b'ARCHITECTURAL SHEET METAL AND STEEP SLOPEOilCanning, Whos Responsible?Norman Menegay, Jr. Sheet Metal Operations Manager Advanced Industrial Roofing, Inc. in Massillon, OhioO il-Canning.Aninherent characteristic of light gauge cold-formed metal products, particularly productswithbroadflatareas;A visual phenomenon seen as waviness or distortion in the flat surfaces of metal roofing and siding products, is subjective, is normally an aesthetic concern only, and does not affect a products strength or performance.Most Architects, Engineers, Construction Managers, General Contractors, and Subcontractors, have seen and heard this before, but never research it until its too late. Nobody considers the negative aesthetic impact on the finished product or the potential non-payment issues at the end of the project.A lot of us, as subcontractors, have either been through it or have heard about other contractors that have gone through it.Most projects go through the same process. The engineering and design with the architect; the bidding and submittal approval processtheir product to the architect isnt high up on their list with the Construction Manager, General Contractor, andeitheryet.Subcontractors; the General or Subcontractor orders and delivers the material and Install begins. Then the questionsFinally, you might say Im the installer, it shouldnt are asked. Why are there dimples in the panel? Whybe my responsibility to explain oil-canning to anyone. are there more dimples in the afternoon? Why wasnt IThe architect designed the project, they should know. told this was going to happen? Then you have the fingerThis is where, as an installing subcontractor, I disagree. It pointing. Everyone is blamed from the architect to theshould be the installing subcontractors responsibility, more installer. There are threats from the owner, and in somethan anyone else, to explain oil-canning to everyone cases, relationships are destroyed. All of these outcomesthat matters and give suggestions on improvement. This are terrible for everyones business. But, whos responsible? conversation should also occur as early in the project As a subcontractor reading this, your first knee jerkas possible.reaction would be to say that the architect and engineerFor example, lets say you have a project that is should have specified the right gauge material, a differentshowing oil-canning and you didnt think to, or care to, color, or a different panel with corrugations. That wouldexplain oil-canning to the architect or owner prior to install. be a fair assumption, but consider all the hundreds ifThe immediate response by someone who really doesnt not thousands of items architects and engineers have tounderstand oil-canning will be, Its installed wrong. This consider on a single project. The potential for oil-canningis something you never want to hear, because in most hasnt made it too far up on the listyet. cases, that means youre not getting paid. This could create a domino effect for a number of other items This time and effort costs more money,affecting your company. Now on the back end, as a subcontractor you have a steep, slippery slope to climb plus the money youre not getting paid,to explain oil-canning and prove youve done everything and could possibly close your doors correctly. This time and effort costs more money, plus the money youre not getting paid, and could possibly close You might also say that the Manufacturer shouldyour doors if youre not educated and dont feel the need have explained this to the architect and engineer whento educate others.they helped develop the specification. You might not beFor this reason, I believe it is the responsibility of the wrong about that, but consider why the manufacturerinstalling subcontractor, more than anybody, to explain is there meeting with the architect and engineer inoil-canning as thoroughly as possible well before the first the first place. He or she is there to get their productday of install. Because at the end of the day, you need in the specification and hopefully get the job. Mostto protect your company, reputation and your finished manufacturers know they have a disclaimer in theirproduct.literature and bringing up a potential negative about www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer 29'