How to Choose the Right Aluminum Composite Panel for a Facade Project
Specifying aluminum composite panel (ACP) for a facade is a decision between fire safety, coating durability, and cost. Getting it wrong means a failed fire inspection or a panel that fades within five years. This guide walks through the four decisions that matter, based on 25+ years of manufacturing ACP.
1. Fire rating: A2 or PE core?
Check your local building code first. High-rise and public buildings in most jurisdictions require a non-combustible A2-rated core (EN 13501-1 A2, NFPA 285). PE-core panels are economical and fine for interiors, signage, and low-rise applications where code allows. If you are not sure, specify A2 — it is the safe default for any exterior wall.
2. Coating: PVDF or polyester?
For exterior panels, choose PVDF fluorocarbon coating with at least 70% resin content — it resists UV fading and chalking for 20+ years. Polyester is a budget option best suited to interiors. On Jinxiang panels, PVDF resin comes from PPG (USA) and polyester from Becker (Sweden), with German pretreatment from Henkel and Chemetall.
3. Thickness and width
Standard panels are 3–4 mm for facades and 2–3 mm for interior or signage. Widths up to 1500 mm are typical; wider panels reduce joints but need stiffer cores and better flatness. Confirm your glazing, joint, and bracket system before ordering.
4. Verify the supplier is a real factory
Many ACP sellers are traders reselling from multiple mills, which means inconsistent quality and no control over your order. Ask for: the factory address, production line photos, ISO9001 certificate, test reports, and a sample kit before ordering. A factory with its own coil coating lines controls quality from substrate to finish — that is the difference between a 10-year panel and a 25-year panel.
What to request from your supplier
- ISO9001 certificate and fire test report (A2)
- PPG / coating supplier confirmation for PVDF lines
- Sample kit with the exact thickness and color you plan to buy
- Miami-Dade NOA documentation for US coastal projects, if applicable
Jinxiang (Zhejiang Jinxiang Panel Industry Co., Ltd.) has manufactured aluminum composite panels in Jinhua, Zhejiang since 1998, runs an 18,000 m² factory with 5 coil coating lines, and exports to over 70 countries. Contact us for a quote or sample kit.