With the many configurations and diverse varieties of snow retention systems that are on the market today for standing seam roofs it can be confusing which type to choose or specify. Desired systems use a continuous rail or extrusion manufactured according to ASTM material standards from aircraft-quality, high-tensile aluminum and attached the roof panel seam via aluminum clamps with stainless steel round point non-piercing fasteners.
The rail/extrusion is constructed with a slot or recess that will accept color strips made from flat stock panel to be inserted. Using the same coated/painted metal in your snow guards as what is used to produce your roof panels will ensure roofline aesthetics for years to come as you don’t have to worry about your snow retention fading at a different rate than your roof panels. To further fortify the system, a snodam that interlocks with the rail/extrusion and rests in the flat of the roof panel should be installed. This snodam will help to limit snow and ice from migrating under your rail-system.
An extremely vital aspect when deciding on which variety of snow retention to use is what independent engineering has been performed on the system. This engineering information should be available on the whole working system and not simply only available on the attachment devices themselves. Many manufacturers tout their load values for the attachment device to the roof panel but they go no further. Superior manufacturers should be able to provide the attachment device load value as well as the uniform load on the rail/extrusion.
Using the combination of these two values will supply you with what potentially could be or would be the weak link in your chain. Only then can the system can be properly engineered to accommodate what is desirable for the project. Job-specific calculations using both values should be obtainable from the supplier.
The warranty provided should also be a strong consideration; a minimum 30-year manufacturer’s warranty should be expected and included in your purchase free of charge. Keep in mind, a warranty is only as strong as the financial stability of the manufacturer providing the warranty. Require that your vendor carries at least a $10 million liability insurance umbrella.
No matter the system, no matter the amount of testing or engineering that has been performed on the system, having a supplier you can count on to properly analyze the roof and consider all the factors that can be applied is a necessity. Simply inputting numbers into a program does not take into consideration important factors such as elevation changes, drift loads, hips or valleys in the roof, ice damning or the many other variables that can obstruct the performance of your snow retention system.
Using a knowledgeable and dependable supplier with many years of experience with snow retention systems and how they perform is an essential first step toward optimizing the performance of your system as well as facilitating the installation process.
Jerod Webber is sales manager at Dynamic Fastener, Raytown, Mo. To learn more, visit www.dynamicfastener.com or call (800) 821-5448.