What is inside an Alucobond panel
Every Alucobond panel is a sandwich. Two thin aluminum skins, each 0.5 mm thick, coated in PVDF for color stability and weather resistance. Between them sits a core, typically 3 or 4 mm thick, which determines almost all of the panel's fire behavior. Total finished thickness ends up at 4 or 6 mm depending on configuration.
The aluminum skins are largely a design and durability story. The core is the engineering story. There are three core types you will encounter in the market, and they are not interchangeable.
PE: Polyethylene core
PE panels use a pure polyethylene core. They are the cheapest version of the product and they look identical to any other Alucobond panel from the outside. The problem is fuel. A solid block of polyethylene behaves like a fuel source in a serious fire, and the consequences of cladding fires using PE panels have been catastrophic.
Most modern building codes restrict PE panels to ground floor commercial signage and similar low-risk uses. They are not appropriate for residential, office, or any building above one story. We do not work with PE.
FR: Fire Retardant core
FR panels replace most of the polyethylene with mineral fire retardants. The result is a core that resists ignition and significantly reduces flame spread, typically classified B-s1,d0 under EN 13501-1. FR is the standard specification for most residential, office and commercial buildings.
FR is the panel grade you will see on the majority of new mid-rise developments, office buildings, and any project where code 921 compliance is required but a fully non-combustible core is not mandated.
A2: Non-combustible core
A2 panels go one step further. The core is fully mineral with effectively no organic content. By European standard EN 13501-1, an A2 rating means the material does not contribute meaningfully to a fire. For towers, hospitals, schools and any building where the strictest interpretation of fire safety applies, A2 is the customary acceptable specification.
A2 panels cost more than FR, and they are slightly heavier. For the project types that require them, the cost difference is not negotiable.
Which panel grade does my building need?
For most projects, regulation makes the decision for you. The taller and more densely occupied the building, the stricter the requirement. Public buildings, hospitals and schools require A2 regardless of height.
Even where the project specification accepts FR, if budget allows, A2 gives a clear margin of safety and stronger resale position. A villa is usually not required to use either, but a serious villa project still specifies FR as professional practice. We default to FR or A2 on every project we deliver.
- Villas and low-rise buildings: FR is the professional standard even where not mandated
- Residential, office and commercial: FR is the customary specification
- Towers, public buildings, schools and hospitals: A2 is the customary specification
- Cost difference FR to A2: typically 10 to 18 percent on panel price
- PE: not specified by serious contractors under any circumstances
How we choose a panel grade for a project
The core grade is fixed in the project specification, by its planners and consultants, and we build to it. What is in our control, and what we commit to on every Alucobond cladding project, is this:
- FR or A2 only. A PE core never goes onto one of our sites, at any height, on any building type.
- Panels from a manufacturer with European certification. Not an "equivalent" with no certificate you can verify.
- Full documentation at handover. Manufacturer certificate, series, core grade and the EN 13501-1 classification of the panels actually installed.
- FR as the default. Even on low-rise work where a lighter specification would have been accepted, we do not go below FR.
The practical rule in the market: the taller and more densely occupied the building, the stricter the specification. On towers, public buildings, hospitals and schools the customary specification is an A2 mineral core.
Frequently asked questions
Which panel grade suits my building?
The answer sits in the project specification, not in a rule of thumb. On most residential, office and retail buildings FR panels with a fire-retardant core are the customary specification; on towers, public buildings, hospitals and schools the customary specification is an A2 mineral core. We build to the project specification, we specify FR or A2 only, and we never install a PE core.
How can I tell which grade I am being quoted?
The grade is stamped on the back of every panel and listed on the manufacturer specification sheet. You should require this documentation as part of any cladding quote. If a contractor will not provide it, walk away.
Is A2 always worth the extra cost?
On towers and public buildings A2 is the customary specification, so the question rarely comes up there. For mid-rise buildings where FR is allowed, A2 provides a stronger safety margin and protects resale value, especially as regulations tighten over time.
What about panels imported from outside Europe?
Be careful. Panel certification varies by region, and some imported panels labeled "FR" do not meet the European or Israeli fire standards. We specify only panels from manufacturers with verifiable EU certification and code-921 testing.
