Smart engineering prevents dangerous snow buildup on metal buildings

Name: Summit Steel Buildings
Address: 22420 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge, BC, CA
Telephone: 877-417-8335

Frank Melo • February 24, 2026

Heavy snowfalls are unavoidable in some areas. Knowing how to handle the challenges of winter snow and subsequent melting can prevent damage and extend the life of your pre-engineered steel building.

Written by Frank Melo

Ice and snow are great for skating and skiing, but less exciting when you watch it build up on your driveway and rooftop. The weight of snow is considerable and can potentially add stress to a building’s structural system. Light, fluffy snow adds one to five pounds per cubic foot to a rooftop, while wet snow can reach 20 to 50 pounds per cubic foot. Understanding the geographic and climatic conditions for a future building are not just helpful – they’re essential to the long-term performance and durability of any pre-engineered steel building.

When Summit Steel Buildings designs buildings for their clients, their Building Information Modeling (BIM) and engineering helps account for this additional weight. Anticipating all weather conditions is essential, and that’s why one of the first questions we ask is where is the building going to be located (usually in the form of, “what’s your postal or zip code?”).

Let’s look at how heavy snow and ice concerns are built into building engineering, what is done to ensure your building’s security from damage and water leakage, and what you can do during wintertime to ensure snowfall doesn’t become a huge safety concern.

Designing for snow loads in cold climates

Across northern regions of the United States, Canada, and Arctic-influenced zones, snow accumulation is a primary structural design consideration. Snow tends to concentrate on rooftops – particularly flat or low-slope industrial roofs – and around firewalls, parapet walls, roof valleys, dormers and stepped roof elevations.

While roof systems are engineered to handle significant loading, predicting worst-case scenarios is inherently challenging. This is why conservative structural design and intentional over-engineering beyond minimum code requirements plays a critical role in our long-term building resilience.

Snow loads also change over time. Heat escaping from the building causes lower snow layers to melt and refreeze, increasing snow density. As temperatures fluctuate, ice layers can form beneath the snowpack, adding weight and preventing proper drainage. Ice formation can lead to water backup on the roof deck and increased stress on structural members.

The most severe condition occurs when rain falls on an already snow-loaded roof. Snow absorbs the rainwater, and total loads can approach the weight of water itself – 62 pounds per cubic foot, or 5 pounds per inch of depth. These conditions demand close monitoring and proactive snow management.

For tips on removing snow from pre-engineered metal roofing systems, please check out this article from our building partner, Double Black Construction.

Roof geometry and snow management

Roof design plays a critical role in how snow behaves once it accumulates. Every Summit Steel Building is custom designed for the client’s needs and locations. Part of this design process is to determine whether a sloped or flat roof is better for the building’s overall, long-term performance.

Sloped roofs encourage snow and ice to slide off naturally, reducing sustained loading. This makes them ideal for buildings in heavy snowfall regions. However, as building footprints grow larger – such as warehouses, manufacturing plants and distribution centres – long roof spans often limit practical slope angles.
Flat or low-slope roofs are common in larger industrial buildings due to efficiency and constructability. These roofs rely on robust structural framing, accurate snow-load calculations and well-designed drainage systems to safely support snow accumulation.

Rather than choosing one roof type over another, Summit Steel Buildings’ engineering focuses on matching roof geometry to building size, use and regional climate, ensuring structural performance regardless of form.

Common types of snow-related damage

Snow and ice can affect a building in several ways if not manufactured and installed properly, with issues often developing gradually, making proper design and early detection essential:

Structural stress from excessive snow weight on roof framing.
Water intrusion caused by melting snow and ice damming.
Freeze–thaw cracking in fasteners, seals, and roof penetrations.
Slow leaks that appear during spring thaw after prolonged winter exposure.

Proper building and roof design can prevent snow-related problems. Effective snow management begins long before winter arrives:

1. Roof design

• Appropriate roof slope and drainage paths

• Minimal protrusions that trap drifting snow

• Proper placement of roof penetrations

2. Building orientation and site planning

• Strategic orientation to reduce drifting from prevailing winds

• Use of landscaping, wind breaks, and adjacent structures to manage snow movement

3. Thermal and moisture control

• High-quality insulation to limit heat loss

• Proper air and vapor barriers to prevent condensation

• Precision-engineered connections and detailing

4. Material and engineering quality

• Accurate load calculations using local climatic data

• Engineered safety factors that exceed minimum standards

• Factory-fabricated components designed for consistency and performance.

Best practices for managing snow accumulation

Even the best-designed buildings benefit from proactive winter maintenance:

Monitor snow depth and roof conditions regularly.
Remove snow in balanced patterns to avoid uneven loading.
Never scrape roof panels down to bare metal.
Keep gutters, downspouts, and drains clear to prevent ice damming.
Watch for excessive deflection or unusual noises during heavy snow events.
Always follow proper safety procedures and use fall protection when accessing roofs.

When conditions become extreme, consult professionals rather than attempting aggressive removal by oneself.

Read how snow load engineering protects your building investment!

Buildings that are prepared for winter – now and in the future
Summit Steel Buildings designs every structure with heavy snow loads in mind, along with many other geographic and engineering factors. As weather patterns become more volatile, buildings must be engineered for wetter, heavier and more demanding conditions over decades of operation – not just today’s averages.

Thoughtful design, precise engineering and regular winter maintenance ensure that pre-engineered steel buildings remain safe, durable and operational year after year.

Contact Summit Steel Buildings to discuss how your next project can be engineered for snow resilience, long-term performance and peace of mind – no matter where winter takes hold. We’ll provide you with preliminary technical drawings and a cost-effective price to support business growth. Reach our team online, by email at info@summitsteelbuildings.com or at 877-417-8335.

About the author

Frank Melo has a construction civil engineering technology and business background with over 30 years of experience as a business owner and contractor. He was raised and educated in London, Ontario and now divides his time between projects primarily in Ontario, British Columbia and Washington State. He can be contacted at Summit Steel Buildings at (778) 951-4766 or by email at frank.melo@summitsteelbuildings.com or through LinkedIn.