Regular roof inspections are a must at schools

The roof of a school building can be a strange and fascinating place. If it is not regularly inspected and cleared, it can become home to Frisbees, balls, debris and other materials. These foreign objects can cause significant problems that could then lead to costly repairs.

Here, we look at some of the most common risks to a property’s roof—and how organizations can take steps to avoid potential insurance claims.

Risks to roofs

Some of the biggest problems school roofs face include:

• Water damage – When leaves, debris and sports equipment become lodged into drains, they can cause water to accumulate on the roof. This leads to leaks and structural damage, which could cause water to enter the inside of the building, leading to exponential damage.
• Mold and mildew growth – Moisture trapped on a roof promotes mold and mildew growth. Not only are mold and mildew hazardous for the roof itself, but can also cause health problems for students and staff.
• Snow accumulation – When heavy snow on the roof melts during the day and then refreezes as temperatures drop overnight, this creates ice dams that can clog roof drains. Falling snow and ice from an overloaded roof can also pose a significant danger to anyone walking close to the school.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning – When snow and ice block vents and chimneys, exhaust gasses can back up into the building, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Slippery conditions –Standing water on a school roof can create slippery conditions. At some point, maintenance workers will need to be on the roof, and the slippery surface could lead to a trip/fall injury.
• Roof damage over time – When water pools on a roof, it can cause roofing materials to deteriorate. This may eventually lead to the need for an expensive roof replacement.

The importance of visual roof inspections

The best way to remedy nearly all the above risks is to conduct regular in-house visual roof inspections at least twice a year—in the spring and in the fall. Additionally, it’s important to inspect drains even more often so clogs can be resolved.

Organizations can perform such inspections either in-house or through a contractor, but they should always include the following actions:

• Checking for signs of damage, such as missing or cracked shingles, curling edges or sagging areas.
• Ensuring gutters and downspouts are attached and working correctly.
• Clearing debris, such as branches and leaves from the roof surface, gutters and drains.
• Inspecting flashings, vents and chimneys for signs of leaks or deterioration.
• Using drain strainers or guards to prevent large objects from entering the drains.
• Checking for signs of water pooling or slow drainage. Pooling water that remains 48 hours after the last rainfall could indicate a blockage.
• Using plumbing snakes to clear out clogs.

Whether organizations choose to perform visual roof inspections in-house or hire a contractor, it’s important they document each inspection, and keep it on file for the life of that specific roof system. This can be completed by a work order system if applicable, or an independent building file established for each roof system.

Reacting to winter weather events

Of course, visual inspections aren’t going to solve the immediate problem of excess snow on the roof during the winter. To remediate these challenges, organizations should:

• Confirm the snow load capacity for the roof system. If that threshold is reached, consider removing snow from the roof or hiring a licensed and insured professional. Inspect the building for sloped/sagging ceilings and stressed windows or door frames. This may be an indicator that the roof structure is placing additional stress on the framing and more snow needs to be removed.
• When removing snow from sidewalks and parking lots, pay close attention to the roof areas nearby, as snow and ice is more likely to fall and drip in these areas.

Click here for more building and grounds risk control tips.