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reminders from Norm for how to keep your structure safe in today’s weather
please also review the 3 videos recently posted from our winter q&a
Tag Archives: canadian winters
Winter Weather Reminders
These buildings are not industrial grade shelters and, as such, some caution must be exercised under some winter storm conditions….
Please see the WINTER CARE page in our installation guide for additional information. We also have a Winter Care FAQ page with articles we have posted on this topic
BEWARE of this sequence which creates a “worst case scenario”:
Freezing rain, followed by dropping temperatures, Lots of snow followed by rainfall. It is easy to triple the weight of the snow load in 30 minutes.
Our structures are designed in a gothic shape with a slippery cover to be lightweight and snow resistant. This encourages the snow to slide off quickly.
This is not an industrial high snow load building. We do our best to always point out applications where the capacity of the structure is being compromised. Extra hoops or thicker steel are an economical way to increase wind and snow load capacity. We take pride in the sturdy shelters we manufacture and supply, but must point out that we cannot warranty against weather conditions
Snow removal, when occasionally required, is a simple task. Uneven snow loading is deceiving, since the total weight is not a problem but the lateral force can cause the hoops to distort.It is rare to have any significant snow build up on the roofs; however,
DO NOT GO INSIDE A BUILDING WHERE THERE HAS BEEN OBVIOUS STRESS!
Be aware of these scenarios where excessive snow build up is possible and damage could follow:
A wet snowfall followed by dropping temperatures
A wet snowfall followed by dropping temperatures
A building 90° to the prevailing wind (drifts could form on the backside of the building)
A building attached to and situated downwind of a taller building (significant drifting)
A building 90° to another building that has a higher roof, could cause a surge in snow weight when the snow on the upper roof slides off.
Preventative measures for excessive snow build up (where possible):
Build structures inline with the prevailing wind
Build structures level from side to side to create uniform shedding
Do not attach your building to a larger existing building
Install a heat source to melt the snow
Economical additions to increase your structure’s snow resistance:
Install cable or tubular cross-ties at each pair of hoops, to create a triangle (when using cables there is no need to put them under tension)
Place wooden or metal support posts under the ridge. These can be suspended from the ridge with no more than ½” ground clearance. This will provide support as soon as there is load and structure movement will not dislodge your supports.
Use closer hoop spacing for the first 12’ section away from another bigger building
Pointers for removing snow:
NEVER remove all the snow from one side and then the other
Remove the snow off the top of your building before using a machine (snow blower, etc) along the sides
Use a padded piece of 1×4 wood on a pole (create a “T” shape) as the best tool for gently bumping the inside of the cover
How to Remove Snow from Your Building
Video: Norm explains the situations where you would need to remove snow from a Greenhouse or Storage Building and how to do it safely
Potential Ice Storm
We are once again in a part of the season where freezing rain is a potential threat.
The freezing rain itself is not the threat, even if there is a lot, since at a certain point, if there is enough ice, it would become self supporting
Where the potential risk comes, if the temperature would fall and the ice would really freeze to the cover, snow would not be able to slide off the structure.
To prevent this from happening, take a few minutes to gently bump the cover to remove the ice.
The critical thing to remember when bumping the cover is to ALWAYS start at the top and work down. This way the lower ice will “protect” the cover when the higher ice is sliding down.
The sooner this process is done, the smaller the job will actually be.
But PLEASE do not go in a compromised structure, you are more important
Good luck!
Winter Storm and Your Structures
Winter Storm & Your Structures
Many areas have been hit with freezing rain today and even though it has generally not been enough to warrant concern for the structures, it is a good time to recap some common things when dealing with ice on buildings.
It is important to note that the ice in itself is not an issue, even a very thick layer actually has enough strength to become self supporting. There are two potential problems though:
- If the ice stays on the building, it usually has a rough enough texture that subsequent snow will not likely slide off. This scenario lead to major problems in previous winters when we had freezing rain, followed by a dump of snow and then we had rain. This can triple the weight on a building in very short order.
- The other potential problem happens when you are attempting to remove the ice from the building. If the ice layer is not too significant you can gently bump the cover from the inside. ALWAYS start bumping the cover from the top. This way ice will slide over ice. Starting from the bottom creates a potential where the ice sliding down will fall back against the building and slash the cover. NEVER do all of one side and then the other. Work both sides simultaneously.
If there is the slightest doubt in your mind about the amount of weight on the building, bump the cover from the outside using something with a long handle.
If in doubt please don’t hesitate to ask.
Winter Storms and Maintenance
With the upcoming storms in both Ontario and the east coast forecasted, we wanted to remind everyone: it’s okay, and even preferred that the buildings have some snow around them.
This prevents the wind from getting under them and it also means that the height above the ground is less. This significantly decreases the aerodynamic lift.
As we’ve stated in our winter care articles and in the installation guide, there are things you can do to prepare your building to withstand the storms as best as possible. Taking extra steps during the ‘worst case scenario’ situations can often make all the difference and help your building stay standing.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about any of these situations. Good luck and stay warm!
Multi Shelter Solutions 