An aluminium composite panel (ACP) is a flat cladding sheet made of two thin aluminium skins bonded to a plastic or mineral core. For building facades you want the fire-retardant (FR) mineral-core version with a PVDF-coated aluminium skin — it resists fire spread and holds colour for 15–20 years. China is the largest ACP producer, so factory-direct pricing on FR ACP and the PVDF aluminium coil it is made from is well below re-seller rates. This guide covers cores, coatings, thickness and how to source without getting the wrong grade.
What ACP actually is, in one paragraph
An ACP sandwiches a core between two aluminium skins, usually 0.3–0.5mm each. The core is the whole story: standard panels use a polyethylene (PE) core, which is cheap but combustible; FR panels use a mineral-filled core that resists ignition. Since the Grenfell fire, most Gulf, UK and EU facade codes require FR or A2 core on buildings above a certain height. If you sell ACP for facades, sell FR — PE-core panels are increasingly banned on real projects.
PVDF vs PE coating — not the same as core
People confuse the core with the coating. The core is fire; the coating is weather. PVDF (Kynar 500/Hylar 5000) is the premium coating that holds colour and gloss for 15–20 years in UV and salt air. PE (polyester) coating is for interior or short-life use and chalks within a few years outdoors. For any Gulf or coastal facade, specify PVDF-coated skins on an FR core.
Thickness and skin gauge that matter
Facade ACP is normally 4mm total with 0.5mm aluminium skins for structural rigidity; 3mm with 0.3mm skins is signage/interior grade. Ask two numbers on every quote: total panel thickness and aluminium skin thickness. A “4mm” panel with 0.21mm skins is a signage panel dressed up as facade — it will oil-can and dent. Real facade ACP is 4mm/0.50mm.
Buying factory-direct without the wrong grade
Send the supplier your project fire requirement (FR/A2), the coating (PVDF), the total and skin thickness, the RAL colour and gloss, and your volume. A real factory quotes those exactly and issues fire-test and coating certificates. If you also run your own ACP line, you can skip finished panels and buy the PVDF aluminium coil directly — higher margin and you control the lamination.
Frequently asked questions
Is ACP the same as aluminium cladding? ACP is one type of aluminium cladding — a composite of two aluminium skins over a core. Solid aluminium sheet and aluminium coil are other cladding inputs.
What is the difference between FR and PE ACP? PE core is combustible and cheap; FR core is mineral-filled and resists fire spread. Most facade codes now require FR or A2 core.
What coating should facade ACP have? PVDF (Kynar/Hylar). It holds colour 15–20 years in UV and coastal salt; PE coating chalks within a few years outdoors.
Can I buy PVDF aluminium coil instead of finished ACP? Yes — if you run your own lamination line, buying PVDF coil factory-direct is cheaper per panel and lets you control colour and width.
Related: PVDF aluminium cladding — when the coating is worth it · fire ratings explained for Gulf projects.
Talk to the factory: GSM BuildTech (Beijing Guanshimao Technology Co., Ltd.) makes insulated aluminium panels, FR aluminium composite panels and PVDF aluminium coil in Tianjin, China. Email sales@insulatedaluminumroof.com or WhatsApp +86 155 2274 6824 for factory-direct pricing. See the technical reference & FAQ.