An expert explained that snow load calculations are complex and involve various factors, including ground snow load, roof type, slope, and location. He also demonstrated how a wood beam calculator can be used to design rafter sizes for specific snow loads, ensuring that a structure is safe.

Steel buildings are well suited for cold climates, but a precise estimate of snow load is necessary to ensure that the building’s structure won’t fail under pressure. 

It’s a Safety Measure

Professional engineers determine a structure’s snow load during the structural design phase. It ensures buildings are built to withstand the maximum loads they will experience. It prevents structural overload, which can cause roof collapse or damage.

When calculating a building’s snow load, several different factors are considered. A professional engineer will assess the rise and run of a roof, its materials, the ground snow load for a specific location and exposure, and more.

A roof’s snow load can also be impacted by the type of snow it experiences. Wet, wind-packed snow is typically denser than dry snow, which can lead to a greater weight on the roof.

A roof’s snow load can also be affected by adding or removing a section of the roof. New roof sections and angles can cause snow to accumulate unevenly, leading to an imbalanced snow load. It is also why working with an experienced engineer is essential when designing and constructing a pole barn or steel building.

It’s a Time-Saving Measure

A professional can perform a detailed snow calculation considering various factors, including roof slope. For example, flat or low-sloped roofs aren’t ideal in areas with heavy snowfall, as they’re prone to cave in. On the other hand, a steep-sloped roof can resist the weight of snow without causing structural damage.

Another factor to consider when determining a building’s snow load is the type of snow the structure will experience. For example, ice has a higher density than fresh snow and will cause more stress on the roof system.

A snow load calculator can consider all this and provide a number in pounds per square foot that indicates the amount of snow your building is designed to handle on its roof. It can save you time and money in the long run by preventing damage to your building’s roof system. It can also prevent costly repairs or insurance claims from being incurred.

It’s a Cost-Effective Measure

A professional engineer can perform a detailed snow calculation for a structure. While this may come at a cost, it is a small price to pay to safeguard your building against structural damage and costly repairs.

There are a variety of variables that go into calculating a snow load. These factors include roof slope, surface roughness, thermal conditions, and exposure. These factors are critical to the design of a building.

Another critical factor is the ground snow load. It is calculated based on weather data and typically represents a 50-year recurrence interval with a 2% probability of exceeding the value in any given year.

A post-frame builder with an in-house engineering team can help you determine the ground snow load for your area, which is vital to ensuring that your building is designed and built to the proper standards. They can also perform a complete snow and ice load calculation for you, including the balanced snow and unbalanced loads due to different loading scenarios.

It’s a Legal Measure

Whether building a new structure or updating an existing one, you must ensure it can support the maximum load it will likely experience. If not, you could be faced with structural damage and costly repairs.

A professional engineer will perform a detailed snow load study for your building. It involves a variety of calculations and uses data from weather stations to determine the ground and roof snow loads.

Ground snow load varies widely depending on location and terrain. It can range from 40 to 85 pounds per square foot. To measure it, you create a vertical column of snow, weigh it, and divide it by the area of the sample.

Roof snow load is based on roof pitch, surface roughness, and exposure. The calculator takes into account these parameters and provides a result. It results in a more accurate calculation than using an online recipe. It’s an excellent tool for checking if a roof can safely support a given snow load.