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.

Benefits of a Snow Roof System

Winter can put a serious strain on your building, especially when snow keeps piling up on your roof. In fact, the vast majority of wintertime building failures across North America are caused by excessive snow and ice.

There’s nothing you can do to stop snow from falling from the sky. However, you can ward off property damage with a snow roof system. The following are just a few reasons why it’s worthwhile to invest in a professional snow system for your roof.

Reduce Snow Removal Costs

Stop overspending on frequent snow removal services. Instead of guessing when to remove snow, you can know exactly when it’s time with expert monitoring. A rooftop snow monitoring system can cut overall snow removal costs in half.

Prevent Roof Failure

Roofs are built tough, but heavy, dense snow can push your property to its limit. Unfortunately, property owners often don’t catch the early warning signs of trouble, especially during the winter, when snow and ice can conceal visible damage. A snow roof system helps you avoid such expensive damage by warning you early on.

Experience Around-the-Clock Peace of Mind

With 24/7 monitoring and instant email notifications, the right rooftop system will give you complete peace of mind. Never again will you have to stress and debate yourself over whether to schedule snow removal.

How Professionals Determine the Weight of Snow

Though it often appears in movies and TV as a light and fun winter wonder, snowfall comes with some serious downsides for roofing when it accumulates enough weight. To tell the difference between a picturesque natural decoration and a potential disaster, property owners need to know how much the snow on their buildings weighs. Unfortunately, this process can be complicated for individual companies to undertake.

The weight of snow depends largely on how much water is in it, or how packed-in it is on a surface. Visually similar areas might contain much more dense deposits, and measurements can change as quickly as the weather. For these reasons, the best protection against potential damage comes from something called deflection monitoring. This technique is:

• The Ideal Standard for Many Experts
• More Accurate than Other Methods
• Usable in Real-Time Around the Clock

It works by employing a series of sensors that measure the displacement (deflection) of supporting roof joists.  These sensors let monitoring parties know exactly when and where snow removal is needed, and direct snow removal action where it's required. A balance of safety and efficiency, and an excellent investment for any property that deals with snowfall.

Make Successful Roof Snow Removal Plans

Snow is one of the most common sources of trouble for countless roofs. While a little is no issue for well-constructed properties, even a moderate amount left to sit can cause major problems over time. This is why making effective roof snow removal plans is essential for businesses and organizations during the winter. Below are some of our top tips for proactive roof care when it comes to managing snowfall:

Consider Snow Weight -- Not all snow is the same, and the most critical factor when it comes to your roof tends to fluctuate with regional and time-specific differences. The amount of water stored in snowfall depends largely on its density and two properties that might be under very different levels of stress.

Always Choose Caution -- It’s much easier and less expensive to consult professionals than it is to repair the damage after waiting too long for removal. If you see any signs of trouble, such as visible strain or leaks, get help as soon as possible.

Employ Active Monitoring -- Modern technology makes it easier than ever to avoid disaster. With special sensors placed under the roof deck, you can get real-time alerts and always know when it’s the right time for removal.

How Much Roof Snow Is Too Much?

Snowfall built up on the roof can quickly transform an industrial landscape into a peaceful winter wonderland. Though the presence of snow on the roof is beautiful in its own right, there’s a limit to how much snow a roof can support. Accumulated snow can get extremely heavy and can lead to significant structural issues, including roof leaks, interior water damage, ice dams, and even total roof collapse. Fortunately, the experts at Safe Roof Systems have put together some helpful roof snow load measurement tips to help you understand how much snow your roof can handle before danger ensues.

Roof snow load code requirements follow local ground snow load data.   Refer to your builder or engineer for your Live Load requirements.  To Illustrate how much snow can weigh consider the following examples:

• Fresh Snow - 1 foot of freshly fallen snow equals 8-10 pounds per square foot.
• Accumulating layers of Snow - 1 foot of old, packed-down snow is equivalent to 22-25 pounds per square foot.
• A Mixture of Old and wet snow - 1 foot of water-soaked and compressed snow can weigh as much as 35-45 pounds per square foot.
  

Closely monitoring the amount of snow building up on your roof is essential if you wish to avoid structural issues. Your building will be safer if you’re aware of when to mitigate the problem safely with effective snow removal services.

Rely on Safe Roof Systems to determine the load capacity of your roof with roof snow-load measurement tips. Keep these in mind to prevent structural issues.