Planning sandwich panel installation from delivery to handover

Compare labels with the order and panel layout. Check pack quantities, lengths and colours, and inspect transport protection. Photograph damage before unloading and record it in the delivery documents. Do not postpone the batch inspection until the installers arrive.

Prepare a stable storage area and agree lifting, water protection and storage conditions. Handling depends on the pack’s length and weight. Factory packaging assists transport but does not provide indefinite site protection. Trapped water between elements can cause problems before installation even begins.

The structure needs the correct geometry and complete connections. Check levels, vertical alignment and bearing planes, together with corrosion protection. Fixing locations must match the design. A distorted rail can prevent proper joint engagement and cause uneven pressure.

Prepare approved cutting tools that avoid excessive heating, equipment for removing swarf and the correct fasteners. Compare drawings with the delivered panels before work starts. Resolve discrepancies and missing details now; repairing a connection becomes harder after the support is covered.

Orientation follows from the structure, architecture and fixing design. A vertical panel uses a particular rail arrangement; horizontal installation changes joints and flashings. Do not switch orientation without checking capacity and fire requirements.

Wall panels may have visible or concealed fixings. In the latter case, the next panel covers the fastener at the edge detail. Do not assume either option costs less overall. Compare supporting structure, installation work and finished appearance, and provide suitable base, corner and opening details.

Select the fixing for steel, timber or concrete, checking its application range and length. The design specifies quantity. Compress washers correctly without deforming the facing; undertightening is not a safe way to protect the sheet either.

Tapes and sealants belong in specified positions. Not every joint needs the same material. A support seal serves a different purpose from filling a gap between cores. Check continuity of every required seal before closing the connection; final inspection after flashings are installed may miss a hidden gap.

Place panels on prepared supports and do not drag them across sharp objects. Choose lifting methods for their length and weight. Do not grip an arbitrary part of a facing: thin sheet metal is not a transport handle.

Use cutting tools approved for the facings. An angle grinder can overheat edges and damage coatings. Remove metal swarf after cutting. Large openings for doors or services weaken a panel and may need extra support. Additional screws driven into thin facings do not solve this: the arrangement around an opening must follow the design.

Check materials against the schedule and inspect joints, fixings, flashings, bases, roof connections and openings. Look for scratches, dents and remaining protective film. Record defects and remedies. Remove film within the period specified for the delivered panels, including sections that must be removed before assembly to avoid trapping them in joints.

Hand over product documents and maintenance guidance. Later penetrations, suspended equipment and signs also need assessment. A sandwich panel forms a complete building element, but is not a universal support for additional loads. Resolve uncertainties using the project design.

A substitution requires a design-compliance check. Similar appearance and equal thickness do not establish equivalence.

During installation, before they are concealed. Final acceptance cannot replace inspection of areas that will no longer be visible.