Sustainability can be defined as the “capacity to endure.” In practical terms, sustainability has come to mean the responsible use of natural resources – and the ability for products and services to have the least environmental impact as possible.

Today’s ice melt products can also be sustainable in many ways.

On one hand, ice-melting solutions can be environmentally safe, pet friendly products with formulations designed to minimize the impact on the environment and its inhabitants. However, in some cases the very additives advertised to prevent corrosion and/or enhance performance can contain ingredients that actually introduce other negative elements into the environment.

When it comes to these products, the golden rule is, “Know what is in it, how much of each ingredient it contains, and what it does in terms of performance, cost and the environment.” Do not simply fall for strong claims made on packaging.

On the other hand, the real key to achieving sustainable ice-melting practices is finding the product(s) best designed for the situation and using them correctly. When applying ice-melting products, consumers too often believe, “if a little bit is good, a lot must be better, and a whole lot is even better than that.” This belief could not be further from the truth.

Many users churn through large quantities of ice-melting products without giving the process a second thought. When analyzing historical storm data, many users apply at least double the amount of ice-melting product required for the conditions at hand. This not only wastes time and money, but is harmful to the environment as well.

Using the product best suited for the situation will generate better results and help prevent over-use. One of the key ways to choose the right ice-melt product is by determining the temperature of the pavement surface. Once this temperature is determined, customers can choose the ice-melter with the most appropriate effective temperature range,which is the temperature at which the cost of the application is justified by the results.

Then, the customer should apply only the recommended amount, which will minimize waste. Using a product that does not fit the conditions can result in wasted product, lengthened application time and potential harm to the environment.

In order to apply ice-melting products correctly, it is important to understand the melting rate and melting capacity of the product.

Melting capacity is the amount of water a deicer chemical can make or keep wet per pound of active ingredient at a given temperature. Keep in mind that the colder it is, the more deicer it takes to melt the ice, so as temperatures drop, application rates must increase.

Melting rate is the time it takes to reach 100 percent of the capacity at the given temperature. As temperatures drop, the melting rate decreases.

Ice-melting products thaw specific amounts of ice at a given surface temperature per pound of active ingredient applied. Since the pavement surface is the point where the bond between ice and the pavement takes place, knowing the pavement surface temperature is critical when making application rate decisions.

Correct application rates cannot be determined without accurate surface temperature information. Pavement surface temperature determines how much product is required to break the bond and/or melt the ice or snow present. Importantly, the pavement surface temperature is almost always warmer or colder than the air temperature.

The impact of temperature on “melting capacity” is shown by considering salt. Bear in mind, this process applies to all products and not just salt.

Table 1. Equilibrium Melting Capacity of Salt at Different Temperatures in Presence of Excess Ice (Kaufmann,Dale W. 1960. Sodium Chloride, The Production and Properties of Salt and Brine, Reinhold Publishing Corporation).

As shown, on the previous page, the difference in the amount of water created at 30º F compared to 25º F is substantial, with the melting capacity reduced by 69 percent. To melt 100 pounds of ice at 30º F, 2.16 pounds of salt is required. However, at 25º F, 6.94 pounds is required. Consider the amount of product and dollars wasted if salt applications are made using an incorrect temperature.

The following rules can help ensure the efficient use of ice-melting products: Research the products available and pick the one(s) that best serve the current needs at the lowest overall cost. Remember, overall cost is the total of all the costs of use, not just the purchase price.

Learn how deicer products work, why they work, when they work, and why they sometimes do not work. Quality training will quickly pay for itself in product, labor and equipment savings.

Make product selection decisions based on surface temperature rather than air temperature. Air temperature may be the easiest to determine, but is not an effective means to determine which icemelting product to use. Money spent on quality tools necessary to measure surface temperature will quickly pay for themselves.

When applying deicers, ensure equipment is properly calibrated and eliminate application overlapping. Plowing enhances the performance of ice-melters by removing snow and ice, minimizing the amount of water to manage.

Ice-melters enhance the performance of plows by eliminating or weakening the bond between existing snow and ice and the pavement.

Using the proper ice-melting product selection and application rates, facility maintenance professionals can maintain target levels of service while using less material, enhancing profits and minimizing the impact on the environment.