In order to prevent snow and ice from creating a small avalanche, many homeowners opt to install snow guards on their steel roofs. Snow guards are designed to keep large amounts of snow and ice from sliding off a metal roof all at once. Snow retention for standing seam metal roofs, tile, asphalt and membrane. No minimum order. Rapid Quotes. Engineers on Staff. Pre-assembled Clamps. No Minimum Inventory. No Contracts. Services: snow retention systems, snow retention clamps.A snow guard is a device used to retain snow and ice from falling from one surface to a lower one; in contemporary usage, they are installed to prevent snow/ice pack from avalanching and damaging people, plants, and property below.