Who is responsible for ensuring ES-1 compliance on a project?

Direct Answer

Ensuring ANSI/SPRI ES-1 compliance is a shared responsibility involving the design professional, roofing contractor, edge-metal manufacturer or fabricator, and building official. The design professional establishes the applicable design criteria and specifies an appropriate roof-edge system. The manufacturer or fabricator provides supporting product and testing documentation. The roofing contractor verifies the specified materials and installs the assembly according to the approved details. The building official reviews and enforces applicable code requirements within the authority’s jurisdiction.

For Florida commercial roofing projects, coordination between these parties is especially important because roof-edge components must resist the wind loads required by the applicable building code. Responsibility for a particular deficiency depends on the project contract, approved drawings, specifications, adopted code, and the work performed by each party.

Who This Applies To

• Commercial property owners and facility managers overseeing roof replacement or new construction.
• Architects, engineers, and roofing consultants preparing roof-edge specifications.
• Commercial roofing contractors responsible for installation and quality control.
• Manufacturers, sheet-metal fabricators, and suppliers providing edge-metal systems.
• Building officials and inspectors reviewing applicable code compliance.

Important: ES-1 compliance is not established simply because a product looks substantial or uses thick metal. The relevant edge-system configuration, supporting structure, attachment details, test documentation, and project-specific wind requirements must be considered.

1. The Architect or Design Professional

The architect, engineer, or qualified roofing design professional typically establishes the roof-edge performance requirements during project design. The professional evaluates the applicable code, building characteristics, and wind-design criteria to specify an appropriate edge-metal system.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Identifying the applicable building-code edition and relevant ES-1 requirements.
• Coordinating the required wind pressures with the building’s design conditions.
• Specifying a suitable tested or otherwise code-accepted edge-system configuration.
• Providing details for fascia, coping, gravel stops, membrane termination, and supporting components as applicable.
• Coordinating edge-metal requirements with the roofing membrane, substrate, and warranty specifications.

Incomplete specifications can create uncertainty about the required system or attachment details. The precise design responsibility depends on the professional’s contracted scope and the project’s documents.

2. The Roofing Contractor

The roofing contractor is responsible for performing the contracted roofing work in accordance with the applicable requirements, approved documents, manufacturer instructions, and specified system details.

Depending on the contract, responsibilities may include:

• Reviewing the specified edge-metal product and installation details before work begins.
• Obtaining required product submittals and compliance documentation.
• Verifying that the supplied system matches the approved specifications.
• Installing the metal, cleats, fasteners, membrane terminations, and associated components as specified.
• Maintaining appropriate quality-control records and addressing installation deficiencies.
• Bringing apparent conflicts, missing details, or unsuitable substitutions to the design professional’s attention.

A contractor should not assume that an unverified metal profile is compliant simply because it resembles a tested product. If the proposed system differs from the specified configuration, the substitution should be reviewed and approved through the appropriate project process before installation.

3. The Edge-Metal Manufacturer or Fabricator

The manufacturer or fabricator supplies the edge-metal system and the supporting information needed to establish its suitability for the intended application.

Relevant responsibilities may include:

• Providing product specifications and installation instructions.
• Supplying applicable ES-1 test reports or certification documentation.
• Identifying the profiles, dimensions, attachment details, and configurations covered by the documentation.
• Providing fabrication and quality-control information where required by the applicable certification program.
• Explaining any limitations on use, installation, or compatibility.

Testing documentation must correspond to the system being supplied. Copying the shape of a tested edge profile does not, by itself, establish that a separately fabricated product has the same tested performance.

The SPRI frequently asked questions explain why fabrication controls and conformity with tested details matter when determining whether an edge system qualifies as ES-1 tested.

4. The Building Official or Inspector

The local building department or authority having jurisdiction administers and enforces the applicable building-code requirements. Depending on the project and local procedures, officials may review plans, product approvals, permit documents, and inspection findings.

Their role may include:

• Reviewing submitted construction documents and relevant product information.
• Determining whether the proposed documentation satisfies applicable code requirements.
• Inspecting work when required by the permit or jurisdiction.
• Identifying deficiencies that require correction or further documentation.

A building official’s approval does not transfer the design or installation responsibilities of the other project participants to the inspector. Nor should an owner assume that a completed inspection eliminates every contractual or professional responsibility.

5. What Does Florida Building Code Require?

The 2023 Florida Building Code, Eighth Edition, includes Section 1504.5, addressing edge-securement systems for low-slope roofs. It requires covered metal edge systems to be designed and installed for applicable wind loads and tested using the specified ANSI/SPRI ES-1 methods or the code’s stated alternative, RAS 111, subject to the section’s conditions.

The provision covers specified metal edge systems on low-slope built-up, modified bitumen, and single-ply roofs, with stated exceptions for gutters and counterflashing. Gutters used to secure the roof membrane are addressed separately under the applicable gutter provisions.

Always confirm the code edition and requirements that apply to the particular project, including any relevant High-Velocity Hurricane Zone provisions, local amendments, and permit conditions.

Official references:

• Florida Building Commission
• 2023 Florida Building Code, Eighth Edition
• ANSI/SPRI FM 4435/ES-1-2022 test standard

6. Who Is Responsible for Selecting a Compliant Product?

Product selection is usually coordinated between the design professional and the contractor, with input and documentation from the manufacturer or fabricator. The exact division of responsibility depends on whether the project documents prescribe a specific system or delegate product selection to the contractor.

Before approving an edge-metal system, the project team should verify:

• The exact manufacturer, product, profile, and fabrication configuration.
• Applicable ES-1 testing or other accepted compliance documentation.
• The required wind resistance for the specific building and roof-edge location.
• Attachment details, including fasteners, cleats, and supporting nailers or substrates.
• Compatibility with the roofing membrane and specified warranty requirements.

Where the contractor proposes an alternative product, the responsible design professional or other designated approver should review the substitution in accordance with the contract and project procedures. The local authority may also need to review the documentation.

7. Who Is Responsible if the Installed Edge Metal Is Noncompliant?

There is no universal answer that assigns every ES-1 deficiency to one party. Responsibility depends on the cause of the problem and each party’s contractual and professional duties.

Potential issue	Party whose role may be relevant	What should be reviewed
Incomplete or unsuitable design specification	Design professional	Design scope, drawings, wind-load criteria, and specifications.
Incorrect product or unsupported substitution	Contractor, supplier, and designated approver, depending on their roles	Submittals, approval records, product documentation, and change orders.
Fabrication that does not match the tested configuration	Manufacturer or fabricator, subject to the applicable agreement	Tested profiles, fabrication records, certification scope, and supplied product.
Improper fastener spacing or installation	Installing contractor, subject to the contract and approved details	Installation instructions, inspection records, and as-built conditions.
Code-compliance concerns identified during review	Relevant project participants and the authority having jurisdiction	Applicable code, permit documents, supporting evidence, and corrective requirements.

This table is a general guide, not a legal determination of liability. Multiple parties may share responsibility, and the facts must be evaluated before drawing conclusions.

8. How Can Project Teams Document ES-1 Compliance?

Good documentation helps establish that the selected edge system is appropriate and that the installed configuration matches the project requirements.

Depending on the project, retain:

• Approved roof-edge details and construction drawings.
• Applicable ES-1 test reports, product listings, or certification documents.
• Manufacturer installation instructions and fabrication requirements.
• Product submittals and written approval of substitutions.
• Records of fastener patterns, attachment details, and supporting substrates where required.
• Inspection reports, photographs, and corrective-work records.
• Warranty documentation and any required closeout documents.

Documentation should identify the actual product and configuration rather than relying on a generic statement that the edge metal is compliant. The level of documentation required depends on the code, project specification, and approval process.

9. What Should a Property Owner Do if Compliance Is Unclear?

If a contractor, inspector, or consultant questions whether the edge metal meets ES-1 requirements, the owner should request clarification before assuming that the entire roof is defective or that replacement is automatically required.

1. Request the exact product identification and available test or certification documentation.
2. Compare the supplied product with the approved drawings and specifications.
3. Have a qualified roofing professional inspect the installed edge assembly and attachment.
4. Ask the design professional to clarify the applicable wind-load and code requirements if the design is uncertain.
5. Confirm any required corrective action with the relevant authority having jurisdiction.
6. Obtain a written corrective-work proposal and retain the supporting documentation.

Where the metal is loose, damaged, or at risk of detaching, address the immediate safety concern promptly while arranging a more complete compliance review.

10. Why Coordination Matters on Florida Commercial Roofs

Roof-edge systems often connect several parts of the building envelope: the roofing membrane, metal fascia or coping, cleats, fasteners, and supporting structure. A failure in one part can compromise the performance of adjacent components during high winds.

For Florida projects, early coordination helps the design professional specify suitable wind resistance, the manufacturer or fabricator provide the correct tested system, and the contractor install it in accordance with the approved details. Building officials then review compliance through the applicable permitting and inspection process.

The National Roofing Contractors Association’s guidance on shop-fabricated edge metal explains the role of ES-1 testing and certification in establishing the performance of metal edge systems.

Bottom Line

ES-1 compliance is a shared project responsibility, not a task that automatically belongs to only one person or company. The design professional establishes the requirements, the manufacturer or fabricator provides the relevant product and testing documentation, the roofing contractor installs the specified system correctly, and the building official enforces applicable code requirements. Clear specifications, verified product documentation, correct installation, and proper closeout records help reduce compliance gaps and improve roof-edge performance.

Related Questions

• What happens if my edge metal isn’t ES-1 compliant?
• How can I verify that a commercial roof edge system has been ES-1 tested?
• Does Florida Building Code require ES-1 testing for low-slope roof edge metal?

Sources

• 2023 Florida Building Code, Eighth Edition — applicable requirements for low-slope roof edge securement.
• ANSI/SPRI FM 4435/ES-1-2022 — test standard for edge systems used with low-slope roofing systems.
• National Roofing Contractors Association: Testing of Shop-Fabricated Edge Metal — ES-1 testing, certification, and edge-system documentation.
• SPRI: Frequently Asked Questions — guidance on ES-1 testing and fabrication conformity.
• Florida Building Commission — official Florida building-code resources.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Need Commercial Roofing Help?

ShieldLine Roofing helps Florida commercial property owners assess roof conditions, identify vulnerable perimeter details, and plan appropriate inspections, repairs, and replacement projects. If you are unsure whether your roof edge metal meets the applicable requirements, a professional roof inspection can help document its condition and identify where further product or code-compliance review may be needed.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for general educational purposes and is not insurance, legal, engineering, or financial advice. Roof conditions, inspection needs, maintenance requirements, and replacement decisions vary by property and roof system. Consult qualified roofing professionals for property-specific recommendations.

Learn more about commercial roof inspection services from ShieldLine Roofing.