What the Metal Roofing Industry Does not want you to know.

Found some interesting information that will help educate the public. The following are definitions from MBMA (Metal Building Manufacturers Association) Metal Building System Manual. The definitions define the 2 basic types of standing seam roof panels.

HYDROSTATIC:
Metal panel systems that are designed to withstand being submersed in water for a period of time are called hydrostatic panels. Hydrostatic roof details rely on sealant to keep water from infiltrating the joints and seams. Hydrostatic roof details can be used at almost any slope (1/4:12 minimum).

HYDROKINETIC:

Metal panel systems that are designed to shed water are referred to as hydrokinetic. Hydrokinetic roof details are typically devoid of sealant and rely on water to freely shed over the joints. Hydrokinetic roof details are not to be used on roof slopes below 3:12.

Also found the following information at ehow.com.

Define a Structural Standing Seam Roof
By Ann Salter, eHow Contributor
•
•
• Share
•
• Print this article
Standing seam roofing systems are composed of durable , overlapping, preformed panels secured with concealed fasteners and can be divided into two basic categories: structural and architectural. Structural standing seam roofing benefits from increased strength, water-tightness and design flexibility over architectural panel systems.
Other People Are Reading
• Membrane Roof Colors
• How Much Roof Overhang for a Metal Roof?
1. Strength
o Structural, standing seam roofing panels have greater spanning capabilities and resistance to wind uplift. Designed for structural stability, they can be installed spanning over purlins instead of a solid deck, allowing for a lighter roof.
Seams
o The structural standing seam roof’s taller seams, mechanical joining and factory-applied sealants combine to form a water-tight system, even at extremely low slopes. Structural panels, unlike architectural, can be installed on slopes as low as 1/4:12, and can even be mounted vertically as a wall panel.
o
Flexibility
o Structural standing seam panels are available in much longer lengths than architectural. Factory-formed sheets can be shipped in more than 80-foot lengths, and the lengths of field-formed sheets are virtually unlimited. Clip attachment systems allow for necessary thermal expansion and contraction of longer panels

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/facts_7832660_define-structural-standing-seam-roof.html#ixzz2dAsUb2F6

In conclusion….my opinion is that if a company claims that their standing seam roof is water shedding only, it should not be installed on any slope less than 3:12. I know there is at least one company that claims their standing seam roof panel is watershedding roof and not hydrostatic, but yet they still install sealant in the panels during fabrication…….?….what’s that all about. They also sell this panel for applications of less then 3:12 slope. They may deny knowing it was to be installed on a slope of less than 3:12 and at the same time will sell along with this panel the support purlins manufactured to a slope of less than 3:12 along with accompanying gutter. It is not hard to see what’s going on here. SELL THE PRODUCT….THEN REFUSE WARRANTY BECAUSE OF IMPROPER INSTALLATION…..AND PLAY DUMB ABOUT ANY BEFORE HAND KNOWLEDGE.