Dec 2002

M. G. Lacasse

When a storm is expected at IOTA 

The shelters should be closed up extra tight.

1) Secure the flap to the roof with the load binder	

   Attach the loadbinder to the next to the last link and to the roof 
   section where the paint is scratched off. This compresses the gaskets 
   between the roof sections and provides a better seal.

2) Close the rolling shutters 
   They don't go down well so you need todo it slowly and may need to 
   persuade the shutters to go down. If they are left up the driving rain and 
   snow come in through the louvers and make puddles which turn to ice on the 
   floor of the shelter.  We got a little bit of water onto the plugstrip in 
   the south shelter recently which shorted it out and destroyed it.

3) There are some strips of black rubber which  can be placed along the	bottom 
   of the sliding roof to keep most of the snow from coming in along the track.

4)  There are pieces of pipe insulation which can be placed in the space between 
    the roof sections to prevent snow/rain infiltration in places where the gaskets 
    do not form a good sea.Before opening up - check that the 4 areas are clear.
    After a storm there may be problems with the roof sections. Ice can form in 
    the track for the roofs - the shelter is flat so there is no incentive for water 
    to drain out.  Rafael and I found a half inch of ice in that area a coupleof nights ago.  
    We used a come-along to break the wheels free of the ice - I'm not sure how safe 
    that procedure is. There mignt also be ice along the top of the roof which will make 
    opening up difficult. When the roof is closed, this snow can build up at the gaskets 
    to prevent the roof sections from closing properly.