Typical snow loads in the United States range from zero in areas such as Florida and Southern California to 100 psf in northern Maine to up to 400 psf in some locations in Alaska. Drifting and sliding snow can increase these loads.
significantly. Snow loads for collector racks are affected by local siting-whether they are in an exposed area where wind will readily blow snow off, or they are in a sheltered area where the snow is unlikely to be blown away.
Due to their filled weight, ICS and thermosyphon systems may be subjected to significant earthquake loads Consideration of earthquakes is specific to portions of California, as well as Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Evaluating the effects of these loads is complex and should involve professional engineering.