TI 809-52

3 August 1998

Technical Instructions

Commentary on Snow Loads

Headquarters
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Engineering and Construction Division
Directorate of Military Programs
Washington, DC 20314-1000
CEMP-E TI 809-52
3 August 1998

TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS

Commentary on Snow Loads

Any copyrighted material included in this document is identified at its point of use.
Use of the copyrighted material apart from this document must have the permission of the copyright holder.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Record of Changes (changes indicated \1\... /1/ )

No. Date Location

_____________
This Technical Instruction supersedes EI 01S001, dated 1 October 1997.
(EI 01S001 text is included in this Technical Instruction and may carry EI 01S001 identification.)
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FOREWORD

These technical instructions (TI) provide design and construction criteria and apply to all U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) commands having military construction responsibilities. TI
will be used for all Army projects and for projects executed for other military services or work for
other customers where appropriate.

TI are living documents and will be periodically reviewed, updated, and made available to users
as part of the HQUSACE responsibility for technical criteria and policy for new military
construction. CEMP-ET is responsible for administration of the TI system; technical content of TI
is the responsibility of the HQUSACE element of the discipline involved. Recommended
changes to TI, with rationale for the changes, should be sent to HQUSACE, ATTN: CEMP-ET,
20 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20314-1000.

TI are effective upon issuance. TI are distributed only in electronic media through the
TECHINFO Internet site http://www.hnd.usace.army.mil/techinfo/index.htm and the Construction
Criteria Base (CCB) system maintained by the National Institute of Building Sciences at Internet
site http://www.nibs.org/ccb/. Hard copies of these instructions produced by the user from the
electronic media should be checked against the current electronic version prior to use to assure
that the latest instructions are used.

FOR THE DIRECTOR OF MILITARY PROGRAMS.

KISUK CHEUNG, P.E.

Chief, Engineering and Construction Division
Directorate of Military Programs
 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY TI 809-52
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
CEMP-E Washington, DC 20314-1000

Technical Instructions
No.TI 809-52 3 August 1998

COMMENTARY ON SNOW LOADS

Table of Contents

Page

Paragraph 1. Purpose and Scope............................................................................................ 1

2. Applicability ...................................................................................................... 1

3. References ...................................................................................................... 1

4. Building Configuration....................................................................................... 1

5. Unbalanced Loads............................................................................................. 2

6. Metal Buildings .................................................................................................. 2

7. Internally Drained Membrane Roofing Systems................................................... 2

8. Building Orientation............................................................................................ 2

9. Sliding Snow ...................................................................................................... 2

10. Icicles and Ice Dams........................................................................................... 3

11. Snow Guards..................................................................................................... 3

Figure Title

1 The peak snow load of this drift was 130psf. The ground snow load then
was 20 psf, and the snow load on the upper roof was 15psf ......................................... 4
2 Snow drifts and their consequences.............................................................................. 5
3 Unbalanced snow loads on a saw-tooth roof.................................................................. 6
4 Orienting buildings with respect to h t e known direction of winter storm
winds can reduce actual drifting even though design loads do not change ..................... 7
5 Snow sliding off a metal roof.......................................................................................... 8
6 Army van damaged by snow and ice that fell from a roof............................................... 9

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Table of contents (continued)

Figure Title
Page
7 The creep and glide of snow down a slippery roof can create dangerous
cornices ......................................................................................................................10
8 Plumbing stack displaced by snow creeping down a slippery metal roof ........................11
9 Tear in metal roofing caused by the plumbing stack displacement
shown in figure 8..........................................................................................................12
10 Parapet capstone displaced by snow moving down the adjacent roof valley ..................13
11 Metal roof fascia torn by moving snow..........................................................................14
12 Metal standing seams broken and displaced by snow moving down a valley .................15
13 Plan view of a gable-roofed building showing some sliding snow issues .......................16
14 Snow creep can create cornices that cause several problems......................................17
15 Electrical service entrance cables should not be located below cold eaves ...................18
16 Scuppers are often not appropriate as primary drains for low slope roofs in
cold regions..................................................................................................................19
17 Massive icings all along a metal roof over a warm attic.................................................20
18 When a cold eave is not present, ice may form on building walls..................................21
19 Removal of snow and ice is dangerous and often damages the roof .............................22
20 Electric heaters can create tunnels which prevent ponds from
forming on roofs behind ice dams.................................................................................23
21 Electric heaters zigzagged along the eaves of a residence to prevent
ponding of water behind ice dams.................................................................................24
22 Fence type snow guards installed on a metal roof.........................................................25
23 Plastic snow guards adhered to a metal roof.................................................................26
24 Two rows of aluminum angle snow guards spaced well apart up a metal roof ...............27

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COMMENTARY ON SNOW LOADS

1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE. This document provides guidance for designing roofs subjected
to snow loads. The primary discipline addressed in structural, but this guidance also applies to
architectural, mechanical, and electrical issues.

2. APPLICABILITY. These instructions are applicable to all USACE elements involved with
the design of buildings and other structures, including repairs and modifications as well as new
construction.

3. REFERENCES.

a. Use the current edition of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Manual 7,
“Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures.” Copies are available from ASCE,
1015 15th Street, N. W., Suite 600, Washington,D.C. 20005-2605. ASCE’s phone number is
(202) 789-2200. Users of this document should not use the mandatory provisions of the
Standard itself without becoming familiar with the Commentary on Snow Loads appended to the
Standard. The Commentary explains the rationale behind the provisions and contains examples
that illustrate their use.

b. Site-specific ground snow loads for military installations and other places of interest to
DOD are tabulated in TI 809-XX, “Load Assumptions for Buildings.” That information is based on
a detailed snow load case study at each place. Occasionally, the case study answer differs from
the value on the national snow load map in ASCE Manual 7. When a difference exists, the
tabulated value in TI 809-XX should be used. A copy of each case study is maintained at CEMP-
ET. Snow loads for foreign locations are also tabulated in TI 809-XX. Caution is urged when
using these foreign values since each is based on local experience only, not an extreme-value
statistical analysis of recent meteorological data. Wherever possible, host country expertise
should be sought and host country snow loads compared to those tabulated in TI 809-XX.

c. In some areas of the United States extreme local variations in snow lo

ads preclude
mapping on a national scale. In such areas the national snow load map in ASCE Manual 7 does
not present a ground snow load, but indicates that a snow load case study is needed. The data
and methodology used to conduct snow load case studies are presented in Cold Regions
Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) report “Snow Loads for the United States.”
Additional snow load case studies are available through CEMP-ET.

4. BUILDING CONFIGURAITON. The snow load provisions of ASCE Manual 7 indicate how
dramatically the geometry of a building influences the snow loads on its roof. Problems can be
avoided and more economical designs developed when snow load issues are considered by the
design team as the show of the building evolves. Snow will drift into areas of “aerodynamic
shade” (see figure 1). Figure 2 illustrates such places on the kinds of problems that are
encountered.

5. UNBALANCED LOADS. Figure 3 shows a “saw-tooth roof” on which wind has moved snow
from its upper portions into its valleys creating unbalanced snow loads. Such unbalanced snow
loads are covered in ASCE Manual 7 for roofs with a slope of 15 ° or more. ASCE Manual 7 does
not require consideration of unbalanced loads for lower slopes, but its Commentary warns that
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°.
such unbalanced loads are being observed on some large gable roofs with slopes less the 15
That Commentary suggests that it may be appropriate to consider unbalanced loads for such
roofs with slopes down to 5° (about 1 in./ft.).

6. METAL BUILDINGS. Many metal buildings are built with low-slope gable roofs (single- or
multiple-gable). In cold regions for waterproofing reasons, it is appropriate to require a slope of
at least 1 inch/foot (about 5°) for metal roofing systems. Metal buildings are designed with little
structural “fat.” Many have failed where an unbalanced snow load in one area caused purlins to
fall, initiating progressive collapse. Unbalanced snow loads should be considered on all metal
buildings regardless of their slope.

7. INTERNALLY-DRAINED MEMBRANE ROOFING SYSTEMS. Such roofs usually have

slopes much less than 15° and, thus ASCE Manual 7 does not require unbalanced loads to be
considered. There is always the possibility that some unbalanced loads may develop. To reduce
risks associated with this possibility, the depth of such basins should be as small as possible.
The easiest way to do this is to reduce roof slopes to 1/4 inch/foot. Dead flat roofs are a design
mistake. A l/8 inch/foot design slope can result in as-built flat areas. There is no real evidence
that supports the contention that in cold regions a ½-inch/foot minimum slope should be used.
Increasing the slope above ¼ inch/foot increases costs since higher walls are needed to account
for the greater slope. Slopes of 1 inch/foot not only further increases the risk of unbalanced
snow loads, but these slopes can be more expensive due to the additional attachments needed
to hold roofing components in place on such slopes.

8. BUILDING ORIENTATION. ASCE Manual 7 requires designers to assume that the high
winds which cause snow to drift could come from any direction. Nonetheless, information should
be sought from “locals” on drift orientation. Where such information indicates strong preferential
orientation of snow drifting, give thought to placing drift-prone features (e.g., loading dock roofs
either upwind or alongside the building rather than at its downwind end. Design loads will not
change, but the amount of drifting may be reduced significantly. An example is shown in figure
4. However, changing the orientation of buildings may not be possible. Sloping the roofs on the
loading docks shown in figure 4 would reduce drift loads. However, that may introduce drainage,
ice damming, and sliding snow problems.

9. SLIDING SNOW. The ability of slippery unobstructed roofs to shed snow loads by sliding can
be an advantage and a disadvantage. Loads on a roof can be reduced when snow slides off
(figure 5), but loads will increase on any lower roofs onto which snow slides. If snow drops some
distance, large dynamic loads can be imposed on a lower roof or on an object located below
(figure 6). Snow can creep and glide slowly down slippery surfaces (figure 7), even those with
very shallow slopes. The movement of snow can drag plumbing stacks (figure 8) and other roof
penetrations with it, damaging them and creating holes in the roof (figure 9). If snow slides from
roofs having gutters, they will probably be ripped off. Parapets and fascias can also be damaged
(figures 10 and 11). Flow of snow down valleys can bend the standing seams of metal roofing
(figure 12), reducing their strength and violating their waterproofing integrity. Several sliding
snow issues are illustrated in figure 13. Large curling snow cornices can be created at eaves
(figure 7). Such cornices can be quite heavy, and they may curl around enough to damage walls
and windows. When they break off, piles of snow and ice are created on the ground. These
piles may deflect falling snow sideways towards walls, damaging them.Meltwater that drips onto
these piles can enter the building at the base of the wall if that base is not far above the finished
grade outside. Figure 14 illustrates a number of these situations. Electrical service entrance
cables located below eaves can be ripped loose by falling snow or damaged by the weight of ice
that collects on them from roofmeltwater (figure 15). Snow guards may be needed to hold snow
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in place on slippery roofs. Internally drained membrane roofing systems with a slope of ¼
incj/foot avoid these problems. Switching from internal drains to scuppers can lead to
problematic, dangerous icings (figure 16).

10. ICICLES AND ICE DAMS. Icicles and ice dams can form along the eaves of inadequately
insulated and ventilated roofs of heated buildings that drain to cold eaves (figure 17). Where
eaves are not present, such ice may form on the walls below (figure 18). Icings at eaves
prevent snow load reductions by sliding until that ice warms up and either melts or breaks free.
Falling ice is a hazard (figure 6). Icings at eaves can be avoided when attic ventilation systems
are able to keep the temperature of the roof from rising above about 30 ° F when the temperature
outside is about 22° F. When it is warmer outside, icings usually do not grow and when it is
colder outside, less attic ventilation is needed. Equations for sizing attic ventilation systems are
presented in CRREL Miscellaneous Paper “Ventilating Attics to Minimize Icings at Eaves.” The
extra cost of adequately insulating and ventilating a roof to prevent icings is easy to justify since
the water that ponds behind ice dams usually leaks into the building causing significant
problems. Efforts to remove icings with hammers, axes (figure 19), chain saws, and such usually
damage the roof. On existing buildings, electrical heaters may be needed to keep tunnels melted
through small ice dams (figure 20). The tunnels prevent water fromponding on the roof and
leaking into the building. Electric heaters are relatively easy to install along the eaves of a roof
with asphalt shingles (figure 21). Installing electric heaters on standing seam metal roofs is more
difficult. Guidelines are available in CRREL Miscellaneous Paper “Electric Heating Systems for
Combating Icing Problems on Metal Roofs.” Essentially allnew roofs should be designed so that
they do not require electrical heaters.

11. SNOW GUARDS. Snow guards are objects used to hold snow on slippery roofs (figure 22).
Many slate and metal roofs require snow guards to protect people and property. Snow guards
may also be needed on barrel vaults and other such roofs with smooth membranes. Some snow
guards are attached mechanically while others are adhered to the roof surface (figure 23).
Design loads on snow guards should be based on the assumption that friction between the snow
and the roof is zero. Multiple rows of snow guards spaced well apart up the roof (figure 24) are
better at holding snow in place (i.e., avoiding the large dynamic loads created by sliding snow)
than one row of last-resort snow guards placed near the eaves. A short snow guard on a long
roof without other snow guards must be able to resist all the snow located within outward 45 °
angles up slope of its location. The loads at the ends of such a snow guard are about twice the
average load on it. The design load on a snow guard should be less than half of any failure load
reported by its manufacturer. In high risk situations, (e.g., entrances and emergency exits of
schools) allowable loads on snow guards should be even lower. Design guidance, test, data,
and performance standards on snow guards are limited so they should be used with caution.

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Figure 1. The peak snow load of this drift was 130 psf. The ground snow load then was 20 psf,
and the snow load on the upper roof was 15 psf.

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Figure 2. Snow drifts and their consequences.

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Figure 3. Unbalanced snow loads on a saw-tooth roof.

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Figure 4. Orienting buildings with respect to the known direction of winter storm winds
can reduce actual drifting even though design loads do not change.

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Figure 5. Snow sliding off a metal roof.

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Figure 6. Army van damaged by snow and ice that feel from a roof.

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Figure 7. The creep and glide of snow down a slippery roof can create
dangerous cornices.

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Figure 8. Plumbing stack displaced by snow creeping down a slippery metal roof.

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Figure 9. Tear in metal roofing caused by the plumbing stack

displacement shown in figure 8.

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Figure 10. Parapet capstone displaced by snow moving down

the adjacent roof valley.

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Figure 11. Metal roof fascia torn by moving snow.

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Figure 12. Metal standing seams broken and displaced by

snow moving down a valley.

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Figure 13. Plan view of a gable-roofed building showing some sliding snow issues.

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Figure 14. Snow creep can create cornices that cause several problems.
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Figure 15. Electrical service entrance cables should not be

located below cold eaves.

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Figure 16. Scuppers are often not appropriate as primary drains for
low slope roofs in cold regions.
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Figure 17. Massive icings along a metal roof over a warm attic.

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Figure 18. When a cold eave is not present, ice may form on building walls.

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Figure 19. Removal of snow and ice is dangerous and often

damages the roof.

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Figure 20. Electric heaters can create tunnels which prevent ponds
from forming on roofs behind ice dams.

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Figure 21. Electric heaters zigzagged along the eaves of a

residence to prevent ponding of water behind ice dams.

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Figure 22. Fence type snow guards installed on a metal roof.

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Figure 23. Plastic snow guards adhered to a metal roof.

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Figure 24. Two rows of aluminum angle snow guards spaced well apart
up a metal roof.

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