and highly durable, solid aluminium, steel, or zinc cladding is non-combustible and can be finished with low-VOC coatings or anodising processes to extend their lifespan without contributing harmful emissions.
- ALPOLIC ™ DtS Non-Combustible Aluminium Cladding – arguably the best available option today, these aluminium composite panels (ACPs) are made from two thin recycled aluminium sheets bonded onto a mineral fibre core. Not only do they perform extremely well in fire safety testing and comply with Australia’s National Construction Code regulations, but they are also recyclable at the end of their lifespan. ALPOLIC NC/A1 has been granted an Environmental Product Declaration produced by GECA making it a more sustainable choice. Lightweight, cost-efficient, and easy to install, they perform highly on every metric and are engineered specifically for Australia’s harsh climate.
- Fibre Cement Cladding – this is made from a blend of cement, sand, cellulose fibres, and water that is cured under high pressure. The result is durable cladding panels that are classified as being non-combustible and resistant to weathering, pests, and rot. With a long lifespan, manufacturers can incorporate recycled content.
- Stone Cladding – natural stone (e.g. limestone or granite) or engineered stone (made from crushed natural stone bound by recycled materials) has been used as a cladding material for many hundreds, if not thousands of years. It is strong, long-lasting, and fire-resistant. It is, however, heavy, expensive, and quarrying natural stone is energy-intensive. Its eco-friendliness can be improved by sourcing locally to minimise transportation emissions.
- Teracotta Cladding – panels made from terracotta use natural clay. This cladding is non-combustible, durable, UV-resistant, inert, and recyclable. Compared with metal, the embodied energy of terracotta is low.
- Glass/Ceramic Composite Cladding – these non-combustible composite panels exploit innovations in glass and ceramic technology to combine high thermal performance with durability and may integrate recycled glass for a lower environmental impact.
Final Thoughts
The cost of using sustainable non-combustible cladding may seem higher upfront, but it pays dividends over time in terms of durability, low maintenance, and provides a robust, visually appealing, fire-safe façade that extends the building’s lifespan, thermal performance, and fire safety profile. Choosing industry-leading DtS non-combustible aluminium cladding is a wise decision.
