Snow Guard / Retention Row Layout

The other side of sliding snow: keeping it on the roof instead of catching it below. Vector force = snow load x sin(roof angle), times the rafter length above the row; guards per foot = force x safety factor / the guard's TESTED capacity. 40 psf on a 4:12 with a 30-ft rafter pushes 379 lb per foot of eave - 61 guards at 7.9 in on center over a 40-ft eave with 500-lb clamps at a 2.0 factor. No capacity is shipped: it must come from the manufacturer's test data for your exact panel and seam.

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Formula and source

vector force (psf) = roof snow load x sin(roof angle); force per ft of eave = vector force x rafter (slope) length; guards per ft = force x safety factor / tested guard capacity; spacing = 12 / guards per ft.

Manufacturer snow-retention design method (roof snow x sine of the roof angle, times rafter length and tributary width), by name - not a code section.

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