TRA Snow and Sun Helps Camp Kostopulos for Disabled Individuals Prevent Possible Injury from Sliding Snow and Ice
American Fork, UT (PRWEB) May 06, 2014 -- In 2012 when TRA Snow and Sun of American Fork, Utah established their new mission statement to include offering roof snow retention and solar mounting products "that provide the ultimate in protection" for people and property, they didn't know how important this focus might be for disabled individuals in 2014.
Just a short drive north along the Wasath Front, Camp Kostopulos, a camp for disabled individuals, also has a mission statement that focuses on the value of human life. They are “dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities" and endeavor to open a world of opportunities for people with disabilities. During the winter of 2014, the focus of both companies combined to provide safety for campers who use the new Equestrian Center which had experienced a serious problem from dangerous falling snow and ice.
According to Jacob Anderson, TRA Snow and Sun Sales Director, the 62 pounds per square foot snow load on the building's 5/12 pitched standing seam metal roof had fallen victim to the ferocious forces of sliding snow and ice during the winters of 2012 and 2013. This caused the gutters along the front of the 200 ft. long and 100 ft. wide arena to be torn off. Sliding snow and ice can avalanche off and literally kill an unsuspecting person unexpectedly and can damage anything in its path on the ground.
Mircea Divrician, who began as a counselor at the camp in 1998, and stayed on to become Executive Director of the Kostopulos Dream Foundation, realized that there was a real possibility for tragedy to a camper or staff member going in or out of one of the buildings if something wasn't done. "We built the Equestrian Center two years ago but didn't plan on putting snow clips on the roof. We didn't foresee how much of a threat the snow could be! The first winter was horrible. We get a lot of snow in Emigration Canyon and then there would be a nice sunny day and the snow melts and then, boom, a huge chunk of snow comes down. So we installed gutters with heat tape, but the second winter the snow came down and smashed the gutters. Another time a huge chunk of snow came down and when it hit the ground it fell back onto the side of the building, causing damage to the metal panels. We knew this was a real hazard for the people around this building and the vans and cars parked right outside."
TRA Snow and Sun, Inc., obtained the key data needed (snowload, slope, type of roof, etc.) and provided an engineered layout for the north side of the building. TRA Snow and Sun, Inc used their Universal Snow Guard and specified spacing them throughout the span of the roof approximately every six to eight feet. The system was installed this year and Divricean anticipates no further problems from the dangers of snow and ice on the roof next winter.
President of TRA Snow and Sun, Terry Anderson, was glad to be part of this project. "We do many snow retention projects, but whenever we get a call to be part of something that focuses so much on improving the quality of life for special people like those who use Camp Kostopulos, we really like it. I got into the roof snow retention business originally because I couldn't stand the thought of someone being injured by falling snow and ice from a roof."
At Camp Kostopulos kids, teens, and adults with disabilities enjoy riding horses, swimming in a heated pool, fishing in a trout pond, utilizing a ropes course, canoeing, creating arts and crafts, and more. Since 1967, the Kostopulos Dream Foundation has been dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through the medium of recreation and leisure education.
TRA Snow and Sun, Inc., located in American Fork, Utah, offers Roof Snow Retention Devices, Solar Mounting Systems and Roof Flashing Solutions. They supply to all types of customers, from the individual homeowner to the big developer and free engineered designs of all their systems. For more information call Terry Anderson at TRA Snow and Sun at 800-606-8980 or visit http://trasnowandsun.com/product-category/snow-retention/.
Camp Kostopulos, accredited by the American Camp Association, is a residential summer camp where kids, teens, and adults with disabilities are able to choose from two options a five day residential camp or travel trips. For more information contact Mircea Divricean, Executive Director Kostopulos Dream Foundation,4180 Emigration Canyon Road, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, Phone: (801)582-0700, Fax: (801)583-5176, mdivricean(at)campk(dot)org. Visit http://www.campk.org/.
Jacob Anderson, TRA Snow and Sun, http://www.trasnowandsun.com, +1 800-606-8980, [email protected]
Share this article