Repair Systems — 03 — Facade & External Envelope
Solid Aluminium Sheet — Non-Combustible
Technical product reference for solid aluminium sheet non-combustible facade cladding panels. 3 mm and 4 mm solid aluminium — no combustible core — for NCC 2022 compliant cladding replacement on Class 2 buildings. Products include mill-finish, PVDF-coated and anodised options.
What is solid aluminium sheet cladding?
Solid aluminium sheet cladding is the highest-certainty non-combustible facade panel option for Class 2–9 buildings. Unlike aluminium composite panel (ACP) where fire compliance depends on core type and fire engineering, solid aluminium contains no combustible components at any thickness — it is non-combustible by definition under NCC 2022.
Product Reference
4 products — solid aluminium sheet cladding — scroll to view all
Capral Solid Aluminium Sheet — 3 mm / 4 mm — PVDF Finish
Solid aluminium cladding sheet — PVDF finish — non-combustible
System Description
Solid aluminium sheet from Capral Aluminium in 3 mm or 4 mm thickness with a PVDF fluoropolymer coating provides the highest-performance non-combustible cladding option for high-rise Class 2 buildings. Solid aluminium is fully non-combustible — no mineral core, no organic binder, no combustion risk — meeting NCC 2022 for all building heights and Classes without fire engineering assessment. PVDF coating (Kynar 500 or equivalent) meets AAMA 2605 for colour retention and chalk resistance, providing 15–25 year exterior coating service life. Capral is Australia's primary aluminium extrusion and sheet supplier with national distribution. 3 mm sheet is suitable for most facade panel applications; 4 mm provides greater stiffness for larger panel formats or higher wind loads. Confirm PVDF colour and coating specification with Capral's finishing partner.
Technical Properties
- Non-combustible — no combustible component — NCC 2022 compliant for all Class and height combinations
- Thickness: 3 mm (standard) and 4 mm (heavy-duty / large panel) — confirm from current Capral product guide
- PVDF fluoropolymer coating — AAMA 2605 class — 15–25 year colour retention service life
Limitations
- Heavier than ACP — 3 mm solid aluminium = approximately 8 kg/m²; 4 mm = approximately 11 kg/m² — subframe engineered for dead load
- PVDF finishing requires factory application — site touch-up is with compatible PVDF aerosol only; field-applied coatings will not match
- Higher material cost than ACP — cost partially offset by elimination of fire engineering assessment
PROCUREMENT SOURCES
Confirm suitability with the current manufacturer TDS before specifying or applying.
Solid Aluminium Sheet — 3 mm / 4 mm — Powder-Coat Finish
Solid aluminium cladding sheet — powder-coat finish — non-combustible
System Description
Solid aluminium cladding panels with polyester powder-coat finish are a widely used non-combustible cladding option for medium and high-rise Class 2 buildings. Solid aluminium is fully non-combustible — NCC 2022 compliant for all heights without fire engineering. Polyester powder coat is applied by specialist powder-coaters to fabricated panels or raw sheet. Available in any Dulux or Interpon powder-coat colour — effectively unlimited colour palette. Powder coat meets AAMA 2604 (5-year colour retention standard) — not equivalent to PVDF; suitable for buildings in non-extreme UV environments or where a shorter repaint cycle is acceptable. Widely fabricated by local sheet metal shops from Capral or equivalent raw sheet stock. More flexible for unusual panel shapes and sizes than PVDF-finished sheet.
Technical Properties
- Non-combustible — solid aluminium, no combustible components — NCC 2022 compliant
- Powder-coat finish — AAMA 2604 class — wide colour range via Dulux / Interpon powder-coat palette
- Thickness: 3 mm standard — 4 mm for larger panels or higher wind zones — confirm with fabricator
Limitations
- Powder coat AAMA 2604 — shorter colour retention than PVDF AAMA 2605 — UV fade after 5–10 years in high-UV environments
- Polyester powder coat not suitable for extreme marine or chloride environments — specify PVDF for coastal within 1 km of ocean
- Colour matching between batches is difficult — all panels for a facade should be powder-coated in one batch
PROCUREMENT SOURCES
Confirm suitability with the current manufacturer TDS before specifying or applying.
Fairview Solid Aluminium Cassette Panel — PVDF
Solid aluminium cassette system — concealed-fix — PVDF finish — Australian brand
System Description
Fairview Architectural is an Australian facade panel manufacturer offering solid aluminium cassette panels in a concealed-fix system. Panels are pre-fabricated to project-specific sizes with folded returns and concealed fixing flanges, eliminating visible screw heads on the face. PVDF fluoropolymer finish is standard, meeting AAMA 2605 for long-term colour retention in Australian exterior conditions. Solid aluminium is fully non-combustible — NCC 2022 compliant for all Classes and heights. Fairview's Australian manufacturing provides shorter lead times than imported systems and project-specific colour and size flexibility. Suitable for Class 2 cladding replacement projects where a premium concealed-fix non-combustible appearance is required.
Technical Properties
- Non-combustible solid aluminium cassette — NCC 2022 compliant for all building heights and Classes
- PVDF fluoropolymer finish — AAMA 2605 — 15–25 year colour retention service life
- Concealed-fix cassette system — no visible fasteners on panel face
Limitations
- Cassette system requires Fairview-compatible rail and bracket subframe — confirm system compatibility at design stage
- Pre-fabrication requires accurate panel sizes from site measurement before fabrication commences
- Premium cost compared to site-fabricated powder-coat panels
PROCUREMENT SOURCES
Confirm suitability with the current manufacturer TDS before specifying or applying.
Solid Aluminium Sheet — 6 mm — Mill Finish or Anodised
Solid aluminium sheet — 6 mm — structural grade — mill finish or anodised
System Description
Solid aluminium sheet at 6 mm thickness provides the structural rigidity necessary for large-format facade panels, perforated screens, and CNC-cut decorative panels. Available with mill finish (bare aluminium — suitable for anodising), natural anodised, or coloured anodised finish. Anodising provides an electrochemical surface treatment that is part of the aluminium itself — it cannot peel or flake, provides superior abrasion resistance to powder coat or PVDF, and is available in clear, bronze, black, gold, and custom colours. Non-combustible and NCC 2022 compliant for all heights. 6 mm sheet is heavier (approximately 16.2 kg/m²) and more expensive than 3–4 mm, but necessary for long spans, perforated panels where effective load-bearing area is reduced, or where low panel deflection is critical.
Technical Properties
- Non-combustible solid aluminium — NCC 2022 compliant — no combustion risk at any thickness
- Thickness: 6 mm — greater stiffness and dead load vs 3–4 mm — suitable for large spans and perforated panels
- Weight: approximately 16.2 kg/m² — structural design of subframe and connections mandatory
Limitations
- Heavy — 16.2 kg/m² dead load must be verified in structural design — subframe and anchors to be engineered
- 6 mm sheet is more expensive than 3–4 mm — specify only where structural or aesthetic requirements justify the weight
- Anodising is a factory process — field repair of scratches or damage is limited to clear lacquer touch-up only
PROCUREMENT SOURCES
Confirm suitability with the current manufacturer TDS before specifying or applying.
System Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of solid aluminium cladding options. Confirm all selections against the current manufacturer TDS.
| Product | Brand | Finish | Thickness | NCC 2022 | Coastal | Primary use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capral Solid Alum — PVDF | Capral | PVDF (AAMA 2605) | 3–4 mm | Compliant — all heights | Yes | Premium long-life — high-rise — PVDF coating |
| Solid Alum — Powder-coat | Capral / fabricator | Powder-coat (AAMA 2604) | 3–4 mm | Compliant — all heights | Yes (non-marine) | Cost-effective — wide colour — non-marine |
| Fairview Cassette — PVDF | Fairview | PVDF (AAMA 2605) | 3–4 mm | Compliant — all heights | Yes | Concealed-fix cassette — Australian brand |
| 6mm Alum — Anodised | Capral / anodiser | Anodised | 6 mm | Compliant — all heights | Yes (marine grade) | Large spans — perforated — screens — structural |
Do not confuse solid aluminium sheet (non-combustible) with:
- ACP with standard polyethylene (PE) core — aluminium composite panels with a combustible plastic core — prohibited on Type A and Type B buildings under NCC 2022 — must NOT be used as a replacement cladding on buildings over 2 storeys where non-combustible or fire-rated cladding is required
- ACP with FR (fire-retardant) or A2 mineral core — aluminium composite panels with a mineral or fire-retardant core that meet NCC 2022 fire performance requirements at specific wall heights — different product type, listed on the ACP — FR/A2 core page
- Fibre cement sheet cladding — compressed fibre cement panels used as an alternative non-combustible cladding material — different substrate, listed on the fibre cement compressed sheet page
- Mill-finish aluminium extrusions — raw aluminium sections used for framing, subframe and structural members — not a cladding panel product
- Anodised aluminium architectural sections — surface-treated aluminium profiles for louvre, screen and decorative applications — not solid cladding sheet
- PVDF-coated steel cladding panels — steel-substrate profiled cladding products — different substrate from aluminium — listed under metal profiled standing seam cladding
Disclaimer
Information is general only. Cladding replacement must be confirmed against NCC 2022 fire performance requirements, building height, and the specific cladding system design. Engage a fire engineer and facade engineer before specifying non-combustible cladding replacement systems. Do not rely on this reference as a substitute for professional engineering advice.