Facts of Snow Load on Commercial Roof
Commercial property owners are quite anxious to prevent their roofs to collapse during a snowfall due to snow loads. Snow removal contractors in New York such as Naples Roofing are always there during any kind of emergency of snow removal or other roofing services. Some of the important things or facts that a commercial property owner should know about commercial roofs and snow load are as follows:
The weight of Snow and Ice:
Different snow weighs different amounts for example packed wet snow weighs more than powder snow and the ice is much heavier than both the wet or powder snow. The buildings could be covered with all these types of frozen precipitation of snows at random times.
The weight of one inch of water is equal to 10 to 12 inches of freshly fallen snow or 3 to 5 inches of packed snow. In addition, 1 inch of water exerts 5 pounds of pressure per square foot on the top of your building. A foot of fresh snow, or five pounds per square foot, weighs the same as one inch of ice. The weight of a square foot of ice is approximately 57 pounds.
A layer of ice may form under a foot of fresh snow when it melts and refreezes, causing the snow load to weigh roughly 10 pounds per square foot. Roof loads increase as fresh snow compacts and new snow falls. When snow and ice gather on the surface of your roof, it may be able to withstand 60 pounds per square foot of roof.
Various Roofing Types Tolerance:
Snow accumulation on your building might be increased or decreased depending on the shape of your commercial roof. Snow will stick to low-sloped roofs more readily than steeply pitched roofs. Asphalt shingles and aggregate finishes, for example, shed snow less than slippery roofing materials. On the other hand, single-ply membranes and metal roofing panels are more likely to discharge accumulated snow.
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Snow accumulation is influenced by the design of your commercial roof. Under windy conditions, saw-toothed and stepped roofs allow for huge snow drifts to accumulate. Long-span roofs are more likely than short-span roofs to collapse. Snow-related roof collapse is most common on wood-framed and timber-framed roofs. If built before the adoption of snow-load-related construction rules, older pre-engineered metal roofs are similarly at risk of collapsing.
Steel, cold-formed steel, and concrete roof framework that is properly braced are less likely to cave in when snow loads are high. Due to the increased weight of the roofing cover, all framing-material tolerances are lowered when additional materials are put over an old roof.
Safe Snow Removal Importance:
You’re in danger of a roof collapse when the snow load on your building approaches 20 to 25 pounds per square foot. Snow should be removed from the building as soon as possible at that weight. Prepare a snow removal strategy in advance. Hire a professional snow removal team in New York to remove snow if you don’t have appropriately qualified personnel. Before you start working on your snow removal plans, consult a structural engineer and a roofing contractor. Snow removal done incorrectly might cause structural damage to a roof that is already under stress.
Consult Naples Roofing experts for a quick snow removal who provides its services even during an emergency situation. Contact us for more information!
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