Why Your Mid-Rise Building Will Benefit From a Snow Melt System
SIM systems can benefit a property in several ways. For one, they create safe conditions for your property’s users. Because they don’t let snow and ice accumulate, there’s less risk of slip-and-falls, or vehicular accidents, happening before clearing crews can get to work. With a reduced potential for accidents, your liability risk drops, and your property stands to benefit from lower insurance premiums.
Avoiding salting and shoveling can protect your property from premature wear and tear. Without scraping, salting, or sanding, surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, and ramps will get a longer lifespan. And since SIM systems are heated with modern, high-efficiency boilers, heat pumps, or waste heat, they emit relatively little CO2.
While we may perceive them as a luxury, SIM systems cost surprisingly little to operate.
Let’s look at an example in Albany, New York, where a SIM-heated, 1,000ft2 garage ramp sees roughly 20 snow events per year, totaling 156 hours of snowfall. With hydronic heating, the 6-inch deep concrete ramp requires a heat output of 125 BTU/h/ft2 to stay 100% snow-free during 90% of snowfalls. This power consumption translates into an annual gas bill of just $160-$200. Contrast this with the $1,000s per year in labor, equipment, and supply costs that facility owners typically spend on regular plowing.