Many areas in the U.S. have set new records for snowfall since November. Just this week,New England got slammed with an epic, state-of-emergency blizzardthat necessitated the deployment of the National Guard to evacuatea seaside community. Even as the snow stopped falling and the roadsbegan to clear, experts were quick to warn that the threat of roofcollapses would persist as the snows melted.

Yet FEMA was quick to point out that most buildings were not atrisk of “snow induced failure” as long as basic preventativemeasures were taken and there was an accurate assessment of thecapabilities of a structure to withstand a significantsnowfall.

1. An ounce of prevention

Encourage the policyholder to conduct a thorough inspectionbefore the snow begins to fall. Any pre-existing structuralweakness will increase the risk of collapse (and may constitute anexclusion) but may be relatively inexpensive to remedy ifdiscovered early. Look for evidence of historical water ponding andtake action to eliminate its causes. If the building is in ahigh-risk category due to its location or its structural features,it may be worth installing self-regulating heating cables toprevent ice dams from forming.

Estimate how much snow the roof can be expected to bear. Thiswill be determined by the design of the roof, its age andcondition, and its elevation. Much of this information will becontained in the building plans and specifications, but a reportfrom a structural engineer may be required to fill in the gaps.

If the roof is fully or partially shaded, there is a higherchance of ice developing, and if the shade is provided by trees,this risk is compounded by the potential that branches laden withsnow or ice will break off. Remedial action in the fall could savea host of future problems.

Compile an extensive disaster recovery plan and ensure that allof the relevant parties know what to do in the event of a roofcollapse. Draw up a list of useful emergency contacts and ensurethat the insured is fully appraised regarding the hazards that are(and are not) covered by the policy.

2. Be vigilant!

Establish an inspection regime with additional checks followinga period of heavy snowfall or rain. Remember that whenguesstimating the weight of snow the type of snow is as importantas its depth. Densely packed wet snow is around twice as heavy asfresh powder snow, and ice is much heavier than snow.

Although roof collapse can be sudden and catastrophic, there areusually warning signs which if heeded could avert disaster. Doorsor windows may seem stiff and unwieldy under increased stress fromabove. Roof vents may visibly shift from their usual positions andsmall leaks may emanate from the ceiling.

3. Take action

Removing some of the snow building up on a roof will lighten theload and reduce the chance that an ice dam will form. Ideally thisis a job for a professional, but if a business owner decides to doit himself, he must be sure to put safety first. If an employee isto be given this responsibility, the individual must be suitablytrained and provided with safety equipment as required.The Departmentof Labour Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration says that a significant number of employeesare injured or killed every year trying to remove snow from a roof,and there is always the risk that falling snow will injure anemployee or visitor.

4. Proactively manage the hazards

Collapse claims are extremely time sensitive because of theinherent risk of further damage to property or persons. Promptdeterminations on coverage and action to mitigate the damage canexpedite the adjustment process and reduce the overall loss.

Most business property insurance policies cover roof collapse,but not the costs of maintenance such as snow removal and otherloss prevention measures. Yet these costs are likely to besignificantly lower. In high-risk areas and with structures in ahigh-risk category, it may be worthwhile offering an extension tocover remedial maintenance and thereby avoid potentiallycatastrophic losses. Alternatively, incentives could be offered toencourage businesses to take action to reduce their exposure.

After all, the collapse of a roof is likely to cause significantdamage to fixtures, fittings and machinery. It may also result in aprolonged period of business interruption, which can be devastatingto the health and well-being of any business.