Snow Load Classification

The snow accumulation during the November to March winter period dictates which engineered designs will minimize icicles and ice dam formation. Bylin has defined the roof snow accumulation areas into classes to help determine which Bylin Roof Ice Melt system is relevant to a location.

CLASS AREA 1

Heavy Snow Accumulation

• Greater than 15″ on the roof for a large portion of the winter

• Annual snowfall greater than 100″

• Mountain Areas British Columbia, Northern Idaho, Northern Montana Ski Areas, Canadian Rockies

• Mountain Areas 6,000’+ elevation: California Sierras, Oregon and Washington Cascades, Colorado Rockies, Utah, Sun Valley, Jackson Hole and Big Sky Ski Area

• Lake Effect Areas of Northern Michigan, Northern Ohio and Upstate New York

• New England Resort Areas

CLASS AREA 1

Product Selection Guide

• Patented RIM Eave heating panels (36wt/ft) for ice dam & icicle prevention on roof eaves

• Patented RIM Valley heating panels (24wt/ft) for ice dam prevention in roof valleys

• Self-regulating, SRH (12wt/ft) heating cable for gutters and downspouts

• Custom RIM panels for special roof configurations

• Patented RIM LP heating panels (24wt/ft) for ice dam and icicle prevention on low pitch roof eaves (less then 3/12 roof pitch)

Zig-Zag Heating Cable on roof eaves is not effective in Class 1 Areas.Note the tunnels formed by the zig-zag cable.

Zig-Zag Heating Cable Cold Roof Designs

DO NOT normally eliminate icicles and ice dams in Class 1 Areas

Cold Roof System

CLASS AREA 2

Moderate Snow Accumulation

• Normal accumulation of 6″ to 15″ for significant periods during the winter

• Annual snowfall less than 100″

• Example Areas – Western United States high plains and high desert areas

• Upper Midwest to the East Coast, Nebraska up to North Dakota and across to Pennsylvania up to Massachusetts

CLASS AREA 2

Product Selection Guide

• Patented RIM2 Eave heating panels (16wt/ft) for ice dam and icicle prevention on roof eaves

• Patented RIM2 Valley heating panels (16wt/ft) for ice dam prevention in roof valleys

• Patented RIM2 LP heating panel (16wt/ft) for ice dam and icicle prevention on low pitch roof eaves (less than 3/12 roof pitch)

• Self-regulating, 8wt/ft heating cable for gutters and downspouts

• Self-regulating, 8wt/ft heating cable in zig-zag format for eaves and valleys and straight runs in gutters and downspouts for Class 2 Areas of lesser snow accumulation

CLASS AREA 3

Light Snow Accumulation

• Normal accumulation of less than 6″ throughout the winter

• Annual snowfall less than 30″

• Middle United States, New Mexico up to Eastern Colorado across to North Carolina up to Maryland

CLASS AREA 3

Product Selection Guide

• Self-regulating 8wt/ft heating cable for straight runs in gutters and downspouts