Oregon DOT’s Dick Parker and Washington DOT’s Dale Keep offer six points of interest when considering anti-icing and other snow and ice control strategies. Although we have discussed these before in Better Roads, they are certainly worth repeating:

1. Anti-icing is effective and cost efficient when correctly used and approached with realistic expectations.

2. Anti-icing should be first in a series of strategies for each winter storm. Anti-icing is most cost effective on heavy frosts and freezing fogs.

3. Liquid chemicals are better than solids for anti-icing. Crew training and a basic understanding of how deicers work is critical.

4. Sales personnel should not raise false expectations by oversimplifying the use of deicer chemicals.

5. It is extremely important that some sales staff do not continue to present their products as a panacea with a one-application-rate-fits-all-conditions approach.

6. Decisions on snow and ice control strategies need to be based on total cost (with all things considered) rather than just the purchase price of a particular chemical.

You need the right equipment to maximize snow and ice control, even when you use an active anti-icing program. Trucks with plow blades can do dual service, removing snow before applying liquid anti-icer or deicer chemicals. But, what about the spraying equipment itself?

First, list your usage requirements, Washington DOT’s Dale Keep, says. Then select equipment to fit those needs.

Begin by considering the product to be used. Factors to consider include corrosiveness, recirculation, tank material, deicer weight and tank capacity.

What kind of pump will you use? Check the material the pump is made of, especially the impellers. How much tolerance is there between the case and the impellers of the pump? What is the maximum volume per minute output? What is the minimum volume per minute output? Is it self loading?

Will the equipment handle the needed application rate and pattern? Does it have the maximum and minimum volume per area desired per application? Does it have an anti-icing spray pattern? Does it offer a concentrated stream for deicing? What number of lanes can you cover per application?

Will it travel as fast as you want to move during an application? How slow can you safely travel while applying?

Check control speed versus volume per area of application. Check ground speed controls. Are the controls easy to use?

Is the tank capacity adequate? Will it cover the area you want to cover for each refill? What is the minimum acceptable application rate per pass with the machine?