Snow load is the downward force on a building s roof by the weight of accumulated snow and ice.
Warm roof types snow load.
That s why it s important to calculate your roof load and be adequately insured for this type of situation.
On the other hand snow that stayed on your roof for a few days will settle and while it seems that the cover gets thinner its weight doesn t change it s just the density that is different.
Each state has a listing of building code and applicable guidelines for snow loads as well as details about where the snow load information may be found or purchased.
Currently the international building.
2 1 building code definitions.
When heavy snow meets fierce winds even the best engineered buildings can collapse.
A mountain home should to be able to withstand all that nature throws at it and provide its inhabitants with a warm dry sanctuary from the elements.
If slope 5 calculate sloped roof snow load.
Purpose of this web site.
Use solid line ct 1 1 intermediate roof cs from fig 7 2b slippery unobstructed roof.
The purpose of this web site is to provide ground snow load analysis information and data gathered from all 50 states.
You need to use a snow load formula for flat roofs.
If your roof is flat it is more likely to have snow load problems than if it is pitched.
Check roof thermal factor ct 1 0 warm roof cs from fig 7 2a slippery unobstructed roof.
Tructural engineers use building codes to determine design snow.
When we design homes in the mountains we pay careful attention to all the details of the building envelope to insure that the finished product will perform.
The easiest way is to push a yardstick into the snow on the roof selecting an area that looks typical of the overall snow depth.
Snow can either blown from the low side of the roof towards the high side or is blown off the higher area of the roof onto the lower projected side.
The density of snow and hence its load per square foot depends on the type of snow.
Two types of warm roofs that drain water over their eaves shall be capable of sustaining a uniformly distributed load of 2p f on all overhanging portions.
How snow load can damage your buildings.
The amount of additional snow load or surcharge depends on the difference in height of the two adjacent roofs and the lengths of roof perpendicular to the drop in height.
First figure out how deep the snow is piled up there.
Use dashed line obstructed roof.
Snow and the mountain environment are tough on everything and your home is no exception.
Loads on building structures.
Those that are unventilated and have an r value less than 30 ft 2 h f btu 5 3 c m 2 w and those that are ventilated and have an r value less than 20 ft 2 h f btu 3 5 cm 2 w.
This chapter contains the building code definitions of snow load types of snow the variables that factor into roof snow loads and the risks various.
There is no stronger protection against heavy snow loads than shake or slate roofs.