case study snow load regions 1

[SLTA]

Okay, folks. In the case where we have a home going to a Case Study snow load zone, I usually call the city or county and talk to their inspector to get the design load. But what do you do when there is no building department?

We're sending a home to Snowshoe, WV, and I've spent over an hour on the phone and web trying to find out the design snow load. I called the resort, the city, the county, the city near there, a realtor in town, a builder in town, the area maintenance guy, and the WV state architect. None of them knew. Really, it shouldn't be this hard.

Does anyone know the design load there for elev 4,000+ ft, or have a contact I could call in or near Snowshoe?

 

[boo1]

I dont have any maps for WV but consider this link for other areas:

http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/snow_load/states.htm

 

[msquared48]

Have you tried the local weather station in one of the larger cities closeby?

Or NOAA?

What about a local structural engineering firm?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[SLTA]

I've tried these, but I'll do a bit more research on NOAA. Good idea, Mike.

 

[steve1]

Our state structural engineering association helped with this study. Although it is for NH there are formulas for calculation of snowload with elevation and a methodology for how the snow loads were developed. It may be of use to you.

http://www.senh.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/tr02-6.pdf