When must the roof be cleared and who is responsible for icicles?

Who is responsible for snow and icicles on the roof?

The property owner is responsible for removing snow and ice that could fall from the roof. This is set out in Chapter 3, Section 3 of the Public Order Act, which states that snow and ice that could fall and injure people or damage property on a street or other public place must be removed without undue delay. Warning signs and barriers are only temporary measures while waiting for the roof to be cleared; they do not release the owner from the responsibility.

In a housing cooperative (BRF), the board carries the property owner's responsibility, even if the work is ordered from a contractor. For rental properties, the responsibility lies with the property company or property manager. A homeowner is responsible for their own roof, both for what could fall towards the street and for what threatens their own driveway and entrance.

How much does the snow on the roof weigh?

The weight of snow is determined by how wet it is, not by how deep it lies. Fresh powder snow weighs around 100 kg per cubic metre, while wet snow that has been packed or rained on weighs 300–400 kg per cubic metre. A 30-centimetre layer of wet snow on a 100-square-metre roof can therefore weigh 9–12 tonnes.

In Stockholm the risk is greatest in January and February, when snowfall is followed by thaw and rain and the layer soaks up water. Roofs built to current standards can handle a normal snow load, but older outbuildings, carports, greenhouses and extensions with flat roofs often have a smaller margin.

Which signs show that the roof needs clearing?

The roof needs clearing when any of the following can be seen or heard.

• Icicles at the eaves or by the gutters, which show that the snow is melting and refreezing.
• Snow that has started to slide over the eaves or has fallen off in one place and is still lying in another.
• Creaking or cracking sounds from the roof trusses and attic floor, especially at night when it gets colder.
• Doors and windows on the upper floor that suddenly jam, a sign that the frame is under load.
• Visible sagging on flat roofs, or water collecting in pools instead of draining off.
• A snow layer of more than 30–40 centimetres of wet snow, or more than 50 centimetres of lighter snow.

How do you clear a roof safely?

Roof clearing is work at height with a fall risk and requires fall protection, the right tools and at least two people. Most serious accidents happen when someone clears a roof alone, stands on a ladder or goes out onto a roof without a harness.

• Use a harness and rope attached to approved anchor points, never to a chimney or gutter.
• Never clear a roof alone. One person should always be on the ground keeping others out of the fall zone.
• Cordon off the ground below the eaves before you start; snow can fall several metres out from the facade.
• Use a plastic shovel or roof rake, not metal, which scratches sheet metal and damages felt and tiles.
• Leave a thin layer of 5–10 centimetres so the shovel does not reach the roof surface.
• Clear evenly from both sides of the ridge so the roof is not loaded unevenly.
• Leave icicles and ice at the eaves to someone with the right equipment; they are often frozen to the gutter.

Are flat roofs different from steep metal roofs?

Yes, the two roof types carry completely different risks. Flat roofs and low-pitched roofs hold all the snow that falls, so there the snow load is the problem. The snow should be cleared when the layer becomes thick and wet, and drains and outlets must be kept clear so meltwater does not collect in pools that freeze into heavy layers of ice.

Steep metal roofs instead release snow in slides, often suddenly when the sun warms the sheet metal on a day in February or March. There it is the risk of snow sliding onto the street and entrance that matters, and snow guards above entrances and walkways are a requirement in many municipalities.

How does Service Plus help with roof clearing and icicles?

Service Plus Stockholm AB clears roofs and removes icicles throughout Greater Stockholm, for homeowners and on winter contracts for housing cooperatives, property companies and joint property associations. Our snow specialist Skottis assesses the roof on site, works with fall protection and cordons in line with current rules and documents every visit so the board or owner can show that the responsibility was met. The scope depends on the roof's size, pitch, height and access, and on how much snow and ice is lying there. Service Plus provides a free quote and replies to enquiries within 24 hours.