6 Factors to Consider When Choosing Aluminum Composite Panels

What are Aluminum Composite Panels (ACP)?

ACPs are panels made of synthetic materials in 10 to 12 layers which are combined to give ACPs tensile strength, flexibility, color and design and long-lastingness even when exposed to the elements.

ACPs are a popular choice for cladding walls and ceiling in interior or exterior applications. Specific applications are wall curtain, parapet, fascia, columns, canopies, advertising plates, and decorative fins. May furniture makers make use of them too for shelves and walls.

They are a product of choice of leading construction professionals. They are easy to deliver, handle and install. They rarely become a problem for other trade contractors who must also perform their tasks while the ACPs are being installed.

ACPs are easy to clean after installation. Just like any material or equipment of value installed in a property development, they need regular and faithful maintenance.

They are low density, impact-resistant, energy-efficient, cost-effective, and will last a long time. On top of these, ACPs are also available in a multitude of colors, thickness and dimensions, finishes and profiles (metal, granite, wood, etc.).

To help you get the best quality for your money, here are some of the factors to consider when choosing aluminum composite panels. Read on!

Budget

Every building project developer has a set budget, so it’s the first thing you need to consider when shopping for aluminum composite panels. Fortunately, it’s a cost-effective material that you can purchase for a reasonable price.

For instance, aluminum composite panels with a polymer core are more affordable compared to other cores. For rigid safety standards in internal or external cladding, you might need fire-retardant aluminum panel cores, which might cost more, to minimize the spread of fire.

Remember that aluminum composite panels are available in varying colors, finishes, thicknesses and dimensions, so you also need to consider these when determining your budget.

Installation

One of the advantages of using aluminum composite panels is the ease of installation. The material is also flexible, so you can achieve designs that are too difficult to do with other materials.

You need to consider whether you need the panels indoors or outdoors. Interior applications have different specifications from exterior applications which may be subject to UV rays, wind, typhoon, pollution. Exterior applications may therefore require higher level of specifications.

You must also take care of the sealants used to join panels. Oil based quality sealants can create smudge, stains and ugly appearance on an otherwise beautiful installation. See them in many ACP installations and learn.

So, choose your suppliers and installers wisely. Like cellphones, not all gadgets are created equal.

Panel Finish

Aluminum composite panels are available in a variety of finishes and colors. They can come with the look of stainless steel, bronze, marble, wood or the usual plain colored panels. Because it will affect the aesthetic appeal of your building project, this is one of the things you should consider. Establish where you will use the panels and what style or theme for your building.

Fortunately, Multi-Line offers panels in different coatings – polyester, PVDF, and FEVE.

A polyester coating can achieve bright colors and high gloss and is typically used for interior applications, signage, or digital print. If you’re looking for something more durable for exterior applications, you can pick PVDF coating which has 15-years warranty. The FEVE coating is also a great choice with its 10-year warranty, weather resistance, UV stability, and chemical resistance.

Look at the picture above. Which of the façade are made of Aluminum Composite Panels? Tip: accents, lineal and highlights for emphasis and contrast. This is a project of Multi-Line for Ayala Malls – Feliz in Marikina.

Fire Resistance

You can add an element of safety to aluminum composite panels by choosing materials with fire-resistant features. When exploring your options, look for the specific grade of the panels. Grade A means that the material is non-combustible, while grade B means that it’s flame retardant.

Make sure to check with your designer what the Building Code requires. Then advise Multi-Line of your specifications. Multi-Line offers both Class A2 and B1 panels, which have outstanding fireproofing characteristics.

Quality and Durability

To gauge the quality of the ACP from a supplier, you can do some simple tests.

First, using the specifications of the designer, make sure that the thickness of the materials delivered to your project site conforms with the specs.  There are two thicknesses to consider: the over-all thickness of the panel and the thickness of the aluminum skin. Both thicknesses provide you benefits that will ensure your wall will last through the years.

It does not make a difference if you get the panel from Multi-Line. Ask Multi-Line engineers to guide you how to gauge thickness. They will guide you for free.

Second, do a brittleness test on the aluminum skin to see if it remains tear-resistant after repeated bending. At corners it is the aluminum skin that keeps the panels fastened to the steel frame and the wall. Once this skin cracks because it is so thin, then the panel starts to break apart.

Third, you can also test the finish for fading when you expose the panel to harsh chemicals. See those installations in huge malls and buildings where colors fade and the walls take on varying shades of discoloration. We are not talking about smudges and stains that are caused by poor quality sealants. We are talking about the colorfastness of the paint. Each panel when tested with a paint gauge meter should fall within the range of standards for PE, PVDF and FEVE.  Make sure your colors remain vibrant and take on the original shade faithfully.

Again ask a Multi-Line engineer to assist you. He will guide you how to gauge color fastness. For free.

Fourth, in accepting deliveries from your supplier, don’t forget to check the surface of the panels for any signs of rippling, bubbling, color variations, delamination and other defects. You have paid good money for these panels. Take care of inspection prior to acceptance.

Brand and Supplier

For the best outcome of your building project, it’s essential to select a reputable brand of aluminum composite panels in the market.  You will investing a rather large sum of money for your ACPs. You deserve the best quality that will leave your imprint on the project.

BCI Asia conducted a survey on the preference of Philippine architects on Aluminum Composite Panels. In its last survery Alucobest by Multi-Line won the prize for the most preferred brand of ACP.  No other brand can claim as much trust.

Multi-Line has been distributing nation-wide Alucobest and WorldBond, two brands that have earned the trust of property developers, building owners and construction professionals in the country for more than a decade now.

In the Philippines, Alucobest’s aluminum composite panels are used in the following projects:

• Agri Mall in Nueva Ecija
• Holy Angel University in Angeles City Pampanga
• Ilagan City Hall in Ilagan City, Isabela
• Ayala Mall Bacolod
• Mitsubishi Motors (Fast Auto World)
• Cebu Isuzu
• Alturas Mall
• MDC -EBLOC 6
• PNB Bacolod
• Petro Gazz
• DPWH Guindulman

WorldBond is the preferred choice in these projects:

• Ayala Malls Cloverleaf Mall in Quezon City
• Mitsubishi Motor Showroom & Service Center in Pasay City
• Toyota Marikina
• Cebu Isuzu
• Cebu International Academy
• DPWH Guindulman

These brands are trusted not just in the Philippines but also over the world. For instance, Alucobest’s products are utilized in the following places:

• Clarion Hotel Arlando Airport, Sweden
• Sunway Velocity Mall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Walmart, Canada
• Bespoke Seminole Hard Rock Hotel, USA

What can we say about Multi-Line, the distributor of Alucobest and WorldBond in the Philippines?

It has been in the business of ACPs since 2005 and Multi-Line just celebrated its 35^th anniversary in 2021. In Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Experience and years of service in the construction industry say so much about a company’s reliability, trustworthiness and performance. Multi-Line’s list of thousands of happy customers, including the best SEO services agency in the Philippines, is a testament that cannot be matched in the industry.

Key Takeaway

Aluminum composite panels are preferred by plenty of construction professionals for both internal and external applications because it’s cost-effective, durable, and has a variety of options to select from.

By knowing the factors to consider when choosing aluminum composite panels, you will get the best value for your money. If you’re interested in Alucobest and Worldbond, you can contact us here at Multi-Line!