Treating Snow and Ice
As the temperatures start to drop, it is once again time to think about snow control and removal. Snow covered surfaces can be hazardous, especially when on an incline. Ice covered surfaces are potentially more hazardous than snow; not only can ice have a lower coefficient of friction than snow, but slippery patches of ice can be difficult to detect due to poor lighting or low visibility.
De-Icer products are commonly used to prevent the formation of ice on walkways, while traction products are used to increase the coefficient of friction of the walkway surface and provide better traction. What treatment product you choose, however, depends on the walking surface type, budget, and weather conditions.
De-Icer Products
De-Icers are products that lower the freezing point temperature of the snow and ice so that it will melt at the current temperature and prevent ice formation of the melted liquid. De-Icer products can be applied before the precipitation event (pre-salting), or after the event once snow or ice has been cleared (post-salting). Common De-Icers include:
Sodium Chloride (Rock Salt): This is the most common and affordable option, and typically marketed for home use. Rock salt can lower water’s freezing point temperature to about 15° F. However, sodium can negatively affect nearby plant life and poses a risk to animals.
Calcium Chloride: A better performing product than Sodium Chloride, Calcium Chloride can lower the freezing point temperature to -25° F. However, like Sodium Chloride, it can damage vegetation close to the application area.
Magnesium Chloride: This solution can reduce the freezing point temperature down to about -10° F, but it is also a hazard to plant and animal life.
Potassium Chloride: This solution is the least effective out of the listed De-Icer products, but it does not negatively affect plants and animals near the application area.
Traction Products
Traction products are used (as the name implies) to increase the traction between the person’s footwear and the walkway surface. Traction products are generally less expensive to use than De-Icers, and their impact on plant and animal life is minimal. However, unlike De-Icers, traction products will not melt snow or ice, they simply provide better traction. Traction products are best used for post-treatment on icy surfaces. Some examples of Traction products include:
Sand: An inexpensive option for increased traction, sand can be applied over new snow or ice formation to improve traction and reduce the risk of a slip injury. Sand does not melt the precipitation and must be re-applied over new snow or ice formation to be effective. Choose typical “Play Sand” found at hardware stores, as other types like Masonry sand can be too fine to work effectively.
Kitty Litter: As with sand, Kitty Litter is a common, inexpensive traction product used to increase traction on snow or ice on walkways. Depending on the product, Kitty Litter can be less dense than sand and easier to carry and apply. Unlike sand, Kitty Litter can absorb water and, depending on the type used, transform into a wet slurry which may be difficult to clean up afterwards.
Which treatment product should you choose?
The answer comes down to the situation and the environment. If using a De-Icer, choose the product based on the anticipated lowest temperature forecast; the salt solution will not melt precipitation below its freezing point temperature. So, for example, don’t use Rock Salt if the temperature is supposed to drop to 10° F that night; you will still wake up to ice on the walkway in the morning. Also be aware of the environmental impact of these products. If applying near vegetation or where animals (and pets) will be frequenting, choose Potassium Chloride or a traction product.
You can also combine De-Icers and traction products for better protection against slips and falls. You can also spot apply traction products to areas that are prone to icing. Just make sure you re-apply any traction products over fresh snow or ice, and over-applying the traction products might dilute the area effectiveness of the De-Icer.
A final word on over-application
We already discussed how over-application of toxic De-Icer products can damage nearby plant and animal life. However, there is another issue with over-application that is commonly overlooked. Over-application of salt-based De-Icers can sometimes introduce a new slip and fall hazard by creating a loose, unstable salt surface that forms oftentimes on steps and inclines. This loose salt surface, especially when formed on the edge of a stairway step, can cause someone to lose traction when walking on the step edge and cause a fall. When applying salt on steps or any other elevated surfaces, make sure the product is applied in a thin, uniform surface to not create a new hazard.
