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Choosing a Field Forming Partner
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| | Factory Quality in the Field
A Guide to Choosing the Right Field Forming Partner By Amy Stokes  When field forming or curving metal roofing panels is required, beware of pitfalls that put you and your customer at risk. In recent years, it has become increasingly easy for just about anyone to rent, or even buy, portable forming equipment. This trend, while initially presenting a seemingly cost effective alternative, has actually proven extremely costly to building owners and design professionals.
Design professionals specify a panel based on performance. To ensure you are getting the panel you specified and the performance your customer is investing in, consider the following: Has this field-formed panel system been engineered to meet building code? Has this field-formed system been properly tested for resistance to wind uplift, air & water infiltration? Is test documentation available for review?
Some manufacturers may have conducted testing on panels manufactured in the plant. Unless the field forming equipment is of the same factory-quality, however, plant-fabricated and field-fabricated panels may differ significantly. Is the owner or operator of the portable roll former registered with the appropriate testing agencies, such as UL?
In some cases, while the portable roll forming equipment is approved by testing agencies, if the operator is not listed then the panels will not be considered "approved" by the testing authority.  Are the on-site fabricators qualified to operate the roll-former? Have they been factory-trained to manufacture the panel system?
Field formed panels should be made by the same fabricators who make panels in the shop to ensure panel quality and performance. Contractors have limited experience operating roll-forming equipment. And while crews may be talented installers, they typically are not metal manufacturing experts.
Is the forming equipment full-service factory-quality equipment, or is it a scaled-down secondary model?
Some “portable” machines are designed for ease of transportation rather than quality of production. Does the forming equipment undergo routine and documented preventive maintenance?
Contractors who have acquired portable roll formers may not be able to replace worn parts or rollers when needed When not in use, is equipment stored in a clean, controlled factory environment, or out in a contractor’s yard? Does the forming equipment offer a sufficient number of roller stations?
Some portable machines have fewer roller stations, which can cause oil canning
 But perhaps the most important thing to consider is whether or not your customer’s investment is sheltered by the roof you select. If the panels fail, who will pay for damage to your customer’s property, and who is responsible for replacing any damaged or defective products? What will the roof’s ultimate cost be?
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