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PIARC (World Road Association), founded in 1909 and comprising 125 member governments from all over the world, is the global forum for exchange of knowledge and experience on roads, road transport policies and practices. With consultative status to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, the Association is contributing to a stable and sustainable global development of the road and transport sector.

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International Development of Application Methods of De-icing Chemicals - State of the Art and Best Practice - Technical report

Fighting snow and ice on roads with de-icing chemicals is a major task in winter maintenance. On the main road network usually sodium chloride is used all over the world. Various studies and practical experiences have proven the high efficiency of sodium chloride treatments on traffic safety and national economy.

The application methods have been enhanced worldwide in the recent few years. Pre wetted salting and applications of only brine are more and more established on roads and also on bicycle lanes.

The PIARC technical committee Winter Service conducted a survey of winter maintenance in the countries represented in PIARC. Scopes were winter maintenance standards, type of de-icing chemicals and application methods. Besides current development also research projects and guidelines have been compiled.

The paper sums up the most important findings and analyses, the different winter maintenance standards and techniques. The paper discusses also open questions such as the limit of brine at low temperatures and gives an outlook on future developments.

Information sheet

  • Date: 2019
  • Author(s): Comité technique / Technical Committee / ComitéTécnico B.2 Viabilité hivernale / Winter Service / Vialidad invernal
  • Domain(s): Winter Service
  • Type: Technical report
  • PIARC Ref.: 2019R08EN
  • ISBN: 978-2-84060-514-0
  • Number of pages: 35