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→Winter Maintenance Professionals
===Winter Maintenance Professionals===
===Winter Maintenance Professionals===
Selected best management practices for winter maintenance professionals include the following (Van Seters, 2022)<ref name="example6" />
Selected best management practices for winter maintenance professionals include the following (Van Seters, 2022)<ref name="example6" />
{|class="wikitable"
|+Best Practices for Winter Maintenance Professionals
|-
!'''Best Practice'''
!'''General Description'''
!'''Key Benefits'''
|-
|Contract pricing by season or event (contractor and property owner/manager)
|Snow and Ice professionals are paid a fixed priced per season or event.
|Reduces salt use by not incentivizing the use of salt through the pricing structure in contracts.
|-
|Site condition assessments and plans (contractor and property owner/manager)
|Site assessments and plans identify and document site conditions, problem areas to be rectified, service areas and levels, snow storage areas, and expectations.
|Improves operational efficiencies; supports due diligence defense; prevents potential client contractor conflicts; reduces the need for repeat salt applications on problem areas.
|-
|Flexible level of service requirements depending on conditions
|Since salt needs time to work, there is invariably a delay between when it is applied and when the specified bare pavement service level is met. This delay can be lengthened under circumstances when bare pavement is needed only during daytime business hours and the snowstorm ends several hours before the day starts. If applicable, flexible LOS requirements should be described in the site winter maintenance plan.
|Significantly reduces salt use because research has shown that the quantity of de-icer applied is strongly influenced by the bare pavement level of service target.
|-
|Materials
|Rock salt pretreated with liquid MgCl<sub>2</sub> or CaCl<sub>2</sub> lowers the effective temperature range of salt and reduces losses to wind and scatter. Low chloride alternatives can also significantly reduce the harmful effects of chloride-based salts.
|Reduces salt release to the environment and lowers corrosion effects on infrastructure. May also lead to improved level of service. For more information see STEP, 2020. Abrasives such as sand dot not melt snow and ice but may be appropriate in some circumstances and LSRCA, 2018.
|-
|Salt Specifications
|In Ontario, NaCl rock salts and brines used for snow and ice control should meet Ontario Provincial Standard Specifications (OPSS 2502, OPSS Mun 2502) for moisture content, texture, and chemistry to ensure optimal performance.
|Rock salt texture and moisture helps regulate dilution rates, bounce, blow off and other factors that can negatively influence overall effectiveness.
|-
|Direct Liquid Application
|Involves applying brine before, during or after snow events to prevent ice formation on pavement and walkways. Anti-icing is the application of a brine or treated rock salt before snow events.
|Less salt is required to prevent ice -pavement bonding than to break the bond after it has formed. Salt savings of 39 to 46% are common. Can improve overall level of service and support due diligence defense.
|-
|Pre-Wetting
|Applying a concentrated liquid anti-icing rock salt at the spinner or chute increases moisture content, which in turn promotes quicker activation and better adherence of salt to pavements.
|Reduces salt use by approximately 20% (STEP, 2022). Similar benefits may be accomplished by pre-treating salt stockpiles with liquid or using proprietary pre-treated salt products.
|-
|Ground Speed Controllers
|Salt spreaders are equipped with controllers that automatically dispense salt based on truck speed.
|Research shows salt reductions up to 49% compared to manually controlled spreaders. Particularly relevant for parking lots where salt trucks are frequently required to vary speeds and stop/start.
|-
|Vehicle Tracking Equipment
|Use of Global Positioning System (GPS) and Advanced Vehicle Location (AVL) technologies that track the location of vehicles. Often implemented with controllers to provide operational data along with location data.
|When combine with operational data collection systems, GPS and AVL can improve operational efficiencies and increase operator accountability. The data are extremely helpful in supporting due diligence defense.
|-
|Decision Support Tools (basic)
|May include use of RWIS, pavement temperature and residual salt monitoring, on-site cameras and decision support software/systems. Example [https://weather.decisionvue.net/peel RWIS: Wood Weather Information System]
|Helps optimize event-based winter maintenance strategy (timing, material selection, etc.); supports due diligence defense.
|-
|Equipment Calibration (once a year and after repair)
|Salt spreading equipment (solid and liquid) is calibrated to ensure it is functioning and applying salt at the calibrated rates. Both vehicle spreaders and walk behind drop spreaders should be calibrated.
|Ensures accurate and efficient delivery of material to pavements and walkways; avoids use of malfunctioning equipment; supports due diligence defense.
|-
|Plowing before Salting
|Plow at snow depth accumulations > 2 to 3 cm. Spreading salt on top of snow dilutes its effectiveness thereby requiring more salt to achieve desired level of service.
|Avoids dilution of salt and improves effectiveness, which significantly reduces salt use; more frequent plowing can support due diligence defense.
|-
|Segmented or Live Edge Snowplow Blades
|Segmented or Live Edge snowplow blades remove more snow than traditional blades by conforming better to the surface contours of the pavement.
|Reduces salt use because the salt applied is not diluted by residual snow on the surface; may provide higher level of service while also offering some support to due diligence defense.
|-
|Setting application rates based on conditions
|Establishing target liquid and solid de-icing material rates for a range of conditions based on temperature, residual salt on pavements, snowfall depth and duration and other key parameters. Rates suited to different conditions are ranges to allow for some decision-making flexibility
|Adjusting salt application rates according to conditions helps ensure that only the amount needed to promote safe conditions is used. Documentation supporting the selection of rates can help support due diligence defense.
|-
|Record Keeping
|Records and logs should be kept of equipment calibration and maintenance, weather, salt use by load, maintenance schedules, site conditions, staff training, site contracts, trouble spots and other parameters relevant to winter maintenance operations. See also site condition assessments and planning section above.
|Documentation supports due diligence defense and provides critical information for assessing overall performance and identifying where improvements may be needed. Often leads to significant salt reduction.
|-
|Material Storage and Handling
|De-icing materials should be covered and isolated from other site drainage. Spilled salt in handling areas should be collected and returned to the storage facility. Storage and handling areas should be impervious to prevent contamination of soils and groundwater. Vehicle wash water should be properly managed.
|Avoids unnecessary release of salt into the environment; reduces costs associated with material loss.
|-
|Snow Storage
|Snow should be stored in low sections of site to prevent melt water and re-freeze on pavements. Snow transported off site should go to proper snow disposal facility.
|Avoids release of salt into the environment; Reduces salt by eliminating re-freeze conditions that can cause repeat applications; supports due diligence defense.
|-
|Training
|Training of all winter maintenance staff through Smart about Salt Council and/or other equivalent certification programs.
|Training is widely recognized as a critical component to responsible use of salt; supports due diligence defense.
|}
For more information on the practices and research supporting the suggested benefits, see STEP, 2022 and TAC, 2013, and associated reference materials.
==Salt Alternatives==
==Salt Alternatives==