Probabilistic models of snow loads on structures

Abstract Snow loads provide the governing load requirements for the structural design of roofs in many northern climates or mountainous regions. Current design practice in North America and Europe is to calculate the roof snow load as the product of a ground load and a dimensionless ground-to-roof conversion factor. Both parameters are random variables, and appropriate fractiles of their distributions must be determined for use in design codes. Statistical data are presented on the ground snow obtained from analysis of climatological data, and on ground-to-roof conversion factors measured by surveys of snow accumulation on roofs.