Insulated metal panel submittals often include several types of testing, listings and approvals. Depending on the panel and project, documentation may include an FM Approval, a UL classification, NFPA 285 test documentation, a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance or a Florida Product Approval.
It can be tempting to treat all of this documentation as simply proof that a panel system is “approved.” It is not.
Each document answers a different question, comes from a different organization or jurisdiction and applies to a defined product, system or installation condition.
For architects, code consultants, authorities having jurisdiction and contractors assembling submittal packages, understanding those differences can help reduce review comments and the back-and-forth that can delay a project.
|
Document |
Issued by |
What it Actually Verifies |
|
NFPA 285 test result |
NFPA publishes the test method; a testing laboratory performs the test and issues the report |
Whether a defined exterior wall assembly with combustible materials met the NFPA 285 fire-propagation criteria |
|
FM Approval (4880, 4881, 4471) |
FM Approvals |
Class 1 performance under the applicable standard: fire performance of building panels and interior finish materials under 4880, exterior wall-system fire and natural-hazard/weather performance under 4881 or panel-roof performance under 4471 |
|
UL Roof Deck Construction classification |
Underwriters Laboratories |
A defined roof-deck construction, which can include a wind-uplift classification such as Class 90 |
|
Miami-Dade NOA |
Miami-Dade County Product Control Section |
Acceptance of a specific product and installation configuration within the NOA’s stated scope, conditions and limitations, including applicable high-velocity hurricane zone requirements |
|
Florida Product Approval |
Florida Building Commission |
Statewide approval of a specific product and installation configuration within the approval’s stated scope and limitations; applicability to a particular high-velocity hurricane zone use must be confirmed from the approval and applicable requirements |
|
Local fabricator credential (example: City of Houston) |
The issuing jurisdiction |
Local fabricator qualification or registration, not a product-performance test, listing or approval |
One of the most common points of confusion is the difference between a test method and a product approval, listing or certification.
NFPA 285 is a fire-test method used to evaluate the fire-propagation characteristics of exterior wall assemblies containing combustible materials or components. A testing laboratory performs the test and issues the test report. NFPA publishes the test method itself.
A passing test report shows that the specific assembly tested met the applicable NFPA 285 acceptance criteria. It does not automatically mean that every panel, wall assembly or installation variation offered by a manufacturer has passed NFPA 285.
That distinction is important when reviewing submittals. NFPA 285 documentation may appear as a test report, technical bulletin, engineering analysis or code-evaluation document rather than as a standalone “approval” similar to an FM Approval or Miami-Dade NOA.
Green Span Profiles documents this distinction on its MesaLine wall-panel data sheet. The sheet reports “Passed — see technical bulletin ATB-0007” for NFPA 285 and separately identifies the product’s FM, Miami-Dade and Florida approval documentation.
NFPA 285 applies to exterior wall assemblies. It is not the applicable test method for roof assemblies. For example, Green Span’s RidgeLine roof-panel documentation instead identifies roof-specific FM, Miami-Dade, Florida Product Approval and UL Roof Deck Construction documentation.
For a submittal reviewer, the practical takeaway is simple: a package does not necessarily need a document called an “NFPA 285 approval.” Look for the appropriate NFPA 285 test evidence and verify that the proposed wall configuration falls within the documented tested assembly or other applicable engineering or code-evaluation scope.
FM Approvals evaluates and certifies products and systems against specific approval standards, identified by class numbers. Three FM standards commonly appear in insulated metal panel submittals: FM 4880, FM 4881 and FM 4471.
FM 4880 addresses the Class 1 fire performance of building panels and interior finish materials. FM 4881 addresses Class 1 exterior wall systems for natural hazards and weather conditions, including wind, hail and windborne debris. FM 4471 addresses Class 1 panel roofs.
These standards are not interchangeable.
An FM 4880 Class 1 rating does not by itself demonstrate the exterior-wall weather and natural-hazard performance evaluated under FM 4881. Likewise, an FM 4471 approval for a panel roof is a separate evaluation from the wall-panel standards.
An FM 4881 approval incorporates the Class 1 fire-performance requirement, but the specific product, construction and limitations listed in the approval still determine what is covered.
For a submittal, identify the FM standard that applies to the proposed use and verify that the product, panel profile, attachment method, support condition, span, design pressure and other limitations match the actual construction.
Simply stating that a system is “FM Approved” is not enough. FM also cautions that individually approvedcomponents do not automatically create an FM Approved assembly unless they are approved for use together in that construction.
FM Approved products and their applicable documentation can be verified through the FM ApprovalsApproval Guide.
UL listings and classifications provide another type of verification. For insulated metal roof panels, the relevant document may be a UL Roof Deck Construction classification, which identifies a specific roof-deck construction and its tested conditions.
The classification can include a wind-uplift designation such as Class 90. Class 90 is an uplift-resistance classification based on UL 580 testing. It is not a fire rating. UL specifically notes that a roof construction identified as “Fire Not Investigated” has been evaluated for uplift only.
For example, Green Span Profiles’ RidgeLine UL Roof Deck Construction TGKX.698 is identified as “Uplift — Class 90” and “Fire Not Investigated.”
As with FM documentation, the specific UL construction number and the conditions listed with it are what matter. Reviewers should verify the deck, attachment, support, span and other requirements rather than relying on a general reference to UL.
Miami-Dade Notices of Acceptance and Florida Product Approvals are product-approval documents. They are not blanket approvals covering an entire manufacturer or product line.
Different wall and roof panels from the same manufacturer may have different approval numbers. Different profiles or installation configurations may also have separate approvals.
A Miami-Dade NOA identifies the specific product or system and the conditions under which it has been accepted. The approval includes its scope, limitations and applicable installation requirements.
Florida Product Approval provides approval for a specific product or system within the scope and limitations of the approval. A Florida Product Approval should not automatically be assumed to establish eligibility for every use in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. The applicable approval record and installation documents should be checked to determine whether the proposed use is covered.
Before relying on either approval number, verify that it matches the proposed panel profile, installation configuration, support conditions, fastener type and pattern and allowable design pressures.
A strong submittal matches each project requirement to the document that supports it.
For example:
Local fabricator credentials belong in a separate category. For example, Green Span Profiles’ City of Houston Approved Fabricator listing may be relevant to a jurisdiction's requirements, but it is not a product-performance test, listing or approval. It should not be presented as equivalent to FM, UL, NFPA 285, Miami-Dade or Florida documentation.
Before submitting an insulated metal panel system for review, verify that the documentation matches the actual construction being proposed.
Check the:
The key is not simply having a collection of approval numbers in the submittal. The documentation needs to support the specific panel, application and installation configuration being proposed.
Green Span Profiles’ Resources section includes approvals, technical bulletins, testing, data sheets, specifications, installation resources and project details for its wall and roof panel systems. Reviewing the applicable documentation before assembling a submittal can help ensure that the right information is provided for the project.
When questions remain, contact the Green Span Profiles team for help identifying the documentation that applies to the proposed panel system and installation.