Your roof is designed to handle northwest weather events like snow, ice and rain, but it’s important to know what a roof overload looks like in case it happens to your building. FEMA has identified the following warning signs that overstressed roofs might exhibit:

  • Sagging ceiling tiles or boards
  • Ceiling boards falling out of the ceiling grid
  • Sagging sprinkler lines and heads
  • Sprinkler heads deflecting below suspended ceilings
  • Popping, cracking, and creaking noises
  • Sagging roof members, including metal decking or plywood sheathing
  • Bowing truss bottom chords or web members
  • Doors and/or windows that can no longer be opened or closed
  • Cracked or split wood members
  • Cracks in walls or masonry
  • Severe roof leaks
  • Excessive accumulation of water at non-drainage locations on low slope roofs

If any of these warning signs are observed, the building should be promptly evacuated and a qualified design professional should be contacted to perform a detailed structural inspection.