| 1 | Product Composition | 10% | Clearly defined polymer, wood-fiber or mineral filler, additives, and layer structure. The formulation should remain consistent between approved samples and mass production. | Technical data sheet, material declaration, cross-section specification, and batch-control procedure. | Compare the declared formulation with an independent laboratory composition check and approved reference sample. |
| 2 | Dimensional Stability | 12% | Require documented thickness, width, length, squareness, and dimensional-change limits for the intended temperature and humidity range. Expansion gaps must be defined in the installation guide. | Dimensional inspection report, thermal-cycling results, moisture-conditioning results, and installation tolerances. | Verify samples before and after conditioning; assess whether movement is compatible with the project’s joint design. |
| 3 | Mechanical Performance | 10% | Published flexural strength, flexural modulus, tensile properties, impact resistance, and fastener-holding performance must match the panel’s intended span and fixing method. | Laboratory test reports, load tables, allowable span data, and fixing-system details. | Check test methods such as ASTM D790 for flexural properties and confirm that reported values are based on the actual panel construction. |
| 4 | Water and Moisture Resistance | 10% | The panel should have documented water absorption, thickness swelling, wet-dry cycling, and edge-sealing performance suitable for exterior exposure. | Water-absorption and swelling reports, wet-dry cycle results, drainage details, and edge-treatment specification. | Compare conditioned samples with dry controls and inspect swelling, delamination, cracking, and surface whitening. |
| 5 | Weathering and UV Resistance | 12% | Accelerated-weathering data should cover color change, chalking, cracking, flaking, and loss of mechanical performance. The exposure cycle must be stated rather than described only as “UV resistant.” | UV or xenon-arc test report, color-change readings, visual ratings, exposure cycle, and post-weathering mechanical results. | Check whether testing follows a recognized method such as ASTM G154 or ISO 4892-2 and compare results against the project’s appearance requirements. |
| 6 | Fire Performance | 10% | Fire classification must be selected according to the destination-market building code. Do not accept a general “fireproof” statement without a tested classification for the exact panel assembly. | Reaction-to-fire report, flame-spread or smoke-development data where applicable, and tested assembly details. | Verify whether the report uses the required local method, such as ASTM E84 or EN 13501-1, and confirm that thickness and surface finish match the supplied product. |
| 7 | Surface Finish and Color Consistency | 8% | Texture, gloss, color tolerance, coating thickness, and acceptable visual defects should be defined in a written quality standard. | Approved color standard, inspection limit samples, gloss or color measurements, coating specification, and packaging photographs. | Inspect samples under consistent lighting and measure color difference where color matching is commercially important. |
| 8 | Quality Management and Traceability | 10% | Each production batch should be traceable to raw materials, production date, operator or line, inspection results, and shipment records. | Quality manual, inspection plan, calibration records, nonconformance procedure, and batch labels. | Audit a sample batch record from incoming material through final packing and verify that test equipment is calibrated. |
| 9 | Production Capacity and Lead Time | 6% | Capacity claims should be supported by production-line information, realistic monthly output, confirmed minimum order quantity, and a documented lead-time range. | Capacity statement, production schedule, sample order timeline, monthly output records, and contingency plan. | Compare promised delivery dates with historical records and allow time for inspection, export documentation, and transit. |
| 10 | Installation System and Technical Support | 7% | The supplier should provide fastening, substructure, joint, corner, ventilation, cutting, and maintenance instructions for the actual panel profile. | Installation manual, CAD or detail drawings, accessory list, warranty terms, and technical response procedure. | Review details for drainage and ventilation, then conduct a small installation trial before approving a large order. |
| 11 | Compliance and Sustainability Documentation | 3% | Environmental and regulatory claims should identify the tested product, applicable jurisdiction, test date, and certification scope. Recycled-content claims should be measurable and documented. | Declaration of compliance, recycled-content statement, safety data where relevant, and environmental test documentation. | Check document validity, product scope, issuing body, and consistency with customs and project requirements. |
| 12 | Commercial Terms and Total Cost | 2% | Evaluate total delivered cost rather than panel price alone, including tooling, accessories, packaging, inspection, freight, duties, replacement material, and warranty obligations. | Formal quotation, payment terms, Incoterm, packaging specification, warranty policy, and replacement procedure. | Build a landed-cost comparison using identical specifications, quantities, destination, and service requirements. |