"Aluminum is inextricably linked to the modern metropolis"

Modern construction is impossible without the use of aluminum. However, there are still barriers to the more active introduction of this metal in the industry, in particular, regulatory ones — the lack of GOST standards, for example. Evgeny Vasiliev, Director of Aluminum Consumption Development at Rusal, told Izvestia how metallurgists and builders overcome such problems together.

— How has the decline in construction rates affected the aluminum industry?

— The dynamics of aluminum consumption in 2025 by the construction industry was also negative. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the construction cycle, the supply of building materials from aluminum was carried out for those projects that will be commissioned this year or 2027. Apartment housing construction is not growing for objective reasons, but there are segments with positive dynamics — infrastructure, logistics projects.

It is important to note that the growth in demand for some aluminum solutions was held back by a serious shortage of supply. Despite the record high key rate, several new production facilities for aluminum windows, aluminum ventilated facades, and facade finishing coatings have been launched or are about to be launched in Russia. Therefore, for example, the share of aluminum windows in the Russian window market has grown from 27% to almost 33% despite the general decline in the industry. We associate long-term demand growth plans with this activity of processors, as well as with the development of new construction niches. Innovation cannot be stopped!

— What kind of innovations are we talking about?

— Aluminum is inextricably linked, first of all, with modern architecture, a modern metropolis. Plus, it remains an innovative material for some large niches. Construction is a gigantic and conservative industry in a good sense, in which satellites are not launched and new elements are not discovered, innovations and breakthroughs often occur through the lifting of administrative restrictions and the emergence of new regulations. Now, for example, the development of an important aluminum GOST is being completed, which will open access to new materials and solutions for a large class of construction projects. What's not an innovative breakthrough?

— Do you mean the GOST on fire resistance, which was recently reported?

"Him." Or, as it is officially called, "Fire protection products for structures made of aluminum and aluminum alloys." The GOST project was developed by SIC Stroitelstvo on the basis of 4 years of scientific research work with large-scale field tests, the first of its kind in Russia. The first and second editions of the draft were publicly discussed in the expert and professional communities, about 80 comments were received on the Rosstandart website, and this does not indicate much about the quality of the document. All comments have been answered, the substantive part of the procedure has been completed, and we are awaiting the release of GOST.

— What will it do for the construction industry?

— It will allow the use of aluminum bearing structures in the construction of sports complexes, swimming pools, ponds, water parks, exhibition and concert complexes, vegetable storages, logoparks — in those facilities where there is a humid or special air environment and the effectiveness of aluminum structures is most obvious.

What will aluminum give to such projects, you may ask. Due to the combination of lightness and strength, the use of aluminum will significantly reduce the material consumption of structures. For example, steel load-bearing structures require significant reinforcement just to support their own weight. Therefore, aluminum—based solutions will reduce investor costs by tens of percent (tens or hundreds of millions of rubles, depending on the size of the facility). Aluminum structures will provide a significant increase in the span between the pillars — this is especially important for exhibition and concert activities and sporting events. Corrosion resistance will increase the service life of structures, especially in facilities such as water parks or swimming pools. Finally, anti-corrosion will reduce operating costs throughout the life cycle.

— Why do we need this GOST? And it is well known that metals do not burn.

— Of course, aluminum and its alloys, like steel, do not burn, do not contribute to the spread of flame and are not catalysts for gorenje. This, by the way, cannot be said about many other building materials — wood, plastic.

But the lack of research in Russia and the fact that aluminum has a relatively low melting point (600-660 degrees Celsius) has given rise to a myth about the alleged insecurity of aluminum structures in the event of a fire.

But the point in this case is not the combustibility! The bottom line is that any structures must comply with the federal law on fire safety requirements. The law states that structures must maintain their load—bearing capacity for a certain period of time in the event of a fire - this is the time available to evacuate people before the building collapses. Therefore, the fire resistance limit of structures is one of the key parameters of fire safety. And GOST officially records which fire protection methods meet the requirements of fire safety.

— But still, the melting point of aluminum is lower, meaning that in a large-scale fire, structures made of it will collapse faster than steel ones?

- no. The requirements of the law on fire resistance are the same for structures made of any metals. Structures must maintain their load-bearing capacity in a normal fire for a certain time, from 30 to 120 minutes, depending on the class of the object and the type of structural elements (columns, floor slabs, etc.).

The supporting structures of buildings made of both aluminum and steel are not built, so to speak, in their bare form. For structures made of any metal, fire protection methods are used — concrete shells, mineral wool, fibrous mats, paints and coatings with flame retardants, and other methods.

At the same time, aluminum has the following advantages: the specific heat capacity is twice as high as that of steel, that is, it takes twice as much heat to heat it. The thermal conductivity is 6 times higher than that of steel. High thermal conductivity contributes to the uniform distribution of heat and its dissipation during heating, and, therefore, to a longer preservation of the structure in case of fire. These two parameters are very important if the fire is local, as they contribute to the safety of structures.

— Is it impossible to use aluminum before the release of GOST?

— It is possible, but it is difficult. In the presence of GOST, the building designer looks at this document, selects the type of structure, its parameters, fire protection parameters and simply puts these data into his design and estimate documentation.

If there is no GOST, the designer must himself conduct research, tests, and receive the so—called Organization Standard (SRT) from the Federal Tax Service of the Ministry of Construction - this document allows this particular company to use certain load-bearing structures. You understand that this is a complex procedure, previously such a service station for aluminum bearing structures was developed only by the company "Bearing Systems", and these structures "Bearing systems" were used in many unique complex objects: in the dome of the atrium at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg, in the glass roof of the Moscow Polytechnic University, in the atriums of Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport and others.

Mass penetration of design and construction solutions without GOST is difficult. This is the usual path of high—quality innovation - from expensive single projects to massive and standardized ones. This was the case, for example, with aluminum windows: about 15 years ago they were used only in premium housing, then they moved to the comfort class, and now they are also present in the economy segment.