Battens are almost always used on modern metal roofs.
Metal roof without battens.
Standing seam metal roof installed on solid decking.
Note that you can have a metal roof without battens.
This is because the metal panels touch the underlayment which touches the decking and cold is transmitted by conductance.
If you want to add a metal roof to your structure metal battens will be a part of the project.
Installing metal panels without battens can reduce the temperature of your roof decking during cool evenings.
By design some metal roofs must be installed over battens some must never be installed over battens and some can be installed over battens or solid decking.
So whichever way you go it s important to choose the right product and install it per manufacturer specifications.
Todd miller has spent his entire career in the metal building products manufacturing industry.
As metal roofing systems were developed in this country starting originally with hand formed panels and then machine fabricated corrugated sheets the focus was on systems which could be installed over battens.
In the case of metal roofs getting the longevity out of them relies heavily on the batten placement.
As a do it yourself homeowner you can save on the cost of installing a tin roof.
Battens are not something most people give a lot of thought to.
And a great alternative to battens are the metal shingles shake slate and tile products which have an integral dead air space between the metal and the roof deck serving a function similar to that of battens.