Everything an architect or specifier needs to know about material thickness, perforation patterns, open area percentages, finishes and fixing systems for aluminium screens.
Perforated aluminium screens are one of the most versatile tools in the architectural specifier's toolkit — but getting the specification right requires understanding how material, perforation pattern, open area percentage and fixing system all interact.
Material thickness
For exterior applications, 2mm aluminium is the standard minimum. For structural screen walls or large unsupported spans, 3mm is recommended. Mild steel can be specified from 2mm but requires appropriate primer and topcoat for exterior use.
Perforation and open area
Open area percentage directly affects solar shading performance, privacy, structural rigidity and wind loading. A 30–40% open area gives a good balance of privacy and light transmission for most residential and commercial applications. Higher open area (50%+) is appropriate for purely decorative or shading applications where privacy is not the primary requirement.
Finish specification
For exterior aluminium, powder coat to Qualicoat Class 1 or 2 standard is the benchmark. For coastal environments within 1km of the sea, specify marine-grade anodising or Qualicoat Class 2 as a minimum.
Fixing systems
Face-fixed, bracket-fixed and concealed clip-fix systems are all available. Concealed systems produce a cleaner visual result but require more precise subframe tolerances. For large-scale commercial facades, concealed systems are strongly recommended.
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