When a snow avalanche falls off of a rooftop, it can damage anything in its path! This sudden release of snow can be dramatic—dumping tons of snow in mere seconds. Falling snow forms a temperature-sensitive bond to the surface of a metal roof. Then, when that roof is warmed, whether from the sun or from building heat loss, the bond between the snow bank and roof is broken and a thin film of melt water serves to lubricate the slide.
How Can You Reduce the Risk of a Rooftop Avalanche?
Tags: snow guards, plastic snow guards, metal roof, standing seam metal roof
What is the Best Way to Mount Snow Retention to a Metal Roof?
Metal roofs are a smart decision. But with metal roofs, you must consider the risk of roof top avalanches. A quality snow retention system will help you maintain your roof, avoid personal and property damage, and efficiently and safely allow snow to melt off your structure. But there are a number of methods to mount snow guard systems. What is the best way?
Tags: snow guards, plastic snow guards, metal roof brackets, standing seam metal roof
Cost Comparison: S-5-V and S-5-H90 vs. the S-5-U Clamp
Well, you’re a loyal S-5! user and as most prudent consumers, contractors, or installers; you are looking to save money without sacrificing quality, tested performance, and ease of installation. Today, we will address questions related to the use of the S-5-V or S-5-V Mini and S-5-H90 or S-5-H90 Mini over the use of the S-5-U or S-5-U Mini clamps.
The S-5-U and S-5-U Mini clamp are versatile clamps. This clamp is designed to fit vertically-oriented seams and many of the (larger) horizontally-oriented seams. Because of this versatility there is more labor, tooling and machining involved in the manufacture of the clamp. The S-5-U clamp is machined for an M8 bolt on both the top and the side of the clamp. And there are setscrew holes on both sides. So, while the clamp fits more metal roof profiles, it also costs more to produce.
Tags: metal roof, metal roof clamps
Why is the PVKIT 2.0 the Right Way to Mount Solar PV?
The first direct-attach PVKIT was released almost a decade ago, disrupting the industry and providing a simple, cost-effective way to mount solar to both standing seam and exposed fastener metal roofing without using rails. This innovation drastically reduced the material needed to install solar. When you think about it, with a metal roof, the standing seam or the ribs of the roof are your rails.
Tags: metal roof clamps, solar mounting
How Can I Find the Right Clamp for My Standing Seam Metal Roof?
First you need to determine what type of metal roof you have. S-5! Provides various solutions for all metal types and profiles. One of the S-5! clamp products will be suited to your standing seam (concealed fastened) metal roof. So which standing seam roof profile do you have? Let’s take a look at how to make that determination.
Recently, we had a contractor using our on-line snow retention calculator ask this question. He had done a number of planning calculations to customize applications of our ColorGard® system for a particular project, and noticed the field for “Safety Factor” on our load information table and also the calculator. What is this? And what does it do? He wanted to know.
Tags: snow guards, metal roof
What is the Best Way to Mount Solar on Exposed-Fastener Metal Roofs?
Upon reading the Solar Power World article Metal Roofs are No Problem for Solar Installations, my reaction was, "Well, I suppose that is true—if (and only if) it is done 'the right way.'" There are so many materials, profiles, gauges, metallurgies and corrosion behaviors to consider; not to mention effective waterproofing methods, sealant chemistries, thermal cycling characteristics, weathering behaviors, strength of materials, structural engineering principals and relevant test methods. It is anything but a simple science!
Tags: solar mounting, metal roof brackets, PV, rooftop equipment, exposed fastened, installation
When is it Good to Use a Two-Pipe Snow Guard System?
Is a Bigger Snow Guard Better?
There is a common perception that “more is better”, such as “two pipes are better than one” and “three are better than two”. Many believe that because a snow bank is very deep, it should have a taller snow guard system—with more cross-members.
Tags: snow guards, metal roof, metal roof clamps, rooftop equipment
Why is it a Bad Idea to Put Snow Guards Over Doorways on a Metal Roof?
Often, we are asked to provide localized snow guards and systems (snow retention systems) over an entranceway or several of them rather than protecting the entire eave line of a standing seam metal roof. In limited cases this can be done, but extreme caution is advised.
Tags: snow guards, metal roof, metal roof clamps
Knowing Your Metal Roof Profile When Installing Snow Guards
Any snow retention system is a life-safety and property protection application. If the system were to fail, tons of snow could suddenly be released onto anything below, threatening personal safety and property. For this reason, any system should be appropriately engineered to the specifics of the project to ensure that it does not structurally fail. Surprisingly, few (if any) vendors who manufacture provide adequate technical data to do this.
Tags: snow guards, metal roof, metal roof clamps, standing seam metal roof