Aluminium facade systems in Australia broadly fall into four categories: interlocking rainscreen, unitised curtain wall, solid panel, and batten or screening systems. Each serves a different purpose, and the right choice depends on building classification, fire performance requirements, weather exposure, aesthetic intent, and the practical realities of your project. This guide sets out how Valmond & Gibson’s four systems map to those decisions.
What Factors Drive Facade System Selection?
Before looking at individual products, it helps to step back and consider the variables that shape the decision. In our experience, the following factors carry the most weight at specification stage:
- NCC building classification. A Class 2 residential tower, a Class 5 commercial office, and a Class 9a hospital each bring different performance requirements. The classification drives what the facade must do, not just what it can look like.
- Fire performance. Non-combustibility to AS1530.1 is the starting point for most multi-storey applications. Beyond that, some projects require the full fire test suite - ignitability, heat evolved, flame spread, and smoke developed indices under AS1530.3.
- Weather exposure. Wind loads, driving rain, and thermal cycling vary dramatically across Australia. Testing to AS/NZS 4284 confirms a system performs as an assembly, not just as a material.
- Aesthetic intent. Flat panels read differently to interlocking profiles. Glazed curtain wall creates a different language to opaque cladding. Battens add depth and shadow. The design intent should lead the product selection, not follow it.
- Installation access and logistics. Site constraints, crane availability, scaffold access, and whether the facade can be unitised off-site all influence which system is practical, not just which is ideal.
- Maintenance lifecycle. PVDF coatings, powder coat, and anodised finishes each have different long-term maintenance profiles. A 20-year warranty means more when the cleaning and upkeep regime is straightforward.
- Budget. Different systems carry different material and installation costs. The right system balances performance with project economics.
Product Comparison
The table below compares V&G’s four systems across the key selection criteria.
| interloQ | 165CW | element13 | conneQt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| System type | Interlocking rainscreen | Unitised curtain wall | Solid aluminium panel | Batten and adaptor |
| Application | Opaque cladding (walls, soffits, feature elements) | Glazed facades (full-height or ribbon) | Opaque cladding, recladding, flat panel facades | Screening, fins, facade detail, integration |
| NCC fire compliance | Non-combustible (AS1530.1, CSIRO FNC12595) | Non-combustible aluminium framing | Non-combustible (AS1530.1, CSIRO FNC12545); full AS1530.3 (Ig 0, Heat 0, Flame 0, Smoke 1) | Non-combustible (AS1530.1, CSIRO) |
| Weather testing | AS/NZS 4284 - pass at +/-1500Pa SLS | Conforms to AS/NZS 4284 | AS/NZS 4284 - pass at +/-1500Pa SLS; Wind load SLS 1875Pa, ULS 5559Pa | Per project engineering |
| Material | Extruded aluminium, 6060/6063 T5, 1.8-3.5mm | 6060-T6 / 6005A-T6 framing, IGU 24-40mm | 3mm solid aluminium, 8.13 kg/m2 | 6060/6063 T5 |
| Installation method | Ventilated rainscreen, interlocking | Unitised (fabricated off-site, hook-on) | Direct-fix or rainscreen | Screw-fix to substrate or sub-frame |
| Orientation | Vertical or horizontal | Vertical mullion/transom grid | Vertical or horizontal | Vertical or horizontal |
| Finishes | Powder coat, anodised, woodgrain, custom | Powder coat, anodised | PVDF (PPG), 12+ stock colours, 30+ non-stock, woodgrain, custom | Powder coat, anodised |
| Typical project scale | $20K domestic to $200K+ multi-storey | Major commercial, institutional, high-rise | Mid-scale to large (recladding or new build) | Any scale (standalone or with interloQ/element13) |
| Warranty | Up to 20 years | Project-specific | Up to 20 years | Project-specific |
When to Specify a Rainscreen System (interloQ)
interloQ is an interlocking extruded aluminium rainscreen system. The interlocking profile creates a ventilated cavity behind the cladding, which is the fundamental principle of rainscreen design: the outer skin deflects the bulk of the water, the cavity allows pressure equalisation, and any moisture that does penetrate drains and dries before reaching the building envelope.
This makes interloQ well-suited to a wide range of building types and climates. The system is tested as non-combustible to AS1530.1 (CSIRO report FNC12595) and has passed weather performance testing to AS/NZS 4284 at +/-1500Pa serviceability limit state.
In practice, interloQ is V&G’s most versatile system. It works on Class 2 residential towers, Class 5 commercial offices, Class 6 retail, Class 9 government and defence buildings, and domestic homes. The same core product handles projects from a single-storey home extension through to a multi-storey build-to-rent development. Panels can be installed vertically or horizontally, and are interchangeable, which simplifies replacement if panels are ever damaged.
The finish range covers powder coat (including the Interpon D2525 and Structura texture ranges), anodised, and woodgrain effects. Custom colour matching is available.
Specify interloQ when the project calls for an opaque, non-combustible facade with the performance benefits of a ventilated rainscreen, and when design flexibility in orientation and finish is important.
When to Specify a Curtain Wall System (165CW)
165CW is a unitised curtain wall system designed, engineered, and extruded in Australia. That distinction matters. Australian-made extrusions mean local supply security, no import lead time risk, and profiles engineered specifically for Australian standards and conditions.
The system uses a 165mm frame depth with thermally broken glazing adaptors and 4-side structural silicone glazing. It accepts insulated glass units from 24mm to 40mm and accommodates +/-25mm of stack head movement, which is a practical necessity in multi-storey structures where inter-storey drift must be absorbed without compromising the facade seal.
165CW conforms to AS/NZS 1170.0 (structural design actions), AS/NZS 1866 (aluminium extrusion tolerances), AS/NZS 4284 (facade testing), AS 3715 (powder coating), and AS 1231 (anodic oxidation). It comes with a LogiKal database for estimating, cutting optimisation, and CNC machine control - useful for fabricators managing complex panel schedules.
The 3-part structural bracket system allows 3D installation adjustment, which helps when dealing with the tolerance variations that are a reality on most Australian construction sites.
Specify 165CW when the project requires a glazed facade, particularly on commercial, institutional, or high-rise buildings where thermal performance, structural movement accommodation, and Australian-made supply security are priorities.
When to Specify Solid Aluminium Panels (element13)
element13 is a 3mm solid aluminium panel system. At 8.13 kg/m2, it delivers a clean, flat panel aesthetic in large formats (up to 1500mm x 4000mm). The panels carry the most comprehensive fire test portfolio in V&G’s range: non-combustible to AS1530.1, with a full AS1530.3 result of Ignitability 0, Heat Evolved 0, Flame Spread 0, Smoke Developed 1.
That compliance depth is why element13 has become the standard panel for cladding remediation projects across Australia. When a building’s existing aluminium composite panels (ACP) need to be replaced, specifiers and certifiers need a product with a proven, documented compliance record that leaves no room for ambiguity. element13’s testing suite - combustibility, ignitability, impact resistance (ASTM E695), wind loads (SLS 1875Pa, ULS 5559Pa), hail impact (ANSI FM 4473), and coating performance (AAMA 2605) - provides that certainty.
The PPG PVDF coating system offers superior UV resistance and gloss retention compared to standard powder coat, which matters on facades exposed to Australia’s high UV environment. Over 12 colours are held in stock with no minimum order quantity. A further 30+ non-stock colours, woodgrain, and custom options are available on order.
Specify element13 when the project requires a flat, solid aluminium panel with the deepest possible compliance documentation - particularly for recladding and remediation, but equally for new build facades where the flat panel aesthetic and comprehensive testing provide confidence.
When to Specify Battens or Screening (conneQt)
conneQt is an aluminium batten and adaptor system that works both as a standalone product and as an integration layer with interloQ and element13. It uses the same 6060/6063 T5 alloy base as interloQ and is non-combustible to AS1530.1.
In practice, conneQt shows up on projects in several ways: vertical or horizontal battens creating rhythm and shadow on a facade, architectural fins for solar shading or visual screening, and as the system that ties interloQ or element13 panels into the broader facade composition.
Specify conneQt when the design calls for facade detail, depth, or screening - either as a standalone feature or integrated with another V&G cladding system.
Can Systems Be Combined on a Single Project?
Yes, and it is common. Many facade designs use more than one material or system type across different elevations or zones. A typical combination might be interloQ as the primary opaque cladding with conneQt battens providing a feature layer, or element13 flat panels on the main facades with conneQt screening at balcony or plant room areas.
Because interloQ, element13, and conneQt share the same alloy family and are designed to work together, the integration is straightforward. Sub-framing, fixing centres, and junction details are developed to accommodate multi-system facades without requiring bespoke engineering for every interface.
On projects that include both opaque and glazed zones, 165CW handles the curtain wall portions while interloQ or element13 covers the solid areas. The key is defining the system boundaries early in the design process so that interface details are resolved before tender, not during construction.
Matching the System to the Project
Selecting the right facade system is ultimately about matching performance to purpose. The NCC classification sets the compliance floor. The design intent defines the aesthetic direction. The site conditions, budget, and programme determine what is practical. When those factors align with the right product, the result is a facade that performs, looks right, and does not create problems downstream.
Need help matching a system to your project? Valmond & Gibson provides compliance packs, technical manuals, and direct access to our team for specification support. Start with the documentation, and if the project needs more, we are here to talk it through.
Related Reading
- interloQ Specification Guide: Everything You Need to Know
- element13 Specification Guide: Solid Aluminium Cladding for Australian Projects
- 165CW Curtain Wall System: Australian-Designed Specification Guide
- Rainscreen vs Direct-Fix Cladding: Which Approach Suits Your Project?
Last updated: 3 April 2026