Minnesota Roof Collapse

Does anyone know what kind of roofing material was employed. News stories imply that a plastic tarp material may have been used. Given the snow was 17 inches deep, and assuming that 1 in. of rain is equivalent to 10 in. of snow by weight, the load was 8.84#/sq.ft. on a uniform basis. Drifting by wind etc. would change these numbers dramatically. I am sure that the designers utilized all kinds of safety factors, because of the human element, plus acccounting for the worst snows in the areas history.

I heard a tv announcer refer to it as a Teflon roof, but what do they know. They normally remove the snow on it, but I guess the winds were too strong to allow anyone up there. I don't know how they remove it, a shovel would scare me. I think I could be careful enough not to damage the fabric with a shovel, but it would be too big to do by myself and I wouldn't risk having a bunch other guys up there knowing one wrong scoop and the fabric tears.

Me again. We had a rough winter here in south/central PA. 95/96 Roofs caving in. new , old, metal, shingles, didn't matter. The weight did them in. Even happened at my office. Creeking got my attention. Listen & hearing again. I bailed. Left my boss a note to sit & listen. He did. Inspected the ceiling & the main frame had given under pressure. Spent the next 2 weeks in the garage with coat & kerosone heater on as he renewed the office. Did a nice job by the way. Bitch at the time but funny memory now. PC

17 inches is not a remarkable amount in Minnesota

I guess that as just like the old "Silver Dome" in Detroit. Some type of fibreglas re-enforced fabric and it is all supported by air. I am sure they had the blowers going as fast as they could, but once the top started to sag, there was no way to overcome the weight. I saw some pictures of men on the roof shoveling snow off, but it was too little too late. How would you have liked to be under that snow when it crashed down?