Typically, an onsite roll former purchased by a contractor comes with a UL Certificate obtained by the manufacturer. Some contractors, however, may not be aware that recertification of onsite equipment every six months is their responsibility.

The Classification and Follow-Up Service Programs of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. cover panels made at one manufacturing location. A UL field representative conducts the Follow-Up Service and examines the equipment on a quarterly basis to verify that the manufacturer is producing the product as required.

Equipment used on jobsites is handled differently, says Tom Plens, senior engineering associate for Underwriters Laboratories, Research Triangle Park, N.C. “For onsite roll forming equipment, it is cost prohibitive for UL representatives to visit all the job sites, so we can’t label those panels. That’s why in part we came up with the program to certify the machinery that produces the panels. In this situation, the roll forming machinery is brought to one physical location every six months where a UL field representative goes to conduct the inspection and recertify the machines.”

The certificate needs to be renewed once every six months and it is up to the contractors/purchasers to initiate the recertification process for each piece of onsite roll forming equipment.

According to Plens, “The six-month period gives the buyer time to contact UL and have themselves placed under the Follow -Up Service Programs of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. In the programs, the purchaser (contractor) provides a copy of the UL Certificate that came with the machine and UL sets up a Classification by Report and a Certificate in the name of the contractor.”

“Because the roof deck panel is roll-formed at the construction site, the information provided in this report replaces the Laboratories’ usual factory Follow-Up Service Program for metal roof deck panels where Follow-Up Service is normally conducted at the point of manufacture. The program for companies “Classified by Report” consists of keeping supplies of up-to-date reports available for distribution to any interested party and requiring that the roll forming machines be covered by the Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Certificate Service.”

Once UL issues the Classification by Report, the contractor/purchaser must have copies of that document available to whoever asks for it. Plens says this could be any authority having jurisdiction, such as the local fire marshal or municipal inspector, or a specifier such as an architect. The Classification by Report lists the components of the roof deck construction and the methods of installation. It also contains a copy of the certificate showing the equipment model identification and serial number and that the contractor is producing panels that can be used for a specific construction number.

The UL Certificate, which has model and serial numbers of the machine, is required to be with the machine at all times.

Plens noted that contractors who have several machines in use across a region or nationwide will typically have the inspections done during a slow period so they can have most or all machines done at one time. He added that UL field representatives will try to accommodate the applicant’s schedule.

If a machine goes beyond the certificate expiration date, the machine and the panels produced by it are no longer certified. It may happen that a machine that is due for recertification is in use on a project that is on a tight schedule and close to completion. Plens says it is up to the authority having jurisdiction to decide whether they will or will not accept the product in this situation.

Plens suggests scheduling an inspection about a month before the expiration date. But if the certification period has lapsed, the contractor simply contacts the local UL representative to recertify the machine.

If a contractor has a roll former that has never been issued a certificate by the manufacturer, Plens says the contractor still has the option of contacting UL to obtain a certificate, but the process is different.

“In this case, UL will want to evaluate a panel provided by the contractor to determine if the panel is eligible for classification and use in a specific construction. If the engineering evaluation is successful, then UL goes out to the location and witnesses production of the panel. Once it is sure the panel and equipment meet all requirements, UL will issue a Classification by Report and Certificate for the roll former and add the classified company to the specific construction number(s),” he says.

For more information, contact Tom Plens at 919-549-1659 or any of the UL offices shown on the organization’s website, www.ul.com.

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