If you have ever wondered whether you should shovel your flat or low-sloped roof, you should consider whether monitoring roof deflection would be of value. For surfaces of as little as 10,000 s.f. the cost of monitoring may well save you significant money over a very short period of time.
Each year more than 3,000 roof collapses - and more than 20 associated deaths - are encountered in the US alone. The cost, recovery time, shipping delays, and lost business associated with a roof collapse can force an otherwise successful business out of business. Without proper safeguards, the incidence of roof collapse is likely to increase in the years ahead.
Why? Live load codes changed from 28 to 35 pounds in 1975, and to 40 pounds in 1982. Many buildings constructed before 1976, therefore, do not meet these basic requirements. Further, these non-conforming conditions are exacerbated when a new roof is applied - especially one with added R-value - or when hanging displays or conveyors are added to the interior trusses.
Even newer buildings can use the DMD-1000 - especially during severe weather. Even though climatological conditions have modified the intensity of storms considerably, none of the building code agencies in the US (BOCA, ICBO, and SBCCI) have updated roof load requirements related to 100, 50, and 20 year storms within the last ten years. So, even if a roof conforms to the most recent codes, it may be in jeopardy during severe storm-loading. Even further, the world's largest liability insurance company, FM Global, has redefined snow and water as dead-loads, further increasing the structural requirements of new buildings. Buildings built as recently as 2006, saw collapse in this past winter. If failure is not an option, you need Safe Roof.
Safe Roof Systems does not increase the load capacity of your roof, but it does serve as an early warning system that alerts you when roof loads are approaching a critical stage. Further, our systems tell you exactly where the problem exists so that you can target your efforts only where needed - saving many thousands of dollars in the process. Having this kind of information will help reduce the incidence of roof collapse in the years ahead.