Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Factsheet

This factsheet provides information for winter parking lot and sidewalk maintenance.

Key information needed

• Pavement Temperature (it will be different than air temperature)
• Parking lot area (or drive lane distance) = Length x Width
• Amount of material your truck or sander delivers at each setting and speed

Tips

• De-icers melt snow and ice. They provide no traction on top of snow and ice.
• Anti-icing prevents the bond from forming between pavement and ice.
• De-icing works best if you plow before applying material.
• Pick the right material for the pavement temperatures.
• Sand only works on top of snow as traction. It provides no melting.
• Anti-icing chemicals must be applied prior to snow fall.
• NaCl (road salt) does not work on cold days, less than 15^oF.

Melt times for salt (NaCl) at different pavement temperatures

Speed of melting
Link to this table

Pavement Temp. ºF	One Pound of dry Salt (NaCl) melts	Melt Times
30	46.3 lbs. of ice	5 min
25	14.4 lbs. of ice	10 min.
20	8.6 lbs. of ice	20 min
15	6.3 lbs. of ice	1 hour
10	4.9 lbs. of ice	Dry salt is ineffective and will blow away before it melts anything
5	4.1 lbs. of ice
0	3.7 lbs. of ice
-6	3.2 lbs. of ice

Melting characteristics

Caution: Pick your material based on lowest practical melting temperature, not eutectic temperature which is often listed on the bag.

Variable affecting application rate

Increase the application rate if

• Compaction occurs & cannot be removed mechanically
• There is a lot of snow left behind

Decrease the application rate if

• Light snow or light freezing rain
• Pavement temperature is rising
• Subsequent applications

Deicing application rate guidelines for parking lots and sidewalks

These rates are adapted from road application guidelines (Mn Snow & Ice Control Field Handbook, Manual 2005-1). Develop your own application rates using the guidelines as a starting point and modify them incrementally over time to fit your needs. The area should first be cleared of snow prior to applying chemical

Anti-Icing guidelines

These are a starting point only. Adjust based on your experience.