Keeping surfaces clear for winter parking lot and sidewalk maintenance

Keep Surfaces Clear=

Winter Maintenance Basics=

• Anti-ice before the storm.
• Remove snow from surfaces as quickly as possible to reduce compaction.
• Plow before applying deicers to avoid dilution of the salt.
• Minimize deicer use during the storm.
• Never plow or blow snow into bodies of water, wetlands, traffic or into streets.
• Minimize back-up maneuvers to reduce chance of accidents.
• Limit use of salt and sand during the storm; use only to reduce bonding.
• Do not use salt to burn off snow.
• Use application rate chart to determine how much salt to use.
• Don’t apply dry salt (sodium chloride) below 15º F pavement temperature. It will not melt fast enough to help.
• Below 15° F, use a wetted salt.
• For extreme cold, skip melting and use sand.
• Clean up spills.
• Accurately record the material used at each site.
• Pay attention to its effectiveness and record observations.
• Use only what is needed based on proper application rates for the conditions.
• Put extra back in salt pile or return extra bags.

Information: Because it uses less materials, mechanical snow and ice removal is the best strategy for protecting the water

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Loading/hauling

• Don’t overfill the truck or spreader: material will spill out as it is driven or pushed. This is a common practice and wastes salt.
• Large snow piles may need to be hauled to another site.
• Schedule this work when the mall or facility is closed to minimize conflicts with vehicles and pedestrians.
• Clean up loading area, sweep extra back into the pile.

Anti-icing

Information: Anti-icing is the most cost-effective and environmentally safe practice in winter maintenance. This is the direction to pursue.

Anti-icing is a proactive approach. It should be first in a series of strategies for each winter storm. Applying a small and strategic amount of liquid on the pavement before a storm will prevent snow and ice from bonding to the pavement. This buys time for the clean-up efforts.

Anti-icing is like frying eggs: grease the pan and the eggs come out easily with no mess to clean up. Like greasing the frying pan, the purpose of anti-icing is to keep snow from sticking to the pavement. Anti-icing provides safer pavement during the event and faster clean up after the event.

Anti-icing requires about ¼ the material and 1/10 the overall cost of deicing. It can increase safety at the lowest cost, and is effective and cost-efficient when correctly used and approached with realistic expectations.

Anti-icing prevents formation of frost. It can be effective for up to several days depending on the weather conditions.

Information: Anti-icing is quick. It is possible to treat a parking lot in a matter of minutes. It is an excellent strategy for saving time. Charging by the hour is not a desired practice when changing to anti-icing.

Get started in anti-icing

The basic equipment needed includes: pavement temperature sensor, storage tank, spray truck system, transfer pump, hoses, and fittings.

What to do

• Calibrate.
• Use application rates suggested in the Rate section of this manual.
• Apply with stream nozzles to maintain dry areas between sprayed areas to reduce slipperiness. Stream nozzles work the best for anti-icing.
• If using fan nozzles apply extra light. This makes a dry surface wet and users will have less friction until it dries.
• Try anti-icing in a low traffic area to build confidence about its properties.
• Read some of anti-icing guidelines in the reference section of this manual.

Tip: Stream nozzles prevent slippery conditions better than fan spray.

Test the application rates and spray pattern to become confident in preventing the bonding of ice without creating a slimy or slippery situation.

Tip: Too little CaCl₂ or MgCl₂ is safer than too much. What not to do

• Do not re-apply if there is still residue. It can remain many days after application.
• Do not apply MgCl2 or CaCl2 to a warm surface (above 35º F pavement temperature). It can become “greasy” as it pulls moisture to the pavement. These liquids do not always become greasy, but there is a higher potential in warmer temperatures and higher humidity.
• Do not over apply MgCl2 or CaCl2.
• Do not apply liquids before a rain storm. They will wash away.