Roof Snow Guard Layout

If you hold snow and ice in place with an effective snow guard layout you evenly distribute the load on the roof and the snow guards and the threat of avalanche is effectively eliminated.

Roof snow guard layout.

An evenly distributed snow load will preserve the long term integrity of the structure and snow guard pattern. How far up the roof from the eaves should the first row of snow guards begin. We give recommended side spacing between individual snow guard devices we discuss an important consideration to avoid structural damage. If you hold snow and ice in place with an effective snow guard layout you evenly distribute the load on the roof and the snow guards and the threat of avalanche is effectively eliminated.

Spacing requirements for snow retention devices vary depending on the roof slope or pitch. With fence type snow guards when a second row is required see calculation process above it is most often placed approximately 20 per cent of the eave to ridge distance and a minimum of 1 9 m 6 ft from the first row of snow guards. Do not exceed 15 feet vertically between rows of guards. This article describes how to lay out the snow retainer or guard pattern on a roof in order to provide an effective snow retention system.

Starting at 1 foot from the bottom edge place 2 snow guards equally spaced apart in the valley in a staggered pattern across the entire roof area. Our approach to snow guard placement involves placing snow guards throughout the entire roof area to keep snow and ice from shifting initially. This distance will vary based on the actual eave to ridge distance of the roof. Go up the roof 15 feet and repeat the staggered pattern of guards in every valley as placed below.