Pre-Installation Verification
General Contractors don’t install ACM panels, but they must enforce that subcontractors complete verification before any panel goes up. Skipping these checks leads to rework, schedule delays, and disputes.
Substrate Verification — GC Oversight Points
- Plumb within 6 mm per 3000 mm height
- Level within 6 mm per 6000 mm length
- Surface dry, no standing water or ice
- Structural connections torqued and signed off by steel/concrete trade
- All remedial work documented and approved before cladding mobilization
Weather Barrier Inspection
- WRB installed with minimum 100 mm shingled laps
- All penetrations sealed and booted
- Continuity confirmed at transitions
- Inspection completed before panel staging (third-party where required)
Material and Equipment Staging
- Brackets sorted and labeled by elevation and grid
- Panels stored flat, under cover, protected from UV and freezing temperatures
- Tools and lifts on site and operational
- Safety equipment inspected and certified current
Quick GC Check: Confirm bracket layout matches approved shop drawings exactly before allowing installation to start.
Installation Sequencing
The order of installation determines alignment and schedule. As GC, confirm the subcontractor’s plan addresses both geometry and trade coordination.
- Base panels and corners installed first to set datum lines
- Progress bottom-up, maintaining consistent reveals with laser levels
- Daily QC sign-offs for plumb, level, and plane
- Coordinate sequencing with windows, balconies, and roofing trades
Productivity Benchmarks: 600–900 sf/day standard; 400–600 sf/day complex.
Water Management During Installation
- Maintain WRB continuity during construction
- Enforce immediate repair of WRB damage, assign responsibility by trade
- Ensure drainage paths and weeps are clear
- Confirm drip edges at all horizontals
- After rainfall, require moisture checks before sealing cavities
Fastener Oversight
- Stainless steel fasteners (304 min, 316 for coastal exposure)
- Verified galvanic compatibility
- Correct embedment length with spacers
- Torque logs from calibrated tools
- Weather-seal washers at exposed penetrations
- QC fastener records included in closeout package
GC Checklist Before Approving Installation Start
- Substrate survey completed and approved
- WRB inspection documented and signed off
- Material staging inspected
- Bracket layout confirmed against shop drawings
- Safety compliance verified
- Sequencing plan reviewed for trade coordination
