Aluminium - an answer for designing sustainable fenestration systems

Saket Jain, Business Head, Fenesta

As the consequences of climate change play out globally every year, the use of sustainable solutions across industries is no longer a choice but an imperative. In this context, aluminium is an excellent fenestration solution providing both durability and sustainability. As a result, it is termed a 'green' metal.
After steel, aluminium ranks as the second-most used metal globally. Apart from resisting corrosion, its stiffness and density are around one-third of steel. Thanks to its numerous benefits, including cost-effectiveness and overall functionality, demand for aluminium has been growing every year, including in the making of doors and windows.
Despite being extremely light, aluminium has one of the best strength-to-density ratios, providing it greater longevity. When extra strength and durability are required, special compounds are added to aluminium alloy, turning it into one of the strongest metals, much like steel. No wonder high-strength aluminium is favoured in the engineering of aircraft, vehicles and the tallest skyscrapers in the world.
Significantly, with almost 8% of the earth's crust said to contain aluminium, embedded in 270-plus minerals, it is considered the world's third-most abundant material. Not surprisingly, different metals could contain some quantity of aluminium in its raw form.
Driven by all the above advantages, aluminium is gaining global prominence in the making of sustainable fenestration products. In India too, the green metal is finding favour among architects and developers since the country largely has a subtropical climate while the border areas are prone to more extreme and harsh weather conditions. Whatever the climatic conditions, sliding aluminium fenestration solutions, glass doors and casement windows are finding increasing popularity.

Some beneficial characteristics of aluminium
Durable and easy to maintain: Considering its highly-malleable, anti-corrosive attributes, it is the ideal choice for various structures as it ensures durability and longevity. Moreover, aluminium is a great material for windows and doors since it is easy to design and work on. Aluminium also has lower maintenance costs since it is easy to clean, only requiring soapy water and a damp cloth.
Energy-efficient and sustainable: As it is completely recyclable and requires less energy during the manufacturing and recycling process compared to steel, aluminium windows and doors have a lower replacement cost. Its higher energy efficiency also benefits the cause of sustainability. As the country urbanises at a rapid rate via the 'Housing for All' and 'Smart Cities' missions, together with nationwide infrastructure development, using sustainable, cost-effective, energy-efficient and durable materials remains the need of the hour. The higher sustainability quotient helps in reducing the carbon footprint of projects where aluminium is used.
Sleek profiles: As aluminium is easy to work with a variety of profiles and extrusions are possible. Its inherent metallic strength means minimal, slimmer profiles are created even while ensuring structural stability to various fenestration solutions. Due to its flexibility, glass and other panels can be integrated within its framework. The ability to use various gaskets only augments its versatility as a fenestration solution.
Panoramic views: As stated earlier, since it allows the creation of slim, minimal profiles, fenestration solutions based on aluminium facilitate longer panel spans, simultaneously retaining its strength and durability. Typically, this may not be possible with conventional fenestration materials that come with constraints regarding spans. Wider panels and longer spans with the right glass can help in easily capturing captivating views outside one's residence or office, enhancing enjoyable indoor experiences of occupants.
Additional attributes: Given its ease of installation, cleaning and upkeep, investing in aluminium fenestration products is more cost-effective in the long run as it needs minimal human resources. Also, the metal can endure harsh weather conditions without major wear and tear, making it equally good for hot, humid conditions or cold climates.
Furthermore, it can be wholly recycled without any dilution in its novel properties or deterioration in quality. What's more, recycling aluminium only requires 5% of the energy expended in extracting it from ore. Indeed, the ability to be recycled makes it eternally renewable. Of course, this is possible only if it is collected and recycled once its specific product life ends. Currently, in the form of a secondary metal, recycled aluminium accounts for around 25% of worldwide consumption.
Ultimately, higher use of aluminium can be useful in combating climate change by replacing materials such as wood that have a higher carbon trail and result in greater deforestation. Considering its broad spectrum of applications, attributes and advantages, aluminium can serve as the perfect answer for designing durable, cost-effective and sustainable fenestration solutions.

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