Although there's little snow on the ground at the moment, winter is far from over, and many people are wondering when it's time to clear their roofs of snow.

Several factors need to be taken into account, such as the date of construction, the type of infrastructure and the type of precipitation.

Here's what you need to remember: 

Quebec roofs can withstand a lot

In Quebec, building regulations require that roofs be designed to withstand 70 centimetres of fresh snow. Beware, however, because if a significant layer of ice forms, the roof may have to be cleared before this threshold is reached. A roof can support up to 15 cm of ice.

You also need to consider the surface area and type of infrastructure. A garden shed will not be as resistant as a house.

For the past 30 years, buildings have been constructed according to the region and normal loads. 

How do you know if the load is too heavy?

You can look for various signs on the structure. For example, cracks in a plasterboard wall, dents in the ceiling or doors that don't close as well are good indicators that it's time to get on your roof to clear the snow.

Safety first

Of course, you need to be careful, and the CNESST has some safety tips.

- Whenever possible, clear snow from the ground to avoid falls, or from a safe ladder.

- Where ground layout permits, use a personal hoist.

- Use guardrails whenever there is a risk of falling more than 3 m (10 ft).

- Wear personal fall protection equipment consisting of a safety harness and lanyard.

- Identify the snow dumping area on the ground and prohibit access to it.

- Take measures to prevent burial hazards associated with certain types of sloping roofs with smooth covering (sheet metal) and temporary canvas shelters.

- Remove snow from the top to the bottom of the roof.

- Use a roof rake to clear snow from temporary shelters. Never clear snow by pushing the canvas from the inside, as this may cause the shelter to collapse on the worker.