The Tell-Tale Signs in Spring That You Should Install Snow Retention

The winter is slowly fading into Spring, but as the snow and ice melts off your roof, there might be some signs that you need snow retention:

Are you noticing large pieces coming off in big chunks?

Do you hear it slipping? (This can be pretty loud and frightening when it happens unexpectedly!)

Are pieces of your gutter coming off due to ice tearing it off as it slipped off your roof?

Are there high spots of snow and ice piled at the eave line on the ground? This might mean that snow or ice has come off that place during the winter.

If you answered yes to any of these questions, continue reading.

People die due to snow and ice sliding off roofs. This is extremely tragic and often avoidable. Use roof snow retention for these reasons:

1.  Damage/Injury – People and property can be struck by snow and ice falling from the roof. Property damage and injuries, even deaths can occur when snow is not properly retained on a roof.
2.  Limited Access – Entrances to buildings can be blocked by snow and ice that falls from a roof.
3.  Roof Damage – When snow and ice masses slide off a roof, costly damage occurs.

It is especially important to install snow retention above:

• entryways
• walkways
• gathering spots
• parking lots
• drive-through areas
• expensive landscaping
• ground mounted mechanical
• roof protrusions such as plumbing vents

Can Your Building Support the Weight of Snow Retention?

You might wonder if your roof can support the weight of snow and ice staying on the roof. If your home is less than 40 years old, the answer is probably yes.

During the 1970-80’s, most states adopted building codes that required structures to support the weight of the building materials (dead load) and the weight of the snow, ice, water, people, etc. (live load). By the year 2000, international building codes were universally adopted with similar standards. So, if the structure was built post 1975, you are unlikely to have any structural problems when keeping snow on the roof (it also helps insulate your roof, saving heating costs!).

Imagine (or maybe you don’t have to imagine!) that you are an able-bodied adult male.  If you were asked to keep a hold back a parked car from rolling down a gently sloped hill, you could probably do it, right?

Now imagine that you are in the direct path of a car coming down the same hill at 40 m.p.h.  Would you be able to survive such an impact?  Of course not.

Why should you expect a tiny snow guard to stop a heavy, moving ice and snow avalanche anymore than you could expect yourself to stop a fast moving car?

This scenario might seem a little comical, but in reality, it isn’t funny.  Lives are lost each year due snow and ice avalanching off a roof and landing on someone below.  Keeping the snow and ice on a roof isn’t accomplished by placing one or two rows of snow guards at the edge of the roof.

How do roof avalanches start?

Roof snow melts into water which then runs underneath the build up of snow on the surface of the roofing product.  If there is enough water flow, the snow and ice release from the friction of the roofing product and an avalanche begins.   If snow guards are placed throughout the roof area, protruding up three or more inches from the roofing product, then when the snow melts into ice, the field of snow and ice will freeze in place around the projections and prevent the ice from sliding off in a sheet.  If the snow guards aren’t spaced close enough and spread throughout the roof, you will get an avalanche of heavy snow and ice.

Roof snow guards frequently fail because critical factors are not taken into consideration.

• The snow load. How much snow will fall on this roof?  How much does it weigh?  This data is available online and from the building department.
• The roof’s slope. A steeper roof will need more snow retention products.
• The type of roofing material. Each type has its own unique factors as to how the snow slips off.  Each type will need a different type of snow guard.
• The method of fastening. Are nails, screws or adhesives used?  Each type can pull out at varying rates. Plastic snow guards are generally attached with adhesive which must be attached to a clean surface under optimum temperatures.
• The sheathing type. This is important because fasteners pull out at varying rates based on the type and thickness.  Many snow guards fail because fasteners and sheathing type/thickness are not considered.

Snow guards should be designed for the roof type (asphalt, metal, shake, tile) and should be attached securely and effectively for the sheathing type.  The effectiveness of a snow retention system relies on each of these unique factors. Factoring in each item results in snow guards arranged throughout the roof area in an exact layout which, when working together as a system, prevent uneven loads and eventual avalanches.

Other reasons for snow guard failure

• Force loads are too high for the snow guard and its attachment system. When snow gets moving, it’s like a speeding car going downhill.  A couple of snow guards haphazardly placed with little consideration to attachment pull-out rate or sheathing thickness or slope and snow load, just like one man, can’t stop it.
• Weight of the snow and ice in a given space. It’s important to place the snow guards all over the roof based on how much weight is expected.  As snow melts and ice freezes around the part of the snow guard that sticks up from the roof (at least 3 inches is best), the whole field of snow/ice is anchored in place on the roof and less likely to slide off, but only if this layout is specifically engineered based on the specific factors.

In conclusion, the right layout and installation of snow guards work against the force of heavy snow. Too few snow guards will fail unless you have an engineered layout with the correct calculated number of snow guards than you can stop avalanching.

If you can’t remember all the details, just think about how hard it would be for one man to hold back a car and how it’s just as impossible for a couple of snow guards attached randomly to hold back an avalanche of snow. Then call us and we’ll do the calculating and engineering for you!

Insulating Your Roof

Insulation is a general term that has to do with putting material between two substances that prevents the loss of heat. Insulating a building is standard practice and keeps the heat inside. Various materials such as fiberglass and cellulose are commonly used in walls and attics.

But what about insulating your roof?

“Insulate a roof?’ you ask,

“You mean insulate an attic, right?”

No, how about insulating your roof?

I learned firsthand about insulating using snow as a young Scoutmaster in Utah.  If you’ve ever been a boy scout living in a cold, snowy region, you might have attended an event called the Klondike Derby. Scout groups make lightweight sleds and have a race to see who can get to the finish line the quickest. They also spend the night outside in the cold, winter air.

During the two years I served as a Scoutmaster, I learned a lesson about spending cold nights in the snow with 12 year old boys. The first year we packed down sleeping bags, extra blankets, put on layers of clothes and warm coats, assuming we would stay warm. We all slept close together in tents. The temperature dropped below 20 degrees. We froze and no one slept!

The next year, dreading this annual event, I took the advice of a man who had weathered many Klondike Derbies. His suggestionwas to build snow caves and sleep inside, leaving the tents packed away in our garages. My first thought was, “Who wants to sleep in snow?” Then I remembered learning about Eskimos’ igloos and some animals digging snow caves and decided maybe he was on to something.

Snow Is an Amazing Insulator

You have probably guessed the end of this story about our experiences sleeping outside in the snow. We dug out some snow caves and slept great! Why? Because snow is an amazing insulator. New snow has a high percentage of trapped air in the snow crystals and this prevents air from moving. Therefore, heat transfer is reduced. In fact, it is estimated that uncompacted snow is up to 95% air. The air temperature drops outside, but inside the snow cave this does not happen.

My experiences with the insulative properties of snow go way back to my young days as a scoutmaster and hopefully help you to understand that the answer to the question about snow insulating your roof is yes.
It’s a good idea to change your perspective about that snow on your roof each winter. Instead of bemoaning that annoying white stuff, embrace it’s properties!

Terry Anderson, President of TRA Snow and Sun, Inc. and inventor of the original Snow Bracket snow guard for tile roofs and other roofing accessories. He wants all readers to know that his troop won the Klondike Derby the second year!
(For more information about how much snow on a roof is too much, check our previous blog entitled The Roof is Falling! Collapsing roofs in Buffalo, NY.

In response to requests from architects and other construction specifiers, TRA Snow and Sun has added CAD details of many of their roof snow retention devices for easy access online.

TRA Snow and Sun, Inc., of American Fork, Utah, has recently provided their newly updated CAD details for their roof snow retention devices on their website – trasnowandsun.com.

Architects and specifiers are gradually moving away from keeping large volumes of information in their offices and many also work on their projects during non-business hours.  They have indicated some preferences as to how manufacturers can assist them to make their jobs easier.  One way is for manufacturers to provide online versions of their product data sheets, specifications and computer aided drawings.

TRA Snow and Sun President, Terry Anderson, patent holder on snow retention devices and other Snow and Sun products, expressed his desire to accommodate architects’ wishes.  “Obviously our world has changed.  In the old days I would drop off a binder full of product brochures, specifications, and drawings at an architect’s office, he would put it on his shelf, and then convert those later to use on his projects.  I would make in-person calls to update that information.  With the advent of our Information Age, most architects prefer a simpler and more timely and accurate method of obtaining their information.”

Available now by choosing the “CAD Details” button on the main navigation bar at trasnowandsun.com, are details for Snow Brackets™ A-L, details for all concrete tile manufacturers, asphalt, slate, metal and ceramic tile manufacturers, and decorative snow maple leaves, moose, bear and others).   There are also details for Gutter Brackets, Clamp-on Snow Fences, Deck Mount Snow Fences and their patented Ridge Riser.

Although the company still offers hard copies of all their information, they anticipate requests for information provided the old-fashioned way will continue to dwindle.  Taea Hall, Marketing Director, is spear-heading the effort to put all of TRA’s product details and drawings online, including their ventilation devices and solar mounting products.  ”CAD Details helps TRA Snow and Sun stay more connected to architects and specifiers.  Posting CAD Details on our website makes it easy to keep the information up to date and pertinent. Architects and specifiers don’t have to worry anymore if our information
is out of date.”

TRA Snow and Sun, Inc., located in American Fork, Utah, offers Roof Snow Retention Devices, Solar Racking Systems and Roof Ventilation and Flashing Solutions. They provide all customers, from the individual homeowner to the big developer, free engineered designs for all their systems. For more information call Robyn Finch at TRA Snow and Sun at 800-606-8980 or visit www.trasnowandsun.com

PDF version CAD Details

Camp Kostopulos’ new Equestrian Center experienced avalanching snow and ice during it’s first two winters, so TRA Snow and Sun installed a snow retention solution to project disabled campers in 2014.

In 2012 when TRA Snow and Sun of American Fork, Utah established their new mission statement to include offering roof snow retention and solar mounting products “that provide the ultimate in protection” for people and property, they didn’t know how important this focus might be for disabled individuals in 2014.

Just a short drive north along the Wasatch Front, Camp Kostopulos, a camp for disabled individuals, also has a mission statement that focuses on the value of human life.  They are “dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities” and endeavor to open a world of opportunities for people with disabilities.  During the winter of 2014, the focus of both companies combined to provide safety for campers who use the new Equestrian Center which had experienced a serious problem from dangerous falling snow and ice.

According to Jacob Anderson, TRA Snow and Sun Sales Director, the 62 pounds per square foot snow load on the building’s 5/12 pitched standing seam metal roof had fallen victim to the ferocious forces of sliding snow and ice during the winters of 2012 and 2013. This caused the gutters along the front of the 200 ft. long and 100 ft. wide arena to be torn off. Sliding snow and ice can avalanche off and literally kill an unsuspecting person unexpectedly and can damage
anything in its path on the ground.

Mircea Divrician, who began as a counselor at the camp in 1998, and stayed on to become Executive Director of the Kostopulos Dream Foundation, realized that there was a real possibility for tragedy to a camper or staff member going in or out of one of the buildings if something wasn’t done.  “We built the Equestrian Center two years ago but didn’t plan on putting snow clips on the roof.  We didn’t foresee how much of a threat the snow could be!  The first winter was horrible.  We get a lot of snow in Emigration Canyon and then there would be a nice sunny day and the snow melts and then, boom, a huge chunk of snow comes down.  So we installed gutters with heat tape, but the second winter the snow came down and smashed the gutters.  Another time a huge chunk of snow came down and when it hit the ground it fell back onto the side of the building, causing damage to the metal panels.  We knew this was a real hazard for the people around this building and the vans and cars parked right outside.”

TRA Snow and Sun, Inc., obtained the key data needed (snowload, slope, type of roof, etc.) and provided an engineered layout for the north side of the building. TRA Snow and Sun, Inc used their Universal Snow Guard and specified spacing them throughout the span of the roof approximately every six to eight feet. The system was installed this year and Divricean anticipates no further problems from the dangers of snow and ice on the roof next winter. President of TRA Snow and Sun, Terry Anderson, was glad to be part of this project. “We do many snow retention projects, but whenever we get a call to be part of something that focuses so much on improving the quality of life for special people like those who use Camp Kostopulos,we really like it. I got into the roof snow retention business originally because I couldn’t stand the thought of someone being injured by falling snow and ice from a roof.”

At Camp Kostopulos kids, teens, and adults with disabilities enjoy riding horses, swimming in a heated pool, fishing in a trout pond, utilizing a ropes course, canoeing, creating arts and crafts, and more. Since 1967, the Kostopulos Dream Foundation has been dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through the medium of recreation and leisure education

TRA Snow and Sun, Inc., located in American Fork, Utah, offers Roof Snow Retention Devices, Solar Mounting Systems and Roof Flashing Solutions. They supply to all types of customers, from the individual homeowner to the big developer and free engineered designs of all their systems. For more information call Terry Anderson at TRA Snow and Sun at 800-606-8980 or
visit https://trasnowandsun.com/product-category/snow-retention/

Camp Kostopulos, accredited by the American Camp Association, is a residential summer camp where kids, teens, and adults with disabilities are able to choose from two options a five day residential camp or travel trips. For more information contact Mircea Divricean, Executive Director Kostopulos Dream Foundation,4180 Emigration Canyon Road, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, Phone: (801)582-0700, Fax: (801)583-5176, mdivricean@campk.org. Visit http://www.campk.org/.

Installing a snow retention system on your next metal roof can provide protection for the building owner and extra income, credibility and market share for you.

As the winter build-up of snow and ice begins to thaw, and even in the dead of winter in some places, building owners run the risk of a heavy avalanche of snow or ice falling on property or people as it slides off the roof.  You can see “Caution: Sliding Snow and Ice” signs in front of some buildings every year and probably witnessed a YouTube video of this happening.  Deaths and injury occur every year when people are hit by the heavy ice and snow build-up.

Anticipating and addressing this liability with your customer can provide them with valuable protection from the risk of snow and ice damaging property or even killing a person and could establish you as the contractor that goes the extra mile for his customer.  It’s not a time consuming or expensive add-on when you follow some simple guidelines and understand the issues involved.

Metal roofs have different properties from other roofs when it comes to sliding snow and ice; namely, metal roofs shed it quickly with little warning!  This is partly due to the lack of friction provided by metal as well as its conductive properties.

There are several “Don’ts” when it comes to putting any type of snow retention on a metal roof:

• Be wary of gluing snow guards on the roof.  Adhesive-attached snow retention must be installed on perfectly clean surfaces and at certain temperatures.  Even when applying them correctly, glued-on snow retention devices they are vulnerable to release during freeze/thaw cycles.  Mechanically fastened snow fences are a better and less labor-intensive method
• Do not use dissimilar metals.  If your roof is steel, use steel snow retention.  Don’t put copper or aluminum on a steel roof and vice versa.  By mixing the metals, you risk galvanic action (corrosion).
• Never penetrate the roof system!  This will void the manufacturer’s warranty on the metal roof.
• Do not assume that you can place one or two rows of snow retention near the eave of the roof.  This is a common mistake and can result in snow fence failure due to using a system that was not engineered.  When the snow releases on this type of amateur design, it can take penetrations, gutters and the snow retention devices off the roof.  Sometimes whole panels slide off.  Various factors must be considered when safely laying out your snow retention

There are some basic “Do’s” to a good snow retention system on a metal roof:

• Use systems that clamp on seams.   Besides maintaining the manufacturer’s warranty by not penetrating the roof system, clamps with 3-4 ” of contact with the rib will provide more security for the snow fence system
• Clamps should attach under the hem on the seam.  This prevents twisting and detachment when the snow fence is under pressure from the weight of snow and ice.
• Part of the clamp should sit on the base of the metal panel.  This helps keep the clamp and rib stable and upright, preventing the rib from bending sideways.

The Importance of an Engineered Layout

Snowload -Either listed on the plans or obtained from the local building department.Engineering the snow retention system is of paramount importance to protect the roof system, the owner and you.  Don’t be afraid of the word “engineering!”  Some reputable roof snow retention companies provide this free.  All it takes is gathering a few facts:

• Roof Slope – Obviously a 12/12 sloped roof will need a different layout than a 4/12 but the actual layout should never be left to guesswork.
• Rib Type – Different clamps are designed to work with different rib types.
• Rib Spacing – Rib spacing affects the number of clamps needed.  The strength of the snow fence depends on how far apart the clamps are spaced
• Method of Panel Attachment – If a panel is attached with a clip which does not stop vertical movement, the snowload can cause the panel to fall off the roof.  Knowing how the panel is attached will affect what type of snow retention to use.
• Eave to Ridge Length – This affects how much snow that area will be supporting which will determine the number of snow fences needed up the span from eave to ridge.

Correctly installed snow retention is a good idea for the owner because it protects property and people from significant damage or even death.  By adhering to a few simple Do’s and Don’ts and using an engineered layout, it could also be a significant way to enhance your business.

Terry Anderson has been in the roof consulting and roof accessory business for over 30 years.  He is a Registered Roof Consultant, member of TRI and co-author of Concrete and Clay Tile Roof Design Criteria Manual for Cold and Snow Regions and the owner of several roof accessory patents including the original Snow Bracket and Ridge Riser®.  His company, TRA Snow and Sun, Inc. manufactures snow retention devices for all types of roofs, solar mounting systems, and flexible ventilation and flashing products.

Published: Metal Construction News April 2014

November 21, 2013

TRA Snow and Sun designs Universal Snow Bracket which is less expensive than other, larger snow guards and will compete with plastic snow guards. The new snow guard attaches to most roof types.

TRA Snow and Sun, Inc., long recognized in the roofing industry for its engineered and safety-conscious approach to roof snow retention, has developed a new, more versatile and inexpensive snow bracket, the Universal Guard. The new snow guard has a low profile and attaches to almost all roof types: asphalt shingles, metal panel, wood shingles, slate. It’s design and price will compete with other manufacturers’ plastic snow guards.

The Universal Guard standard size is 2.5″ x 2.5″ x 2.5″ but customizable to meet any width requirement. For example if a roofer is installing a metal panel with 2″ between ribs, this bracket can be made 2″ wide. If a roofer wants to fill in the space on a 16″ panel, the Universal Guard can be made 16″ wide. TRA provides free engineering for all roof projects.

Terry Anderson, President of TRA Snow and Sun, explained why they created the new snow bracket. “We wanted to offer an inexpensive option to plastic snow guards which discolor and breakdown due to ultra-violet light exposure over time. Our metal Universal Guard is comparable in price, but much more durable. The Universal Guard can be easily stocked by wholesalers, making it readily available to the roofer or homeowner to pick up and install all in one day.”

There are three methods of attachment: vertically attaching to a truss or rafter, horizontally attaching to metal purlin, using adhesive to glue to metal panel and screwing into roof sheathing. However, TRA encourages mechanical fasten rather than relying on adhesive. These options make the product adaptable to a wide range of roof projects.

TRA Snow and Sun offers powder-coating of all products, including the Universal Guard, in more than 50 standard colors. One other benefit is the color insert. An installer can cut a piece of the metal panel, and slide it into the bracket to blend the snow bracket in with the roof or to complement the color scheme of the building.

TRA Snow and Sun, Inc., located in American Fork, Utah, offers Roof Snow Retention Devices, Solar Mounting Systems and Roof Flashing Solutions. They supply to all types of customers, from the individual homeowner to the big developer and free engineered designs of all their systems. For more information call Jacob Anderson at TRA Snow and Sun at 800-606-8980 or visit our site.

Common roof architecture of homes in snow regions typically something look like the traditional A-frame or at the least has very steep angles and sides.  This is due to the mistaken belief that steep roofs are best because you want to shed snow off the roof, thereby making the entire home safer and less at risk to snow or water damage.

But the truth is far different!  At TRA Snow and Sun, we have a fundamentally different belief from the traditional view in that we KNOW that keeping the snow on the roof is far safer for both the home and those who live in the home.

The process of keeping snow on the roof of a home is called snow retention.  Snow retention can offer a wide range of advantages to a home owner, including the following:

• Accumulated snow on the roof serves to further insulate the home, cutting costs on heating and protecting the home from periods of bitter cold.
• Keeping the snow on the roof means less damage to the roof itself.  When snow and ice move down a roof and eventually fall from it, the damage to the roof can be severe.  One needs only to think of the effect of glaciers on mountains to understand the destructive power that moving rivers of snow and ice can have.
• When snow does fall from the roof, it can be extremely dangerous to persons below.
• Snow retention allows for an even snow melt off during the spring.

Snow sitting on top of a roof can be volatile and dangerous. Like an avalanche, you can never be quite sure when it will all come crashing down. In several cases, adults and children alike have been unlucky enough to be underneath the heavy avalanche of falling snow. Many don’t survive, and those that do are often injured by the icy nature of the snow.

The snow has been through several melting-freezing cycles by the time it comes tumbling off your house. It’s no longer the light, fluffy stuff it was when it first fell. It’s dangerous.

If you live in a home that tends to accumulate a lot of snow up top, you have two options. You can either brush it all off or set up a few snow retention devices.

Brushing the snow often requires a dangerous adventure to the slippery, slopped roof. Many folks have found this situation to be similarly precarious to standing under an avalanche of falling snow. When done properly, it can protect those that may venture under the eaves of your house. But there is a safer way, and now would be the best time to implement that way on your roof.

Snow Retention Devices

Snow retention devices are pieces of technology you install on your roof to hold the snow there.  With a roof snow retention system, snow and ice drop off in small, harmless quantities or melt completely before falling to the ground, thereby stopping a disaster before it even happens.

They are more commonly installed during the summer and fall months while roofs are dry and safe to ascend to. The best thing is that once they’re installed, you don’t have to get on the roof again during those slippery months to push the snow off. The devices have the same effect without endangering your life.

There are a number of different kinds of snow retention devices you can put on your roof. They come as clips, brackets, rails and fences. Each helps out in a different way and should be chosen according to your individual project circumstances. For a full list of what we offer, check out our snow retention product line.

You may have heard about the benefit of a ventilated roof throughout the winter time. If you weren’t sold on a ventilated roof for snow retention, you may not have realized how beneficial a ventilated roof can be throughout the summer months as well.  During the summer, if you have a ventilated roof you will find that you have a fifty percent reduction in the amount of heat that is able to penetrate the attic space compared to your roof without the ventilation system.

So what does this mean for you?

Throughout the summer months, you can save up to 22% on your cooling costs. That can be a substantial chunk of change when you think about the money that you spend cooling your home throughout the hottest months of the year.

How does it work?

A ventilated roof allows air to flow in the space between the roof tile and the roof surface.  As the air in this space is heated by the radiant heat (the heat from the exterior environment) the temperature of the air increases. As the temperature of the air increases it attempts to rise and this rising results in a natural air flow of the air. As the air flows from the eaves to the top of the roof our Cool Roof system then draws in any cool air and pushes out the warm air that is left in the air flow.

If you want to save money and energy this summer, a Cool Roof system may be exactly what you need.