NOTICE to Building Departments and Inspectors

Structural Aluminum insulated roofing panels are used for patio covers, carports, sunrooms, and screen rooms and are a very popular addition to outdoor living areas in Florida. However, with the increase of usage has come an increase in fraudulent installations. Roof panels are structural components under the Florida Building Code and as such requires product approval for its use. However unapproved panels are illegally being substituted for the approved panel.

The FBC requires homeowners/contractors to obtain a building permit prior to the start of construction. This entails certified engineering and product approval for the structural components of the installation, namely the insulated roof panels. Once the building department approves the permit, many contractors have substituted Foreign made panels which are not approved, significantly weaker and cheaper in price. These cheap substitutes are illegally being supplied and installed to the detriment and potential danger to the homeowner.

These Fraudulent panels will not be able to meet the wind and other loads in a hurricane situation making them a dangerous hazard. What can be done to ensure that the insulated panels installed have a product approval? While it is difficult for an inspector to look at a finished installation and know if it contains unapproved panels, homeowners can be warned to obtain proof of panel origination declaration from the distributor of the panels where the contractor purchased them. If the contractor refuses to give such information then a problem may exist which the Homeowner/consumer may want to follow up.

Also approved manufacturers can provide a label to the roof panels that can only be removed by the building inspector. Homeowners should also be alerted to the problem they may have obtained insurance coverage for work that is not properly filed with the building department, and which uses unapproved dangerous panels.