Adhesive Mounted Snow Guard Layout Design
In areas with high winter precipitation, the accumulation of snow and ice on shiny painted metal roofs can create very dangerous avalanche conditions. A properly installed snow retention system can mitigate this condition. Our approach to proper placement includes full patterns of snow guards across the entire roof surface to prevent snow and ice from moving in the first place. When frozen precipitation loses its footing on the metal roof and begins to slide down the slope, it destroys anything in its path. Snow guards just placed along the edges of eaves do not always adequately protect against this dangerous condition. The even distribution of snow loads ensures the long-term integrity of the structure itself, the metal roof, and the snow retention system. Snow guards installed on partial roof sections, such as just over doorways or roof stacks, are not recommended. Select a pitch below for a general guideline. Snow guards must be installed on all upper roof surfaces before they are attached to a lower roof. Use this page only as a quick reference guide for estimating the amount and placement of snow retention devices on roofs with ground snow loads up to 45 PSF. Always consult an architect or engineer for recommended snow guard placement for your project. This snow retention placement guideline does not take into account snow shadows, snowdrifts, or unusual conditions.. If your ground snow load exceeds 45 PSF, please fill out our Quote Request Form for the heavy-duty SnoBar and ColorBar systems.
Pick Your Roof Pitch
1/12–2/12 Roof Pitch
Eave Strut: horizontal beams that are installed between the roof rafters or trusses and the top plate of the exterior wall.
Panel: valley width up to 16 inches.
Pitch: 1/12 to 2/12 pitch.
Layout: 1 snow guard per panel flat, staggered a foot apart
Snow load: Up to 45 PSF ground snow load.
Spacing: staggered row of snow guards are to be placed every 15 feet going up the roof.
Starting at 1 and 2 feet from the bottom edge, place a snow guard in the center of each valley, in a staggered pattern, across the entire roof area. Go up the roof 14 and 15 feet and repeat the staggered pattern of guards using the same staggered pattern as below. Do not exceed 15 feet vertically between rows of guards. For Example: if your roof sheets are 30 feet long, your roof would require a row at 1 and 2 feet from the bottom and at 14 and 15 feet up from the bottom. All upper roof areas must have snow retention installed before installing snow guards on a lower roof. When possible, always attempt to divide the roof areas into equal sections, with equal distance between rows, without exceeding the manufacturer maximum placement guidelines. For panels wider than 16", please scroll down to see the next drawing below. Never isolate areas of snow guards such as just over doorways or vent pipes.
1/12 - 2/12 Roof Pitch
Eave Strut: Horizontal beams that are installed between the roof rafters or trusses and the top plate of the exterior wall.
Panel: Valley width between 17 inches and 24 inches.
Pitch: 1/12 to 2/12 pitch.
Layout: 2 snow guards per panel flat, staggered a foot apart.
Snow load: Up to 45 PSF ground snow load.
Spacing: staggered row of snow guards are to be placed every 15 feet going up the roof.
Starting at 1 and 2 feet from the bottom edge, place 2 snow guards equally spaced apart in the valley, in a staggered pattern, across the entire roof area. Go up the roof 14 and 15 feet and repeat the staggered pattern of guards using the same staggered pattern as below. Do not exceed 15 feet vertically between rows of guards. For Example: if your roof sheets are 30 feet long, your roof would require a row at 1 and 2 feet from the bottom and at 14 and 15 feet up from the bottom. All upper roof areas must have snow retention installed before installing snow guards on a lower roof. When possible, always attempt to divide the roof areas into equal sections, with equal distance between rows, without exceeding the manufacturer maximum placement guidelines. Never isolate areas of snow guards such as just over doorways or vent pipes.
3/12 - 4/12 Roof Pitch
Eave Strut: Horizontal beams that are installed between the roof rafters or trusses and the top plate of the exterior wall.
Panel: Valley width up to 16 inches.
Pitch: 3/12 up to 4/12 pitch.
Layout: 1 snow guard per panel flat, staggered a foot apart.
Snow load: Up to 45 PSF ground snow load.
Spacing: staggered row of snow guards are to be placed every 10 feet going up the roof.
Starting at 1 and 2 feet from the bottom edge, place a snow guard in the center of each valley, in a staggered pattern, across the entire roof area. Go up the roof 9 and 10 feet and repeat the staggered pattern of guards using the same staggered pattern as below. Do not exceed 10 feet vertically between rows of guards. For Example: if your roof sheets are 20 feet long, your roof would require a row at 1 and 2 feet from the bottom and at 9 and 10 feet up from the bottom. All upper roof areas must have snow retention installed before installing snow guards on a lower roof. When possible, always attempt to divide the roof areas into equal sections, with equal distance between rows, without exceeding the manufacturer maximum placement guidelines. For panels wider than 16", please scroll down to see the next drawing below. Never isolate areas of snow guards such as just over doorways or vent pipes.
3/12 - 4/12 Roof Pitch
Eave Strut: Horizontal beams that are installed between the roof rafters or trusses and the top plate of the exterior wall.
Panel: Valley width between 17 inches and 24 inches
Pitch: 3/12 up to 4/12 pitch.
Layout: 2 snow guards per panel flat, staggered one foot apart.
Snow load: Up to 45 PSF ground snow load.
Spacing: staggered row of snow guards are to be placed every 10 feet going up the roof.
Starting at 1 and 2 feet from the bottom edge, place 2 snow guards equally spaced apart in the valley, in a staggered pattern, across the entire roof area. Go up the roof 9 and 10 feet and repeat the staggered pattern of guards using the same staggered pattern as below. Do not exceed 10 feet vertically between rows of guards. For Example: if your roof sheets are 20 feet long, your roof would require a row at 1 and 2 feet from the bottom and at 9 and 10 feet up from the bottom. All upper roof areas must have snow retention installed before installing snow guards on a lower roof. When possible, always attempt to divide the roof areas into equal sections, with equal distance between rows, without exceeding the manufacturer maximum placement guidelines. Never isolate areas of snow guards such as just over doorways or vent pipes.
5/12 - 6/12 Roof Pitch
Eave Strut: Horizontal beams that are installed between the roof rafters or trusses and the top plate of the exterior wall.
Panel: Valley width up to 16 inches.
Pitch: 5/12 up to 6/12 pitch.
Layout: 1 snow guard per panel flat, staggered 6" apart.
Snow load: Up to 45 PSF ground snow load.
Spacing: staggered row of snow guards are to be placed every 8 feet going up the roof.
Starting at 6 inches and 1 foot from the bottom edge, place a snow guard in the center of each valley, in a staggered pattern, across the entire roof area. Go up the roof 7 and 8 feet and repeat the staggered pattern of guards using the same staggered pattern as below. Do not exceed 8 feet vertically between rows of guards. For Example: if your roof sheets are 16 feet long, your roof would require a row at 6 inches and 1 foot from the bottom and at 7 and 8 feet up from the bottom. All upper roof areas must have snow retention installed before installing snow guards on a lower roof. When possible, always attempt to divide the roof areas into equal sections, with equal distance between rows, without exceeding the manufacturer maximum placement guidelines. For panels wider than 16", please scroll down to see the next drawing below. Never isolate areas of snow guards such as just over doorways or vent pipes.
5/12 - 6/12 Roof Pitch
Eave Strut: Horizontal beams that are installed between the roof rafters or trusses and the top plate of the exterior wall.
Panel: Valley width between 17 inches and 24 inches
Pitch: 5/12 up to 6/12 pitch. Layout: 2 snow guards per panel flat, staggered 6" apart.
Snow load: Up to 45 PSF ground snow load.
Spacing: staggered row of snow guards are to be placed every 8 feet going up the roof.
Starting at 6 inches and 1 foot from the bottom edge, place 2 snow guards equally spaced apart in the valley, in a staggered pattern, across the entire roof area. Go up the roof 7'6" and 8 feet and repeat the staggered pattern of guards using the same staggered pattern as below. Do not exceed 8 feet vertically between rows of guards. For Example: if your roof sheets are 16 feet long, your roof would need a row at 6 inches and 1 foot from the bottom and at 7'6" and 8 feet up from the bottom. All upper roof areas must have snow retention installed before installing snow guards on a lower roof. When possible, always attempt to divide the roof areas into equal sections, with equal distance between rows, without exceeding the manufacturer maximum placement guidelines. Never isolate areas of snow guards such as just over doorways or vent pipes. Never isolate areas of snow guards such as just over doorways or vent pipes.
7/12 - 12/12 Roof Pitch
Eave Strut: Horizontal beams that are installed between the roof rafters or trusses and the top plate of the exterior wall.
Panel: Valley width up to 16 inches.
Pitch: 7/12 up to 12/12 pitch.
Layout: 1 snow guard per panel flat, staggered 6" apart.
Snow load: Up to 45 PSF ground snow load.
Spacing: staggered row of snow guards are to be placed every 5 feet going up the roof.
Starting at 6 inches and 1 foot from the bottom edge, place a snow guard in the center of each valley, in a staggered pattern, across the entire roof area. Go up the roof 4'6" and 5' and repeat the staggered pattern of guards using the same staggered pattern as below. Do not exceed 5 feet vertically between rows of guards. For Example: if your roof sheets are 10 feet long, your roof would require a row at 6 inches and 1 foot from the bottom and at 4'6" and 5' feet up from the bottom. All upper roof areas must have snow retention installed before installing snow guards on a lower roof. When possible, always attempt to divide the roof areas into equal sections, with equal distance between rows, without exceeding the manufacturer maximum placement guidelines. For panels wider than 16", please scroll down to see the next drawing below. Never isolate areas of snow guards such as just over doorways or vent pipes.
7/12 - 12/12 Roof Pitch
Eave Strut: Horizontal beams that are installed between the roof rafters or trusses and the top plate of the exterior wall.
Panel: Valley width between 17 inches and 24 inches
Pitch: 7/12 up to 12/12 pitch. Layout: 2 snow guards per panel flat, staggered 6" apart.
Snow load: Up to 45 PSF ground snow load.
Spacing: staggered row of snow guards are to be placed every 5 feet going up the roof.
Starting at 6 inches and 1 foot from the bottom edge, place 2 snow guards equally spaced apart in the valley, in a staggered pattern, across the entire roof area. Go up the roof 4'6" and 5' and repeat the staggered pattern of guards using the same staggered pattern as below. Do not exceed 5 feet vertically between rows of guards. For Example: if your roof sheets are 10 feet long, your roof would require a row at 6 inches and 1 foot from the bottom and at 4'6" and 5 feet up from the bottom. All upper roof areas must have snow retention installed before installing snow guards on a lower roof. When possible, always attempt to divide the roof areas into equal sections, with equal distance between rows, without exceeding the manufacturer maximum placement guidelines. Never isolate areas of snow guards such as just over doorways or vent pipes.
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Disclaimer
This page may be used only for the purpose of developing plans, specifications and/or approval drawings for construction projects utilizing only IceBlox, Inc. manufactured or distributed products and components. It is to be used only as a quick reference for estimating snow guard quantities and placement on roofs with less than 45 PSF ground snow load.
IceBlox Inc., d.b.a SnoBlox-Snojax, referred to hereafter as IceBlox, Inc., or any subsidiary brands or companies, is not responsible for estimates or purchases resulting from the erroneous or improper use of this page or snowguardspacingtool.com.
The user shall determine the suitability of the product for its intended use and assume all risks of its use or handling. In regard to spacing guidelines, quotations and or layouts, IceBlox, Inc. will not be held liable for incorrect material quantities not recommended on snowguardspacingtool.com, metalroofsnowguards.com and/or SnoBlox-Snojax.com
