Snow Loading - Mechanical Equipment
Snow Loading - Mechanical Equipment
(OP)
I have an existing roof that is exposed to wind and the client wants to install a new piece of mech equipment (relatively small, but sufficient to cause snow accumulation). If the unit is mounted above the roof to provide a few feet of clearance is it possible to consider that there will not be a snow accumulation.
Is anyone aware of literature for this type of consideration?
Dik
Is anyone aware of literature for this type of consideration?
Dik






RE: Snow Loading - Mechanical Equipment
RE: Snow Loading - Mechanical Equipment
Thanks, for the info. That was the rational that I was considering; have you encountered any literature that indicates this type of approach?
I've not paid attention to mechanical units, but I've seen beams on roofs that are clear of snow beneath, and I've attributed this to increased wind velocity flowing beneath the beam, because of the obstruction.
Dik
RE: Snow Loading - Mechanical Equipment
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: Snow Loading - Mechanical Equipment
RE: Snow Loading - Mechanical Equipment
RE: Snow Loading - Mechanical Equipment
And I believe you meant you won't get drifting without wind, not accumulation. Different animals here.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: Snow Loading - Mechanical Equipment
My problem is that the existing roof joists don't have sufficient capacity for the added load (barely accommodate building code loading at the time of construction), let alone any snow accumulation. I'm looking at options in lieu of reinforcing them (not easy because of existing electrical and mechanical stuff in the way).
I attended a discussion a couple of weeks ago about modelling snow accumulation using a building model, water flume, and sand as well as computational fluid dynamics (I've used walnut shells to model beach erosion in past which is similar; CFD was not common then). Don't have the time or budget, in this case.
Dik
RE: Snow Loading - Mechanical Equipment
RE: Snow Loading - Mechanical Equipment
BA
RE: Snow Loading - Mechanical Equipment
Dik