The following information is provided by Nationwide, the No.1 farm and ranch insurer in the U.S.*

When heavy snow meets fierce winds, even the best engineered buildings can collapse. That’s why it’s important to calculate your roof load and be adequately insured for this type of situation.

How snow load can damage your buildings

Snow load is the downward force on a building’s roof by the weight of accumulated snow and ice. The roof or the entire structure can fail if the snow load exceeds the weight the building was designed to shoulder. Or if the building was poorly designed or constructed.

It doesn’t take a blizzard to cause problems. An imbalance of drifting snow can cause one part of a roof to give, causing a domino effect.

How much snow is too much?

Calculating the roof load on your barn takes more than an educated guess. The University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Service says that a ballpark estimate of roof snow load can be made with the following formula:

Calculated Roof Loading (lb/ft2) = Depth (ft) x Density (lb/ft2 /ft depth). The approximate density (lb/ft2 /ft depth) is:

  • 5-20 for light snow
  • 20-40 for packed snow
  • 40-58 for packed snow with ice
  • 58 for ice

For example, a roof with 3 feet of light snow has an estimated roof load of 60 pounds per square foot (3 ft depth X 20 lb/ft2/ft depth density = 60 lb/ft2).

You should know the roof weight limits for your barns and outbuildings. If necessary, rebuild or fortify them to withstand worst-case scenario snow loads and meet local building standards.

Removing snow

Some failures can be prevented with careful snow removal. The University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Service offers the following suggestions:

  • Use caution if standing on the roof, making sure to wear
    a safety harness and use securing ladders.
  • Use a snow rake. Avoid chipping or picking away
    at ice as that may damage the roof.
  • Remove snow in narrow strips to keep the load somewhat even.
  • Leave a thin layer of snow to protect the roof from damage
    while snow is being removed.

Insurance checklist

A few minutes can give you reassurance during a heavy snow winter. Check with your farm or ranch insurance agent to:

  • Confirm that your property insurance covers roof or building failure due to snow load.
  • Make sure the policy pays for actual replacement costs, so you’re not out in the cold if you have to rebuild.
  • Verify that valuable equipment stored in a barn or outbuilding is covered under your farm personal property endorsement.

Learn more about Nationwide.

*A.M. Best Market Share Report 2019. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle, and Nationwide is on your side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.© 2021 Nationwide.

The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
The plan we are on is great. It’s comparable to my previous job's plan, and we are a sole proprietor.
Kevin Holy's avatar
Kevin Holy

Geauga County Farm Bureau

Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
Gretchan Francis's avatar
Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
We really appreciate what Farm Bureau has done to get people interested in this line of work and workforce development and getting people interested in this industry.
Jody Brown Boyd's avatar
Jody Brown Boyd

Brown's Family Farm Market

Finding farm labor
We work terrifically with the Ashtabula County Farm Bureau, hosting at least one to two outreach town hall events every year to educate new farmers and existing farmers on traditional CAUV and woodlands.
David Thomas's avatar
David Thomas

Ashtabula County Auditor

CAUV: Past, present and future
Because we are younger farmers just starting out, Farm Bureau has a lot of good opportunities and resources to help us grow in the future.
Hannah Kiser's avatar
Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau involvement
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
Chad Ruhl's avatar
Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Select Partner Program
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
Suggested Tags: