Safe Roof Systems’ Best Practices for Covid

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has created unforeseeable challenges for all of us, and like the customers we serve, we are adapting to the crisis by implementing new safety measures. At Safe Roof Systems, we place the health of our customers, staff, and technicians as the highest priority. When you call us to install a top-quality roof snow alarm that can spare you from the expense of preventable damage, you can count on us to follow strict guidelines.

Social distancing, regular sanitization, and minimizing exposure are essential in the fight against this disease. So, when you hire our team, we follow best practices to ensure safety with Covid. All SRS technicians are equipped with PPE; limiting work-site exposure between our team and your on-site staff and guests.

Our team follows a few simple guidelines to help everyone stay safe:

• Separate SRS workstations to reduce close contact between technicians
• Clearly mark SRS work areas to minimize contact with your staff or other contractors.
• Have hand sanitizer readily available and used frequently while on the work site.
• Regularly disinfect doors, door handles, countertops, and other surfaces in the SRS work area.
• Coordinate work site plans and time tables with building management and any effected contractors

 We will be doing our part as well while we install your snow alarm on your roof. By cooperating and following common guidelines, we can better protect each other as we carry on with our regular business practices. Office managers, contact our team to coordinate your site-specific concerns and requirements.

Safe Roof Systems Supports Work-Place Health & Safety Protocols

Rules and procedures for contractors accessing work-places have changed significantly with the spread of Covid-19. The reality is that these standards will likely be in place for years to come. Our team at Safe Roof Systems is dedicated to maintaining the highest standard of safety.

Important questions and concerns include:

• Does contractor access now require business managers to send their staff home again?
• Will contact areas require sanitization after work is complete?    

Snow removal operations often require a large crew. Questions our customers have had include:

• How difficult will it be to safely remove snow when needed?
• Can you limit the size of a crew safely and responsibly?

SRS roof deflection alarms tell you when to act and also helps limit work-place exposure by qualifying how many contractors will be needed. Our alarm systems also show our team where contractors are required.

Know when and where to remove roof snow. Save time and money while maintaining a safe work environment with Safe Roof Systems. Contact SRS today for an on-line roof risk review and alarm system proposal.

Predictive Roof Monitoring - Make Your Life Easier!

Always be prepared – a Boy Scout motto that has particular value today.

Predictive roof monitoring is a must-have tool for facility maintenance going forward.

Because, in our new reality, inviting service crews into a workspace brings opportunity for viral exposure.  It is no longer going to be convenient or safe to have a team of roofing specialists entering your building or place of business unless it is absolutely necessary. 

Our deflection alarm systems have always provided savings. Now, with today’s new priorities, roof monitoring allows facility managers to safely monitor and maintain roof conditions without inviting outside personnel into their buildings.

A DMD-series roof deflection alarm system automatically alerts facility managers when and where roof load mitigation is required. This allows you to scale the response and balance the need with safe staffing levels. 

Contact Safe Roof Systems today and learn how to always be prepared by adding remote and automatic roof load monitoring to your facility's predictive maintenance program.

Water Ponding VS. Snow Load

The vast majority of building failures are weather related.  Most are caused by the weight of snow, but water ponding continues to be a major concern.

Snow doesn’t move (much), it generally stays where it  falls, BUT water is a different problem because it always moves & collects in low the spots.   

Run-a-way roof ponding starts with water collecting in a low spot, centralizing a load usually spread across the surrounding area.  This in turn deflects the supporting joists/purlins and leads to more water running into an increasingly deeper pond.  As the deflection increases, water from a larger and larger area runs toward one small roof area and ultimately causes a structural failure, or at least overwhelms HVAC curbing and other penetrations letting enormous amounts of water pour inside. Either way it’s a huge mess and expense that can be completely avoided.

Prevent a run-away roof loading cycle from overwhelming your business by adding Roof Deflection Monitoring as a predictive maintenance program.   

Simply put – “knowing when and where to act” saves time & money and helps you avoid a costly business disruption.

Visit our website to learn more about roof load monitoring. For over 20 years, we’ve been designing and installing systems to detect snow-related roof deflection. With us, you know your building is in safe hands.

Benefits of Predictive Monitoring Technologies

When it comes to monitoring roof load, most commercial establishment owners just take a wild guess and hope for the best when it starts to snow. However, taking a guess or assuming your roof was built well enough to withstand snow year after year is not a smart business practice. Knowing what your roof can handle and when you need to have it cleared can ensure the longevity of your roof and your business. That’s why it is critical for business owners like you to invest in predictive monitoring technologies for roofing systems.

Investing in a monitoring system for your roof gives you the peace of mind you need when the snow keeps falling. In addition to being a smart, proactive approach to handling the impact of snow on your establishment’s roof, a predictive monitoring system can help you defend your roof against damage, failure, or even collapse.

As an added benefit, if you routinely have snow removed from your roof by a contractor, you could potentially end up saving quite a bit of money by not having to hire the snow removal work out as often. While it’s always best to be safe instead of sorry, knowing what your roof’s limit is can keep you from continuously hiring out any snow removal work.

The more responsive you are to your roof’s needs, the safer your establishment will be. If you have any questions about how a predictive monitoring system works for roofing, you are welcome to reach out to our team at Safe Roof Systems.

Impacts of the Weight of Snow

The first snow of a year is always special for the northern parts of North America. However, did you know that one cubic foot of fresh, dry snow weighs around 3 pounds? Even worse, one cubic foot of packed, heavy snow can weigh as much as 21 pounds. While determining the weight of snow is not convenient or feasible for most people, it’s safe to assume that the snow on your establishment’s roof probably weighs more than you realize.

Snowfall can be dangerous for roofing. If snow falls at different depths on a roof (due to trees, overhangs, drifting snow, or other factors), this is considered an unbalanced load. An unbalanced load poses a greater risk to your roof’s structural system than a uniform load. Roofs are built with the intention of spreading out the load over a vast area.

When heavy snow is not properly handled, your roof suffers. Here are some of the signs that your commercial roof is not doing well and should be updated to a snow system:

Creaking or Popping Sounds
Sagging or Bowed Areas
Cracked/Split Wood Beams
Minor or Severe Leaks

Cracks in Walls/Masonry

Sprinklers Dropping Down

The weight of snow can be hazardous to your roof system. If you should notice any of the impacts or signs listed above, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our company -- Safe Roof Systems -- to see what we can do for your business.

Predictive Monitoring Technologies for Snow

If you own or manage a large property in a snow-prone area, you’re likely aware of how damaging snow can be to roofs. While snow looks light while falling from the sky, it can actually be astonishingly dense when it packs together, creating a heavy burden on your building’s roof. You need to remove the snow if it doesn’t melt away on its own quickly enough – but how do you know when it’s time?

Take the guesswork out of snow removal by utilizing predictive monitoring technologies for snow load. Rather than overpaying for frequent removal, these monitoring systems warn you when you can no longer allow the snow to pile up.

How Snow Load Monitoring Works

The weight of snow varies drastically from day-to-day. When fresh, snow layers tend to be lighter since they’re composed of more air pockets. However, as snow accumulates, those snow pockets shrink, and more of the snow layer is composed of water, creating a denser, heavier load.

Predictive monitoring technologies measure the ratio of water vs. trapped air (Snow Water Equivalent) to estimate the overall snow load’s weight with impressive accuracy. Since the monitoring system operates 24/7, you can receive real-time email notifications whenever the weight becomes dangerous.