The term ‘Combustible ACP Cladding’ has been doing the rounds in the construction sector for some time now. The last two decades have witnessed a few major building fire instances across the globe, and aluminum composite panel sheets were at the center of most of these accidents.

 

 

What is ACP sheet?

Aluminum Composite Panel or ACP refers to an external cladding that consists of two aluminum skins. These aluminum sheets have an insulating core placed between them. Thus, they prevent rain and wind from entering buildings by providing sound and thermal insulation. While they enhance a structure aesthetically, they don’t offer much structural strength to the building.

How do I know if my building is vulnerable to combustible ACP cladding?

The State Building Regulations carry out annual audits for all high rise and high-risk buildings that have ACP sheet attached to them. It entails the identification of all potential “at risk” buildings in metro and regional areas. The Building Commissioner then publishes an update of the audit report based on the findings at the conclusion.

Can emerging technologies challenge Combustible ACP Cladding?

Although aluminum panel sheet is a favorite in the construction sector, there is a call from many sections for new ideas to combat the unstoppable emergence of ACP sheet.

One revolutionary idea is using expandable graphite in the construction of ACP cladding. When treated with heat and acid, these coarse flakes split part and enhance the volume by three hundred times. The expandable graphite is already being used as protection against fire and heat in applications ranging from consumer electronics to building materials.

However, the scale at which graphite is being produced globally is nowhere close to addressing the demands. Moreover, the diminishing supply due to the closure of mines in countries like China has added on to this problem. With high worldwide demand, ACP cladding remains miles ahead of any of the potential challenges that it might face.

Conclusion

Viva has become one of the leading aluminum composite panel manufacturers in recent times. With a rich experience of working on multiple national and international projects, Viva aims to become the most sought out supplier of fire retardant ACP to keep any fire hazards at bay. We also have extensive experience in manufacturing high-quality fire retardant ACP with PE, FR, and Aluminum cores.

Go for fire retardant ACP in all your commercial establishments. Every wise step that you take today will prove beneficial tomorrow.

Further Reading: Fire Retardant ACP Sheet and Why are they Important