Autumn in New England brings a kaleidoscope of colors with foliage that transforms our landscape into a wonderland of orange, gold and red. But as the bright colors of fall fade, the days grow shorter and we feel a chill in the air that reminds us of what is to come. It is a period of transition that signals the cold temperatures of a long winter ahead. To property owners, facility managers, and buildings and grounds departments it means preparing for snow, ice and freezing rain that turns pavements and walkways into slick, hazardous passages.
As ice build-up creates chance for slips, falls and loss of control of vehicles, deicers are commonly applied to minimize risks. Deicing chemicals, however, are corrosive in nature and can be harmful to concrete, steel and other building materials depending on the type of deicer, concentration, and frequency of application.
Concrete pavers are known to have high resistance to deicing chemicals. Pavers by IDEAL are manufactured to exceed rigorous freeze-thaw testing and, as the region’s oldest manufacturer, millions of square feet of our pavers have demonstrated their ability to withstand over 35 years of New England’s harsh winter climate with proven field performance. Let’s take a look at best practices for keeping sidewalks, entrances, plazas and parking lots safe while minimizing the detrimental effects of deicing chemicals.
The key to successfully using ice melt products is to use only as much as needed to do the job. This will maximize their benefits while minimizing damage to the pavement and surrounding environment. The following guidelines can help limit the exposure of deicing chemicals while maintaining a safe environment:
§ Limit the use of deicing chemicals by combining them with a traction aid such as sand. Sand is visible and can be felt underfoot as a tangible medium. Pedestrians can see it and can feel it; vehicles grip it. Sand should be your first line of defense.
§ Apply deicers according to the manufacturer’s recommended rate and dosage. More often than not deicers are misused by too liberal applications. And more is not necessarily better as deicers can accelerate freeze-thaw cycles when used too frequently.
§ Do not use deicing chemicals in place of snow removal but reserve them for melting ice formed by freezing precipitation or freezing snow melt.
§ Once loosened, treated snow and ice should be promptly removed by plow or shovel to avoid a buildup in concentration of the deicing chemical.
§ When using magnesium-based deicing chemicals thoroughly rinse the pavement with water in the spring as this type of deicer can continue to produce a chemical reaction that can adversely affect concrete throughout the year.
§ Protect vegetation and metal from contact with deicing chemicals as most can impair vegetation and corrode metals.
Interlocking concrete pavements provide a flexible and durable system that performs successfully under the most demanding applications, circumstances and climate. Properly installed, they do not heave, rut or settle and can be plowed with conventional snow removal equipment. If your pavement is comprised of interlocking concrete pavers, consider applying an appropriate sealer that minimizes water penetration. This helps keep salts from entering and accumulating in the jointing and bedding sand. A polymeric sand binder used at the time of installation also serves this purpose. We advise architects and engineers to design weep holes when pavers are set in a base of concrete or asphalt to provide drainage of salt brine from the bedding sand. The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) also recommends adequate pavement slopes (typically a minimum of 2%) to facilitate surface water drainage and to help shed deicing materials.
Proper treatment will keep your pavements safe to travel while ensuring long lasting performance.
Larry Nicolai is Sr. Vice President of Ideal Concrete Block Company, Inc.