Sustainable cladding solutions for commercial applications

Commercial construction typically generates around 13kg of solid waste per square metre, the majority of which is recyclable. One way to manage construction waste is to transition to a circular economy with a focus on eliminating materials that end up in landfills, reusing or repairing products before they are thrown out, and recycling material so it can be used multiple times in manufacturing or building. 

Fairview is a family business, founded in 2004, specialising in the design, manufacturing and supply of a range of compliant, non-combustible aluminium, steel, terracotta, compressed fibre cement and brick cladding solutions.

Fairview’s sustainable cladding solutions, combined with its unique recycling facility Ecoloop, support the design and construction industry in achieving its sustainability targets. 

“At Fairview, we offer a range of sustainable cladding solutions that not only contribute to environmentally friendly construction practices but also help minimise construction waste, enhance thermal efficiency, and reduce the overall energy consumption of buildings,” says Fairview’s General Manager Joel Gillies.  

Read more about Australia’s waste management initiatives

1. Aluminium

Aluminium is one of the most consumed metals in the world, favoured for its resistance to corrosion and lightweight properties. Weighing significantly less than brick, timber or weatherboard, aluminium cladding can be installed quicker than other materials. Adding a glaze or coating can significantly increase the strength of aluminium panels, requiring minimal façade maintenance in the long term.

Vitradual is Fairview’s non-combustible solid aluminium cassette cladding system that can be curved, rolled or perforated and, like Vitracore G2, is available in a variety of standard, metallic, chromatic and woodgrain colours and finishes. 

Vitracore G2 is a profiled, engineered aluminium panel that has been designed with performance in mind. The lightweight nature of the panels aids the installation procedure and efficacy, reducing overall construction costs.

2. Terracotta

Terracotta cladding is made from natural clay materials and has exceptional strength and durability, providing a tough barrier to weather elements and extreme UV. Terracotta panels are recyclable and maintenance-free as they are naturally scratch and dent-resistant.  

Argeton is a rain-screen façade system made from natural terracotta. For added solar protection, baguettes or sunshades create natural, ventilated shade screens. Fairview stocks a comprehensive range of natural terracotta tiles and panels in many colours, profiles and textures to suit any architectural design vision. 

3. Prefinished fibre cement

Fibre cement is considered one of the most popular sustainable cladding materials because of its natural composition of cellulose, cement and minerals. It also requires very little maintenance. 

Fairview’s prefinished fibre cement cladding Genesis comes with a life expectancy of more than 50 years. Available in many colours and profiles, Genesis panels are installed on a sub-construction rain-screen system that promotes ventilated airflow, increasing thermal and energy efficiency, as well as noise reduction. 

4. Brick

Brick continues to be a favourite choice amongst architects and builders throughout the ages, as it does not require painting, sealing or any other treatment to ensure durability and performance. 

Smartbric is Fairview’s innovative rain-screen brick façade system, installed on a unique mounting track or universal rail. The Smartbric system ingeniously incorporates the option of a grouted traditional brick facing or a modern mortar-less brick facing, allowing for fast and efficient installation without requiring traditional bricklayers. 

Smartbric is available in a range of classic wall-cladding brick colours from Australian-made bricks and local clay, as well as a range of contemporary colours from imported brick facings. 

Cladding manufactured from natural materials is free from contaminants and generally requires less energy consumption to produce. Additionally, if cladding systems offer ventilation, such as a rain-screen cladding system, they deliver additional thermal insulation, resulting in lower energy bills.

Sustainable cladding solutions also produce less emissions, reducing the harmful chemicals often emitted in the production process of building materials and fostering a cleaner environment. Recyclable products offer longevity well beyond their lifetime, therefore lowering construction waste and supporting a circular economy.  

Through collaboration with international environmental consultants, Fairview has undertaken an exhaustive process to provide Environmental Product Declarations for their products, to be made available in early 2024.

Read more about Fairview's complete guide to sustainable cladding solutions

Fairview operates Australia’s first Aluminum Composite Panel recycling facility, Ecoloop, ensuring a complete closed-loop process, diverting 100 per cent of cladding waste from landfills.

Ecoloop complies with the Green Building Council of Australia’s Construction and Demolition Waste Reporting Criteria, which allows waste contractors and waste processing facilities to be verified by an independent auditor for compliance with minimum standards of reporting. This is a critical step in ensuring not only transparency in the industry but also customer confidence regarding the recycling of waste. Ecoloop is also accredited under the Australian Government Voluntary Product Stewardship Scheme, further demonstrating Fairview’s commitment to sustainability.

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Smartbric™ is a trademark of Fairview.