There are many categories of metal panels. The term standing seam often is used as a generic description for a class of metal roof seams. The name standing seam is derived from the fact that the seams are joined together above the panel flats.

The term also is used to refer to a panel profile that includes a standing seam: the vertical leg/flat pan and the trapezoidal seam. The trapezoidal standing seam is more commonly associated with structural metal panels. Other panel types are batten, flat, bermuda and shingled.

The original batten seam consisted of vertical leg panels placed between wood batten strips and covered with a cap. Today, many batten seam panels are constructed entirely of metal. Because they are designed to shed water, batten seam panels primarily are used in architectural applications.

Standing seam profiles

A flat seam is created with individual panels applied in a shingled application. One panel edge is folded back on top of itself; the other panel is folded under, and the two panels are hooked together. Again, because flat panels are considered watershedding, they are more commonly found in architectural installations. Some flat seam panel systems, such as copper, are commonly soldered, which allows them to perform on less steep slopes.