Let it Snow: Roofs & Snow Loads

Whether you use Poor Richard’s Almanac or the color bands on woolly bear caterpillars to
predict the severity of the winter we’ll experience this season, one thing is for certain: it will
snow again. While snowfall is not a problem for most facilities, problems can occur when
snowflakes combine with heavier ice crystals or when they are pushed to form drifts on
building roofs.

In winters past, many roof failures were reported in the northeast because of the heavy snow
load received that year. In their mildest form, roof failures can consist of excessive deflection
or sagging of roof framing; in their most severe form, a roof failure can mean the collapse of
all or part of a building structure. Fortunately, roof collapses are not all that common;
however, excessive roof deflections are more common and can damage the roofing
membrane or process lines suspended from the roof structure. As a building owner or
manager, it is important that you become aware of the limitations of your facility’s roof
framing system. This will allow you to plan appropriate maintenance procedures and, in the
event of a renovation or expansion, to know what restrictions your existing roof may impose
on the project.

As part of the structural design of a building, loads are established incorporating the self-
weight of the building, the code-required roof and snow loads, rooftop mechanical
equipment, and the hanging loads supported by the roof. These loads are used to size the roof
framing, columns, and foundations. In many instances, the allowance for suspended loads is
inadvertently exceeded when a building is occupied and unanticipated internal changes are
made. Added process equipment, piping, or conveyors can deplete the allowance made for
suspended loads and may result in a roof with a lower than intended capacity for snow loads.
It is easy for an owner to forget exactly how much load has been added to a roof because it is
often added one minor project at a time, over years and years of the facility’s operation. Then,
along comes a winter like 1996, with 22 to 36 inches of blowing and drifting snow, and
suddenly the owner discovers that the roof doesn’t have an adequate reserve capacity to
support the combined loads.

Now that you have an idea of the impact changes inside your facility can have on roof
capacity, let’s discuss what’s happening on top of your building: blowing and drifting snow.
Multi-level roofs, roofs containing valleys or projections above the roof, or roofs with large
overhangs and canopies are particularly susceptible to problems with drifting snow. Different
roof shapes result in different types of snow build-up. As wind speeds increase during a snow
storm, more and more falling snow is blown off of exposed roof areas and deposited on areas
with lower wind speed, accumulating into drifts. Surrounding buildings and trees that are
fifteen or more feet away can also affect drifting patterns on a facility’s roof. If your roof falls
into one these categories or if you are planning an addition that will create a drifting snow
situation, careful consideration of snow loads is a must.

Building codes, such as BOCA National Building Code, as well as insurers like Factory Mutual,
specify uniform and drifted snow loads that must be incorporated into building design. These

© JDB Engineering, Inc. | York, PA & Hunt Valley, MD | Engineering the Built Environment to Sustain the Natural Environment
 design loads allow for different variables that may affect the weight of snow on a roof,
including anticipated snowfall amounts, possible ice build-up during daytime melting and
nighttime refreezing, and drifting snow. Allowances for uniform roof snow loads range from
21 pounds per square foot specified in the BOCA Code to 27 pounds per square foot for
insurers such as Factory Mutual. In the mid-Atlantic region, for instance, engineers typically
design roofs for a uniform 30 pounds per square foot. Additional loads, which can be up to 60
to 80 pounds per square foot, must also be considered for specific roof areas where drifting
may occur.

In addition to drifting, snowfall can impact a building long after the last flake has fallen. When
the "January thaw" occurs, melting and freezing snow and ice on a roof can be as much of a
problem as a blizzard that dumps two feet of snow at one time. Heat loss from the building
below and winter sun will slowly melt built-up snow, which may then refreeze overnight. This
cycle of melting and re-freezing over a period of weeks can cause ice dams to form at the
edges and valleys of a roof. It is essential to keep the area around roof drains clear so that
melting snow or rain does not accumulate and add to the roof load. Dangerous icicles may
also form along overhangs, presenting a hazard to people and property below. When melting
begins, it is also necessary to be aware of the dangers of snow slides off of sloped roofs. Snow
slides have sheared off chimneys, gutters, vents, and other projections from the roof surface,
endangered people and vehicles on the ground, and damaged low roofs and mechanical and
electrical equipment.

If a significant snowfall occurs this year, how will you know if you have a problem? New cracks
in your building’s walls, visible sagging of ceilings and roof framing, and unusual noises are all
warning signals, especially if you’ve added loads which were not accounted for in the original
roof design. You should pay particular attention if your facility was built before the mid-
1970’s, when building codes first began addressing snowdrift on buildings. Before this time, an
allowance for snow drifting was not required by the codes and often was not considered in a
building’s design.

What should you do if you experience any of the danger signals listed above? Call a
professional structural engineer immediately for an evaluation of your facility’s roof framing. A
structural engineer can help you ascertain the severity of your current situation, determine
what immediate action should be taken, and analyze your roof for existing loads so that a
permanent solution to your problem can be developed. Immediate or short-term solutions
may include shoring your existing roof with temporary posts or shoveling the snow from the
roof. Shoveling, while effective in reducing the loads on a roof, may damage your roofing
system, causing even more problems in the future. Long term solutions may include the
addition of new permanent framing or equipment supports, reinforcement of the existing roof
members, or elimination of the potential for drifting snow. While major snows don’t happen
every year, they do occur and they can have a detrimental impact on your property and facility
usage. Knowing where drifting snow can occur at your facility, the impact of renovations and
additions on your roof capacity, and the warning signs will help protect your valuable
investments in buildings, equipment, and personnel.

© JDB Engineering, Inc. | York, PA & Hunt Valley, MD | Engineering the Built Environment to Sustain the Natural Environment
 JDB Engineering, Inc.
www.jdbengineering.com

3687 Concord Road

York, PA 17402

120 Cockeysville Road #101

Hunt Valley, MD 21030

PA: 717.757.5602
MD: 410.771.3433

© JDB Engineering, Inc. | York, PA & Hunt Valley, MD | Engineering the Built Environment to Sustain the Natural Environment