The director of a leading fabricator has called for developers to consider including more aluminium windows and doors in construction projects.
Jerry Webb, who is managing director of Gloucester based CDW Systems, says doing so could advance the sustainability of new-build developments.
Despite a significant number of initiatives launched in recent years – such as the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), BREEAM, and Whole Life Costing (WLC) – according to CDW there are only a few mandatory requirements when it comes to sustainability in construction but many developers are striving to ensure buildings remain fit for purpose and compliant with Building Regulations well into the future.
Jerry, who has long been championing the use of aluminium in the built environment, describes the material as ‘the green metal’ of the industry and believes that it should ‘be taking market share in the mass build market’.
Jerry commented: “Aluminium is one of the greenest, most innovative materials you can use in projects, offering advanced technological solutions to help overcome the sustainability and environmental challenges facing the industry.
“Reducing waste during the build process is a major concern as construction and demolition waste alone represents 32% of total UK waste. There are recycling initiatives in place, but aluminium could offer a better solution, due to its long lifespan and recycleability.”
Aluminium incorporated into building design is likely to save much more energy throughout the life of the building than was consumed in its initial manufacture too, Jerry says.
This is because aluminium building systems help to increase solar gain during winter months; and create a significant increase in efficiency of fuel consumption for both heating and air conditioning.
Jerry concluded: “At the end of the day, it’s not a case of pitting materials against one another – it’s about using the best material for the job.
“That said, aluminium does have significant performance advantages – such as high strength-to-weight ratio, design flexibility and long service life – that may have been previously overlooked but will help developers achieve future levels of sustainability that will have a positive impact in years to come.”
