| Foam Core Type | Polyisocyanurate, polyurethane, expanded polystyrene, or extruded polystyrene core. | Typical declared thermal-conductivity ranges vary by formulation, density, facing, and test method: PIR approximately 0.020–0.026 W/m·K; PUR approximately 0.022–0.028 W/m·K; EPS approximately 0.032–0.040 W/m·K; XPS approximately 0.029–0.036 W/m·K. | Technical data sheet identifying the core chemistry, density, blowing-agent information, test temperature, and declared or design thermal conductivity. | 10% | Score 1–5 |
| Long-Term Thermal Stability | Initial thermal conductivity compared with aged or design thermal conductivity. | No foam insulation is completely immune to aging. A reliable comparison uses the applicable product standard’s declared or design value rather than only the initial laboratory value. | Aged-performance report, calculation method, design-value declaration, and the applicable product standard for the selected core material. | 15% | Score 1–5 |
| Thermal Resistance | Panel thickness, U-value, and thermal resistance. | Thermal resistance is calculated from thickness and conductivity, while the complete U-value also includes surface resistances, metal facings, joints, fasteners, and thermal bridges. A single conductivity figure is not sufficient for whole-panel design. | Panel-level U-value calculations for the required thickness, joint detail, temperature conditions, and installation orientation. | 10% | Score 1–5 |
| Fire Performance | Reaction-to-fire classification, flame spread, smoke development, and full-assembly performance. | European projects commonly reference EN 13501-1 classifications; North American projects may reference ASTM E84 or other assembly-specific fire tests. Results depend on the complete panel system, not only the foam core. | Current fire-test reports, classification reports, tested thickness, joint configuration, facings, coating system, and field-of-application limitations. | 15% | Score 1–5 |
| Moisture and Water Resistance | Water absorption, vapor permeability, edge sealing, and joint protection. | Closed-cell foams generally provide lower water uptake than open-cell materials, but cut edges, damaged facings, joints, and penetrations can become moisture paths. | Water-absorption test results, vapor-resistance data, joint drawings, edge-sealing details, and installation instructions for wet or humid environments. | 10% | Score 1–5 |
| Mechanical Strength | Compressive strength, tensile strength, shear strength, flexural capacity, and panel span. | Structural capacity changes with core density, panel thickness, facing thickness, temperature, span, support spacing, and load duration. Supplier span tables must be project-specific. | Independent test reports, load-span tables, deflection limits, safety factors, temperature limits, and connection design assumptions. | 10% | Score 1–5 |
| Dimensional and Manufacturing Quality | Panel thickness, length, width, squareness, flatness, camber, joint fit, and facing alignment. | Factory-made metal-faced sandwich panels are commonly evaluated under product standards such as EN 14509 in relevant European applications. Project tolerances must be confirmed against the selected standard and contract specification. | Factory quality-control plan, inspection records, tolerance schedule, production samples, calibration records, and nonconformance procedure. | 10% | Score 1–5 |
| Metal Facing and Corrosion Protection | Steel or aluminum substrate, coating type, coating mass or thickness, and environmental durability. | Corrosion performance depends on substrate, metallic coating, organic coating, cut-edge treatment, exposure category, condensation, and maintenance. Coating selection should match the project environment. | Substrate specification, coating certificates, coating thickness or mass, corrosion-resistance test results, color-stability data, and recommended exposure limits. | 8% | Score 1–5 |
| Standards and Certification | Product compliance, factory production control, quality management, and laboratory competence. | Useful references may include EN 14509, ASTM C1289, ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 14025, and EN 15804, where applicable to the product and market. Certification must cover the actual product configuration. | Valid certificates, scope statements, surveillance records, product declarations, and reports issued by competent or accredited laboratories. | 8% | Score 1–5 |
| Environmental and Regulatory Profile | Recycled content, embodied carbon, blowing agents, recyclability, VOC information, and end-of-life options. | Environmental claims should be supported by a product-specific environmental product declaration or a transparent life-cycle assessment. The environmental profile can differ substantially between similar-looking panels. | EPD or LCA documentation, blowing-agent global-warming information, recycled-content declaration, waste guidance, and restricted-substance statement. | 5% | Score 1–5 |
| Supply Capacity and Lead Time | Production capacity, minimum order quantity, standard sizes, custom profiles, and order-to-shipment time. | Lead time is not a universal product property. It should be verified using written production schedules, available lines, raw-material capacity, and the requested panel configuration. | Capacity statement, production schedule, minimum order quantity, monthly output range, sample lead time, and confirmed project delivery plan. | 5% | Score 1–5 |
| International Logistics | Export packaging, container loading, shipping terms, documentation, and damage controls. | Panels can be damaged by compression, moisture, impact, and incorrect stacking during transport. Packaging and loading instructions should be agreed before shipment. | Packaging specification, loading photographs, shipping insurance terms, export documents, Incoterms, pallet dimensions, and unloading instructions. | 4% | Score 1–5 |
| Technical Support and Warranty | Design assistance, installation training, warranty coverage, exclusions, and claim response process. | Warranty duration alone does not demonstrate durability. The written warranty should define acceptable use, environmental limitations, inspection requirements, maintenance, and remedies. | Signed warranty terms, installation manual, project engineering support, training records, reference installations, and documented complaint-handling procedure. | 5% | Score 1–5 |