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Snow guards for metal roofs

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Abstract
Sliding snow and ice can damage property, kill people & overload lower roofs. In valleys, moving snow can roll the standing seams onto their side, violating the waterproofing seals within them. Snow guards are used to hold snow on roofs. Some are attached mechanically while others are adhered to the metal roofing. One of the more successful adhesives requires weeks of above freezing weather to cure properly and thus cannot be installed successfully during the colder portion of the year. Normal "hardware store" silicone adhesive tried did not last long. Special, expensive, "neutral curing" silicone was moderately successfulas a snow guard adhesive. Plastic and aluminum angle snow guards with a peel and stick butyl tape did not survive even one mild winter. Set screws are used to attach several commercially available snow guards to the standing seams of metal roofing. They fit some seams will, others poorly. Self-tapping and self-drilling screws have been used with some success when installed with care. Stainless stell structural blind rivets performed well for the authors for two winters, but pulled out the third winter when heavier snow loads were present. Some damage to snow guards appears to be caused by workers using them for support when moving about on the roof. Improved design guidelines, standards and performance criteria are needed for snow guards on metal roofs.
Date
8/1996
Author(s)
Wayne Tobiasson; James Buskas; Alan Greatorex
Page(s)
Keyword(s)
sliding snow; snow guard; metal roof


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