Roofs Didn’t Fail, Standards Failed

Let’s pretend.

Let’s imagine that the stands in the Sandpoint High gymnasium were packed with fans Dec. 30 when heavy snow caused the roof to collapse. Or that the Lake City Gymnastics building in Coeur d’Alene was jammed with cartwheeling youngsters Dec. 24 when it caved in.

Would we be quibbling now whether building standards for Idaho Panhandle roofs are adequate? No way. County commissioners would be rushing at breakneck speed to ensure that roofs could withstand heavier snow loads.

Fortunately, those buildings were empty when their roofs gave way. So, we dismissed the near misses with comments similar to the one maintenance director Sid Rayfield made after seeing the ruined high school gym: “We are just thankful no one was in the building.”

Before we return to business as usual, however, we have to ask ourselves: How long will our luck hold out? In most cases, North Idaho’s 30 or so failed roofs met code. The regulations should be upgraded.

Currently, North Idaho regulators require roofs to be sturdy enough to handle 40 pounds of snow and ice per square foot. The standard is based on a 15-year-old study that suggests only one winter in 50 is likely to produce enough moisture to produce that much weight.

This winter certainly snowed and stormed enough to exceed that guideline - and the winter of 1992-93, 1985-86 and 1973-74 probably did, too. That says something about the study. It also says something about the contractors and regulators who oppose a stiffer standard.

In Kootenai County, for example, building chief Dave Daniel is cautioning against a “knee-jerk” reaction to the roof collapses. He sees no evidence for stiffer rules, although he admits parts of his county consistently have snow buildups that exceed 40 pounds per square foot.

Daniel’s remedy for snow buildup? Grab a shovel and climb on the roof. Never mind that it isn’t that easy for senior citizens, the handicapped and others.

Or that the cost of building stronger roofs is negligible.

While Daniel and others stick their heads in the sand, Bonner County building inspector Bob Garrison is calling for a load standard nearly double the current one. If Bonner County school roofs had been built to that standard, the district wouldn’t be facing a $200,000 repair bill now.

As is, the district’s lucky not to be fighting a liability lawsuit.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = D.F. Oliveria/For the editorial board