Anywhere, any colour
Architects like aluminium-composite cladding because it is cheap, easily fixed to buildings, comes in different finishes and requires little if any maintenance over the life of a building.
It is weather-resistant and is used extensively inside and outside buildings. It is also easy to put up.
"You basically start at the bottom of the building and work your way up," said Thomas Bell-Wright, chief executive officer and founder of Thomas Bell-Wright International.
Aluminium-composite cladding is the most widely used finish on high-rise residential and commercial buildings in the Middle East.
Helping it burn
Buildings' exteriors are coated in bitumen-based blackjack paint as a sealant — which is not fire tested nor fire rated.
Aluminium fitting strips are then applied in vertical and horizontal frames.
An insulation material which may or may not be fireproof goes behind the aluminium composition.
The adhesives used in the construction of the insulated exterior may also provide fuel to fires as they are not fire-resistant.
