Guttermaster's avalanche proof snow loading bracket has passed the CERAM test at an impressive 140-stone - equivalent of a dozen grown men.
With UK winters seemingly becoming more and more extreme, leading UK Rainwater Goods manufacturer, Guttermaster decided to put their snow loading bracketry to the test at the Staffordshire based testing labs of CERAM.
The snow bracket was originally developed for use in locations such as Aviemore or Snowdonia – but with extreme conditions now reaching into the South East – it has become prudent to specify the high duty fixing as standard, no doubt to the relief of recently overstretched insurance underwriters.
The aim was to test the bracket strength to destruction. The brackets were set up to their maximum span with an empty guttering system then weight was systematically added to simulate the most extreme snow loadings imaginable.
Having long passed the point where a realistic snow loading could deform the brackets, the test went on to establish at what point they could make the system fail.
The amazing outcome was a total weight of 891Kg – that’s over 140 stone to those of us still working in imperial or the same as a 15 foot tall wall of snow.
