Snow and Ice Management Glossary

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Deicing
Deicing refers to treatment methods that are applied AFTER snow events to melt areas that have experienced snow and ice build-up.

Ice Melt
Ice Melt is a solid deicer made up of salts and chemicals that are sprinkled to melt accumulated snow and ice.

Magnesium Chloride
Magnesium Chloride is a water-soluble salt solution that is used in brine mixtures to prevent snow and ice from sticking to road surfaces. Magnesium Chloride is safe for humans, but large doses are toxic to plants.

Molasses
Molasses is often added to brine, acting as a stabilizer so that the salt and water do not separate. It allows better adhesion to pavement surfaces and is less corrosive to vehicles than salt. An alternative to molasses is beet brine, but molasses is less bulky and doesn’t plug up equipment as much.

Pickle Mix
Pickle mix is a combination of 7mm pebbles and rock salt to provide traction and melts snow and ice.

Pre-treating
Pre-treating is the application of ice melting treatment before a weather event occurs. Pre-treatment options melt the first inch or two of snow and prevent snow from sticking to pavement surfaces for easier clearing.

Rock Salt
See: Sodium Chloride

Snow Hauling
Hauling snow away from properties that are cleared of snow (e.g. parking lots) is an alternative to leaving snow piles on site. More reading: Should You Create Snow Piles in Your Parking Lot?

Sodium Chloride
Sodium Chloride (rock salt) is a water-soluble salt that is used in brine mixtures to lower the freezing temperature of water (or snow). Sodium Chloride is safe for humans, but large doses are toxic to plants.

Deicing
Deicing refers to treatment methods that are applied AFTER snow events to melt areas that have experienced snow and ice build-up.

Ice Melt
Ice Melt is a solid deicer made up of salts and chemicals that are sprinkled to melt accumulated snow and ice.

Magnesium Chloride
Magnesium Chloride is a water-soluble salt solution that is used in brine mixtures to prevent snow and ice from sticking to road surfaces. Magnesium Chloride is safe for humans, but large doses are toxic to plants.

Molasses
Molasses is often added to brine, acting as a stabilizer so that the salt and water do not separate. It allows better adhesion to pavement surfaces and is less corrosive to vehicles than salt. An alternative to molasses is beet brine, but molasses is less bulky and doesn’t plug up equipment as much.

Pickle Mix
Pickle mix is a combination of 7mm pebbles and rock salt to provide traction and melts snow and ice.

Pre-treating¨C14CPre-treating is the application of ice melting treatment before a weather event occurs. Pre-treatment options melt the first inch or two of snow and prevent snow from sticking to pavement surfaces for easier clearing.