Over the years CAB has been supporting the aluminium fenestration market , 30 years this year to be precise , and we have seen many changes . One thing we have learnt is that as one door closes , another opens . In the residential market we have seen new build cut by one-third in 2023 , but this has gone hand in hand with homeowners staying in existing properties and refurbishing and extending what they have , often utilising new thermal efficient windows and doors . A similar trend occurs in commercial offices , rather than moving or demolishing , building refurbishment occurs when faced with a market downturn . In commercial circles , a cut of 2.1 % in construction across the industry , followed by a forecasted 2 % rise in 2025 will hardly affect the fenestration market which is predominantly aluminium based . But there are trends that continue to influence the market . City living is very much with us and has been for few decades now , many commercial premises have been converted into lofts and apartments specify slim , steel look , thermally efficient aluminium windows . This trend continues now on old commercial properties on the outskirts of cities and
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increasingly specified on new projects .
Curtain walls , dominated by stick systems , are giving way to unitised curtain wall systems . Once the realm of large office developments , unitised systems are now being specified on medium sized projects where off-site construction and short build times are being specified to reduce costs and further improve quality .
Trade magazines , once the domain of high performance PVC systems have given way to aluminium as being the aspirational material of choice . There seems to be a move towards more glass and less frame as large sliding doors are now competing once again with the sliding folding door format . Front doors on homes are now being offered in a wide range of bespoke designs in aluminium . Flush fitting with hidden hinges complete with a high thermal performance , these doors options are a welcome addition to the traditional UK door styles offered by composite door companies .
A rapidly growing trend at the moment is the residential application of the slim , steel look , thermally efficient aluminium window doors in home improvement . A trend to offer older homes something more in keeping with the age of
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the building . We are also seeing these slim door systems and windows installed internally to create spaces within buildings that allow light airy spaces to be formed .
Outdoor living continues to develop with a growing number of companies in the UK offering stand-alone structural aluminium systems , often including outdoor kitchens and lounging spaces , to enjoy the rising temperatures expected in the UK . Rooflights and canopies are also on the rise , many of these designs utilise aluminium as a structural component that when powder coated can offer decades of life expectancy .
Whilst the Future Homes consultation languishes in England and Wales , Scotland takes the lead and introduces a Passivhaus construction standard later this year . Aluminium is already set to take advantage of these developments with systems from various manufacturers certified on the UK ’ s Passivhaus Trust website . Some sizeable commercial projects are increasingly using this
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standard across the UK as real , quantifiable savings in energy usage can be realised which offer payback within a few years of operation .
In commercial applications aluminium is usually the only material of choice and the development of these high performance systems continue to make their way into our low rise residential properties . This is trend that will continue over the foreseeable future and CAB will remain on hand to support its membership in both commercial and residential markets . The Association offers free to attend webinars and training schemes for its members and continue to be a voice of aluminium in the UK & Ireland .
With the upstream production of aluminium making huge steps towards reducing carbon content , aluminium ’ s near 100 % recyclability and its long ‘ in-use ’ life expectancy , the Association believes that homeowners will continue to embrace aluminium as the material of choice for future sustainability . On the cautionary side , the association agrees that 2024 will be a challenging year for many , but the opportunities are there for many of our members and the wider industry .
www . c-a-b . org . uk
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24 MARCH 2024 |
CLEARVIEW-UK . COM |