Fire safety aluminium cladding: everything you need to know

Fire is every homeowner's worst nightmare. In Belgium, around 10,000 fires occur every year. Often the fire spreads not only inside, but also through the façade to other parts of the building. This phenomenon is called fire spread and is a major risk especially in low-rise projects.

It is therefore crucial to consider the fire safety of facade cladding. How do different materials react to fire? And why does aluminium constitute a safe choice?

Should cladding be fireproof?

The question sounds simple, but the answer requires nuance. Façade cladding in itself need not fireproof to be - that concept is about the fire resistance of an entire structure (facade + supporting structure + insulation).

What cladding is all about is burning behaviour: does the material contribute to the spread of fire or not? In low-rise buildings, therefore, the main issue is to limit fire spread through the facade.

Flammable vs non-combustible: the difference

Not every cladding reacts the same way to fire. Fire behaviour determines whether a facade helps fire spread or slows it down.

• Wood (class D/E)
  • Combustible material that can catch fire and actively feed the fire.
  • When there is a fire, wood acts as fuel, causing fire to spread faster.
  • Dangerous in low-rise buildings because fire spread along the façade can occur very quickly.
• Plastic or composite
  • Melts at high temperatures and may drip.
  • These droplets are often burning and can cause additional fires.
  • Moreover, toxic smoke is released, complicating evacuation.
• Stone and fibre cement
  Non-flammable and completely dimensionally stable at high temperatures. Does not contribute to flame spread, thus reducing the risk of fire spread.
• Aluminium (class A1/A2)
  • Non-combustible and non-flammable.
  • Can melt but does not catch fire or spread smoke.

The conclusion is clear: where wood and plastic can strengthen a fire, aluminium remains a passive material that does not accelerate the fire. This makes it particularly suitable for house facades, garden houses and extensions, where fire spread often poses the greatest risk.

What happens to aluminium in case of fire?

Aluminium has a melting point of about 660°C. So in the event of a very severe fire, it can deform or melt. But more importantly: aluminium does not burn and does not develop smoke or droplets that cause the fire to spread further.

This makes aluminium a safe material for cladding, especially in homes where fire spread to other facades is a real risk.

Aluminium cladding and the supporting structure

The overall fire safety of a facade also depends on the rear construction:

• Timber support structure: flammable → the outer layer (aluminium) is non-combustible, but the wood behind it can still catch fire in a prolonged fire.
• Aluminium support structure: completely non-combustible → the entire facade construction does not contribute to fire spread.

For maximum fire safety (and thus minimum risk of fire spread), a aluminium support structure the best choice.

European fire classes and aluminium

In Europe, fire behaviour of materials is indicated by fire classes:

• A1: completely incombustible.
• A2: virtually non-combustible, very limited contribution to fire.
• B to E: flammable to varying degrees.
• F: no classification.

Aluminium cladding falls into the highest categories (A1/A2) and is thus non-combustible. This means that aluminium does not spread fire, nor does it produce droplets or toxic fumes like some plastics.

Aesthetics and safety need not clash

There is sometimes a perception that fire-safe solutions come at the expense of design. But this need not be the case at all. Aluminium cladding combines both worlds:

• A sleek, modern look in timeless black.
• A material that non-combustible is and does not accelerate a fire.
• Suitable for cladding homes, garden houses, extensions as well as renovations.

So with aluminium, you choose a facade that not only looks beautiful, but also contributes to peace of mind.

Smart choice for now and later

Aluminium cladding is non-combustible (A1/A2) and therefore a particularly safe choice for your facade. Combine this with the right support structure and you have a safe, low-maintenance and aesthetic facade that complies with increasingly stringent safety regulations.