Architecture & Design – July-September 2019

Powder coated aluminium:

Cost effective design solutions for

the education & health care sector

With Australia’s population growing and

ageing, the demand for more facilities will

increase, requiring the design and construction

industry to identify cost-effective, safe and

high performing design solutions that can

withstand the demands of everyday activities.

Solid, powder coated aluminium products

has the advantages of strength, durability,

flexibility, lightness and low maintenance.

Installation Costs

Designers and specifiers must think beyond the

purchase price and consider the total installation

cost of a building product including transport,

labour and equipment. Lightweight, easily-

installed, and flexible solutions with the ability

to be pre-assembled offsite can significantly

reduce costs by minimising the total hours of

labour required. Solid aluminium products are

a lightweight and high-performing alternative

to heavy building products.

Fire Safety

Due to recent regulatory reform in Australia,

specifiers must select reputable products with

fire performance characteristics that comply

with relevant Australian Building Standards to

avoid incurring removal and replacement costs.

Solid Aluminium is inherently non-combustible

and its powder coating will only char when

exposed to a heat source.

Maintenance Costs

An academic study found that initial building

costs account for approximately two per cent

of the total cost of a building over a 30-year

period, whereas operating and maintenance

costs amount to six per cent. Powder coated

aluminium delivers long-term durability and

aesthetics with minimal maintenance and on-

going costs. Some sectors simply don’t have the

funding (and are time poor) to properly maintain

a building, however failure to maintain building

products can result in repairs, enhancing the

total project costs.

Sustainability

Aluminium is highly regarded as a sustainable

building material because of its strength

and durability. Timber-look aluminium is an

ecologically sustainable alternative to timber.

Timber involves the destruction of forests, use

of paints that release harmful VOCs into the

atmosphere, waste from timber that has not

been treated correctly, aged, or is not straight.

Creative Freedom

Versatile, high-quality materials and systems

with a variety of design options can enhance

a project’s unique visual appeal. Aluminium

is very flexible product, available in a range

of extrusions to suit all projects. Furthermore,

there is an endless amount of powder coating

and decorative finishes available to achieve

any design.

DECO

With their innovative finishing technology, high

standards of customer service and commitment

to creating high quality, sustainable alternatives

to traditional building products, DECO meets

the evolving needs of the Australian building

industry and the wider community. DECO’s

finishes are available in an antimicrobial finish

for those sectors with strict hygiene safety

requirements, as well as anti-graffiti and fade

resistant. In addition, all their products have

been fire tested and certified by CSIRO.

promotion feature

deCo.net.au /

A&D X DECO AuStrAlIA

/ jul-seP 2019

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