Officials Urge Caution With Snowy Roofs

As a result of the significant amount of snow that has fallen in the county over the last few days and the additional snow that is currently falling, the impact of the additional snow especially on flat roofs must be monitored.  Fire and rescue officials remind all residents and business owners/operators to use the following points during this winter weather event to help protect themselves and others to prevent needless deaths and injuries.

• Building owners/operators of facilities with flat or near flat roofs should be verifying the status of their roof drainage/scuppers to ensure the proper management of any melt-water that may happen due to heat transfer from the structure where insulation is not adequate.  This will become increasingly important as we head into the post-storm period next week when the temperature are expected to break above freezing and begin the melting process on the outside.
• Residents and building operators should monitor their facilities for signs of stress such as abnormal alignment of doors, windows, sprinkler heads relative to ceilings, unusual structural noises; any signs of collapse or danger, evacuate the structure and call 911 from a safe location.
• Starting mid-day on Wednesday winds of 35 to 45 mph winds are possible.  The winds may cause snow drifts on roofs where there is a parapet around the roof or elevation change thus increasing the tendency for ice and snow collection.
• Residents and business owners/operators should not to venture onto roofs as the additional weight may cause a collapse.
• Do not use water from a hose in an attempt to remove the snow as this will add more weight to the roof or melt and refreeze causing drains to become blocked; further complicating the situation.
• Contact a professional roof contractor that has the experience and tools to safely clear snow off of flat roofs.
• If a roof collapses, get to safety and call 9-1-1;  do not re-enter the structure.

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Posted by Resident on Feb 9 2010. Filed under Loudoun County. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.