Compare products for the same task
Prepare a common specification before choosing a manufacturer. Otherwise, one offer may cover a visible-fixing wall, another a different coating and a third a different fire solution. Price differences will not reflect quality differences in the same product. Our comparison starts with envelope function, dimensions and documents required by the design.
Kingspan provides product sheets, declarations and related materials; Ruukki organises technical documentation including details, tables and instructions. ArcelorMittal presents separate wall and roof system families. Start with the complete designation of a specific product for the relevant market. Kingspan — product documentation. Ruukki — panel technical documentation. ArcelorMittal — sandwich panel families.
A comparison sheet to send suppliers
- Application: wall, roof, ceiling or refrigerated envelope.
- Dimensions and supports: element lengths, spans and structural arrangement.
- Requirements: thermal, fire, operational and aesthetic criteria stated in the documentation.
- Product: designation, thickness, facings, coating and fixing method.
- Documents: product sheet, declaration of performance, relevant classifications and instructions.
- Supply completeness: accessories, flashings, seals, dates and packaging method.
Leave space beside each answer for a document reference and date. You do not have to resolve design issues yourself, but can ensure the designer and contractor receive the same information. This keeps substitution questions from disappearing among different attachments.
Details and installation need a fresh check
Changing manufacturer during preparation should trigger an interface review. Ask about module width, opening terminations, handling and accessory availability. A substitution need not be rejected automatically; establish which design elements remain valid and which require revision before ordering.
Identify one person approving substitutions and one list of applicable products. The contractor should not simultaneously receive system A drawings and system B deliveries without an agreed resolution.
System training and brand comparisons
This example shows why experience should be assessed at technology level. Standing seam roofing, standard wall panels and cold store panels are different solutions. State the system when enquiring about a contractor; if it is not selected, send the designer’s requirements and options.
Comparing installation offers after panel selection
Once the system is approved, align the work scope too: panels only or flashings as well, who provides materials and equipment, and work area handover conditions. This enables fair comparison of installation offers. Experience with a brand alone does not establish team availability, dates or exact responsibilities.
One documentation version for everyone
After system selection, create a short current document list with filenames, revisions and dates. Share it with purchasing, the crew and supervision. If a manufacturer updates a detail, record affected sectors and the approver. This helps prevent new deliveries arriving while installers use an old schedule. At handover, add documentation for installed batches and approved changes. Agree the contents of this package when placing the order.
Sources and documentation
Editorial update: 9 October 2026. The manufacturer and institutional sources used to check this information are listed below. The checklists and workflow examples were prepared by Panel Montage.