A predictive monitoring system for a roof is a set of sensors that detect how much pressure there is on your roof, typically from snow, so you can determine the risk of damage and when to make repairs. Here are three facts about predictive monitoring.

1. Variability

Predictive monitoring can be tricky to set up because every roof is unique. The construction, angle, shape and height of your roof all come into play. So too do the area in which you live, surrounding foliage and the climate and weather. Understanding the type of roof you have, the environmental factors of the area in which you live or work and other aspects of roofing such as what types of materials your roof is made of encompass the first step of determining the best type of predictive monitoring system you should use. Because most roof variables are still going to be stable over time, you can choose one predictive monitoring that would be most effective for that type of roof. On the other hand, environmental factors can change quickly or slowly, so you need to make sure your predictive monitoring system is able to compensate for those changing variables.

2. Infrared Systems

An infrared system is one of the more complicated systems to set up and use, but it’s also one of the most effective. Infrared systems are particularly powerful, being able to uncover water that leaks into a building, rather than just monitoring pressure on the roof. This type of monitoring system produces a grayscale image, with each variation in gray representing a different temperature. As areas that remain warmer for longer periods of time are more likely to be retaining water or be under pressure, the system can be taught to recognize these areas and report them for checkups and maintenance.

3. Common Areas To Monitor

There are a few common places on a roof where you can utilize predictive monitoring. Under-roof and on-roof are both set up somewhere on the roof itself. Under-roof monitoring usually measures pressure physically, while on-roof setups typically use some kind of visual monitoring system like infrared photography. Aerial monitoring and elevated vantage point monitoring are efficient but require a high angle that may not be possible to achieve depending on the surrounding geography. 

Predictive monitoring is particularly important to use in areas that receive plenty of snowfall. If you live in the southern United States, you may not need a predictive monitoring system, but in Canada, for example, these systems can greatly assist in maintaining the safety and integrity of your roof.