Material
Aluminium
Roughly a third the density of steel, naturally corrosion resistant, and the practical answer wherever run length or panel weight rules steel out — which is most ceiling and louver work.
Detail
Specifying aluminium
| Properties | Light, corrosion resistant through its own oxide layer, easy to form, and readily powder coated in any RAL. |
|---|---|
| Where to specify | Metal ceilings, baffles, linear systems, louvers, façade panels, brise soleil and large-format cladding where dead load matters. |
| Finishes | Powder coating in any RAL, plus mechanical finishes. Aluminium does not take PVD. |
| Fabrication notes | Softer than steel and marks more easily in handling, so protective film stays on until installation. Springback under the brake differs from steel and is allowed for in the programme. |
| Trade-off | Lower strength than stainless at the same thickness, so sections are often deeper or stiffened rather than simply thinner. |
Finishes
Available on aluminium
Start a project
Specifying aluminium?
Send the detail and MCS will confirm thickness, finish and whether it forms as drawn.