Common sense should prevail but you cant beat stupid

>Why you should stay away from snow covered roofs

Or why, if you live in a part of the world that gets good amount snow in winter, buildings are required to have a schneefänger system. ;-) This is an age-old known known winter problem and threat. Still makes from some impressive vid though.

I hope the building owners are heavily insured.

Trying to figure out why in some of those videos, it was snow followed by a layer of what appear to be? poop? oblong dark objects? What are people doing on their roofs?

#2 I like your comment ...have never heard of the word Schneefänger system...did the Germans invent it?? Probably!

http://resources.mynewsdesk.com/image/upload/t_next_gen_article_large_480/ael4yf2xss7jvebtiduh.jpg

Just a barrier at the end of the roof. It stops the snow from sliding.

#5 Schneefänger system...did the Germans invent it??

Thunders, no idea, just the word I always have known it by, and given its simplicity (#6. ughlah barrier at the end of the roof - is exactly right) I have to believe that many others came up with it as well. No one likes a load of snow and ice on the head, especially if the sun thaws things out and things start to slide off. I suspect given the German penchant for rules and order and safety that they are probably applied more systematically to homes, especially in the south.

#7 That makes sense what you're saying....actually when snow slides off a roof, there is a name for that in German: Dachlawine = roof avalanche.

#1 except that stay away from snow covered roofs means stay out of the city. Not really an option.