Background Information for EN 13031-2: Greenhouses open to the public

Dr.-Ing. I. Pertermann, IB Puthli, Schüttorf & Prof. Dr.-Ing. R. Puthli, KIT Karlsruhe, October 25, 20230

A Review of the Eurocode

and the need for EN 13031-2: Greenhouses open to the public

Existing Eurocode: EN 1991-1-3: 2003: Snow Loads

In “5.2 Load arrangements” it is said:

“(8) The thermal coefficient Ct should be used to account for the reduction of snow loads on
roofs with high thermal transmittance (> 1 W/m2K), in particular for some glass covered roofs,
because of melting caused by heat loss.

For all other cases: Ct =1,0

NOTE 1: Based on the thermal insulating properties of the material and the shape of the
construction work, the use of a reduced Ct value may be permitted through the National Annex.

NOTE 2: Further guidance may be obtained from ISO 4355.”

Future Eurocode: FprEN 1991-1-3: 2020 (Final Draft): Snow Loads

In “7.4 Thermal coefficient” it is said:

“(1) The thermal coefficient Ct should be specified.

NOTE: For cases other than those described in (2) and (3), the value of Ct is 1,0, unless the
National Annex gives a different value for use in a country.

(2) For locations where the heat transfer through the roof and the duration of the snow load is
long enough to melt significant parts of the snow cover, the thermal coefficient Ct may be
reduced for roofs with high thermal transmittance (> 1 W/m2K, e.g. greenhouses and some
glass covered roofs), due to melting caused by heat transfer.

NOTE 1: Locations where the duration of the snow load is long enough can be selected on the
basis of the characteristic ground snow load greater than a threshold value sk,min. sk,min is 1,5
kN/m2, unless the National Annex gives a different value for use in a country.

NOTE 2: Based on the thermal insulation properties of the roof and the geometry of the
construction work, a reduced Ct value below 1,0 can be given in the National Annex for use in
a country.

(3) An adequate meltwater draining system should be arranged where Ct is reduced below 1,0.”
 Discussion

In comparison to the existing Eurocode, not changed or improved is the following:

• Reduced values for Ct can only be given (may only be permitted) in the National
Annex. This was and remains not sufficient.
In comparison to the existing Eurocode, the following has been changed:
• Improved:
I. Paragraph (3) added with reference to meltwater draining.
II. Examples specified: “e.g. greenhouses and some glass covered roofs”.
• Not improved but impaired:
1. Removal of reference to ISO 4355.
2. Duration of the snow load as a separate condition to the melting of significant parts
of the snow cover.
3. Threshold value for characteristic ground snow load: sk,min = 1,5 kN/m2; only the
National Annex may change the value.
Comment 1 (to 1.): ISO 4355 may not be sufficient to estimate suitable thermal coefficients Ct
with limits for their application, but it is an important reference with more information than the
Eurocode can offer. The shortcomings and mistakes of the regulations according to ISO 4355,
Annex D are commented on the website https: // www. greenhousecodes. com.
Comment 2 (to 2.): Snow does not melt only after a significant snow cover has accumulated.
Also, a long duration of such a snow cover is not necessary. As every owner of a greenhouse
knows, if the roof surface is warm, the snow melting begins during snowfall. It depends on the
ratio of snowfall rate to melt rate above the roof surface, whether a snow cover can accumulate
or not, see Model Snowmelt.pdf. The ratio of snowfall rate to melt rate is decisive, not the
height and duration of the roof snow cover alone. Snow accumulates on cold roof surfaces only
(qs,e << 0,01°C), on warmer roof surfaces snow melts. However, if the roof surface is colder,
very small snow heights of 5 cm to 10 cm fresh snow are sufficient, to change the heat transfer
until melt conditions are reached, see Background Snow EN 13031 Part I - Melting.pdf. The
required conditions for the application of the thermal coefficient Ct according to ISO 4355,
Annex D are given in: Comments to ISO 4355-2013 Part II.pdf.
Comment 3 (to 3.): Therefore, 1,5 kN/m2 is not a threshold value for roof snow melting, but
only the smallest ground snow load in Norway, where the first statistical evaluation for the
thermal coefficient Ct according to ISO 4355, Annex D has been carried out (Sandvik, 1988).
Later, Sweden carried out another statistical evaluation with their lowest ground snow load of
1,0 kN/m2 (Dahlberg et.al., 1988). For other calculation methods of the thermal coefficient
according to ISO 4355, Annex F (e.g. used by AIJ Japan), no such threshold value applies.

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Limits have to be estimated individually depending on climate (snowfall rate) and thermal
conditions of the roof (melt rate).
Comment 4 (to 3.): Not the ground snow load should be limited, but the roof snow load.
Otherwise inconsistencies are introduced. As an example, for a heated greenhouse (qi = +18°C
and DT = 18 K) in a garden centre, laminated safety glass can be used with Uo ≥ 4,177 W/m2K.
For a location with sk = 1,5 kN/m2, the thermal coefficient according to ISO 4355, Annex D
would be: Ct = 1 - 0,054 (sk/3,5)1/4 * (18 - 5) = 0,432. The roof snow load would be calculated
based on 1,5 * 0,432 = 0,648 kN/m2. For another location with sk = 1,499 kN/m2 (99,93% of
1,5) the thermal coefficient would be Ct = 1 with 231% increase of the roof snow load. This is
a large leap.
Note: An example of how to avoid inconsistencies is given by Finland. It defines a characteristic
minimum ground snow load min sk,50 (= min s0) = 0,5 kN/m2 for all cases, but with and without
taking Ct into account, see SFS-EN 1991-1-3/NA, chapter 5.2(8). However, this regulation is
also somewhat confusing, because the roof snow melts, not the ground snow. Also, the note,
how to use min sk (to compare with sk * Ct) might be misunderstood or overlooked.

Conclusions for EN 13031-2

To avoid such inconsistencies and large leaps, threshold values for the reduced roof snow load
should be given, as in the National Annex to EN 1991-1-3 of some Scandinavian countries
(going back to NS 3491-3) and based on that, in the Euronorm for greenhouses EN 13031.
For greenhouses according to EN 13031-1:2019 a limit value for the reduced roof snow load
exists: min si,n,t = 0,25 kN/m2. Under controlled heating operation with qi = +18°C (DT = 18 K),
in commercial production greenhouses (reference period of n = 15 years: fs(n) = 0,8374
according to Gumbel) with high thermal transmittance Uo ≥ 4,177 W/m2K (most transparent
roofs), this refers to a characteristic ground snow load of min sk,50 = 0,67177 kN/m2. For the
ground snow load adapted to a return period of 15 years sk,15 = 0,56254 kN/m2, the thermal
coefficient would be Ct = 0,5555 (value for max DT = 18 K and max Uo = 4,177 W/m2K).
However, for other values of DT or Uo, other ground snow loads would result. Therefore, not
ground snow loads, but roof snow loads after reduction should be limited (threshold values).
For sales greenhouses in Germany according to DINV 11535-1:1998, reduced roof snow loads
of si,t = 0,75 kN/m2 were used since 1958. This refers to a characteristic ground snow load of
sk,50 = 0,9375 kN/m2. No problems are recorded by the insurance. Germany has ground snow
loads from 0,65 kN/m2 up to 16,875 kN/m2 (SLZ 3a; A = 1500 m ü.NHN). Therefore, in
locations with roof snow loads smaller than 0,75 kN/m2, these are used and not 0,75 kN/m2.
This is the case in 80% of the German territory (SLZ 1, 1a and 2 with characteristic ground

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snow loads lower than 1,1 kN/m2 and Altitudes A < 400 m). These lower ground snow loads
correlate slightly with lower snowfall rates up to 40 cm per day and snowfall durations of up to
12 hours with varying intensities on not more than 3 consecutive days. In the mountainous and
Alpine region (SLZ 2a, 3 and 3a) higher snowfall rates are possible with longer durations. These
experiences and data are used for the regulations in EN 13031-2, where threshold values for
reduced roof snow loads min s1,t are suggested as follows:
In EN 13031-2, 5.1 Snow actions, General:
“(4) In case of Ct < 1 a lower limit for the reduced snow load on the roof min s1,t shall be
observed as a reserve. The National Annex should specify values.
NOTE Minimum roof snow loads can be defined nationally according to the required level of
robustness, depending on snowfall rates, heating, maintenance service and previous practical
experience, e.g. min s1,t = 0,5 kN/m2 for moderate snowfall rates and 24 h emergency heating
repair or min s1,t = 0,75 kN/m2 for higher snowfall rates.”

Concluding remarks
All these comments were provided in time (December 2019) in the CEN conform “Template
for comments and secretariate observations” to the National Mirror Group for EN 1991-1-3
(CEN-TC 250) after being asked for comments to prepare the German comments for the CEN
inquiry. However, outside of CEN-TC 284, one might have a different agenda (simplification
instead of differentiation; “safety” instead of reliability with calculated risk). Until now no
information was provided, which comments have been used, which comments have been altered
and which have not been used. Therefore, one might expect, that only simpler comments, which
lead to larger roof snow loads or more feel-good “safety” may have been used, not comments
concerning the scientific background, consistency, differentiation or a more economical design.
Knowing this, the CEN-TC 250-working group PT SC1.T2 Snow Loads (P. Formici) was also
contacted directly, to offer assistance and send the comments in the name of the CEN-TC 284
greenhouse group. Per phone there was agreement, but later maybe only comments from the
National Mirror Groups were considered. Al a later state, comments to the background were
not allowed. At the end, the CEN-TC 284 comments to the use of the thermal coefficient Ct
went around in a full circle, but without effect.
Therefore, a Part 2: Greenhouses open to the public for EN 13031:
Greenhouses will be necessary; also, for the future after the publication of the
second generation of the Eurocode.
To support people interested in background information, a series of “Comments to prEN 1991-
3” including background will be published on the website (English page) on https: // www.
greenhousecodes. com. On the German page of the same website there is already a series
“Neues aus der Schneelastnormung” with a translation of comments and background. On the
English page, at the moment, the background and information are only available in the series
of Background Documents Snow to EN 13031, Part I, II-0, II-1, II-2 and II-3, which may not
be read by people not interested in greenhouses.
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References:

- EN 1991-1-3: Actions on structures – Part 1-3: General actions – Snow loads.

- FprEN 1991-1-3: 2020: Actions on structures – Part 1-3: General actions – Snow loads
(Final Draft).
- Finland: Annex 4: National Annex to SFS-EN 1991-1-3: 2003: Eurocode 1: Actions on
structures Part 1-3: General actions – Snow loads.
- NS 3491-3: Prosjektering av konstruksjonar, Dimensjonerande laster, Del 3: Snolaster.
- ISO 4355:2013: Bases for design of structures – Determination of snow loads on roofs.
- ISO 4355:1998: Bases for design of structures – Determination of snow loads on roofs.
- EN 13031-1:2019: Greenhouses – Design and construction – Part 1: Commercial
production greenhouses.
- DINV 11535-1:1998: Gewächshäuser Teil 1: Ausführung und Berechnung.
- Sandvik, Rune (1988): Calculation of Maximum Snow Load on Roofs with High Thermal
Transmittance. Proceedings of the first International Conference on Snow Engineering,
Cold Regions Research & Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), Report 89-6, pp. 317-324.
- Dahlberg, M., Hansson, L., Lindt, T. (1988): Snålast Pa Glastak. Examensarbete, Lund
Institute of Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Sweden.
- Available in free access on https: // www. greenhousecodes. com:
• Background Snow EN 13031 Part I: Melting.pdf
• Background Snow EN 13031 Part II-0: Sliding and Drift.pdf
• Comments to ISO-4355-2013 Part I: The use of the thermal coefficient Ct for large
roofs.pdf
• Comments to ISO 4355-2013 Part II: Critical review of the limits of the thermal
coefficient Ct.pdf
• Comments to ISO 4355-2013 Part III: Influence of the roof angle on the thermal
coefficient Ct.pdf