Building & Construction/Infrastructure

Largely due to products in the residential, industrial, commercial, farm, and highway sectors, the 2009 building and construction market accounted for 2.13 billion pounds of net aluminum shipments, good for 11.9 percent of total shipments and the third largest North American market for aluminum.

Aluminum is widely used in both commerical and residential construction - in such applications as window and door frames, exterior cladding/siding, gutters and downspouts, and roofing.

A potential new application for aluminum is in the nation's infrastructure, such as bridges and oil rigs. In many cases, the low weight, high strength, and durability of aluminum alloys make aluminum attractive to construction contractors.

With the likelihood of thousands of concrete and steel-reinforced bridge decks facing rebuilding due to their age and condition, aluminum could be a critical alternative building material. Aluminum is cost-effective because it requires less maintenance and painting than traditional materials. It can be installed relatively rapidly and with less inconvenience and disruption to pedestrian and street traffic.

Corrosion Fact Sheet (Adobe PDF File)
LEED Fact Sheet (Adobe PDF File)