Determining Effectiveness of Deicing Materials and Procedures

Effectiveness of Deicers

Problem

State DOTs spend millions of dollars per year on snow removal and deicing activities. In order to meet level of service requirements under increasing budget and environmental constraints, DOTs need to be able to determine the “best value” for both chemical and mechanical snow/ice removal practices.

Objective

Develop testing guidelines for evaluating the performance of various winter road chemicals. Include the minimum equipment and data required to effectively evaluate winter chemical performance and describe the ideal test location.

Results

A guidance document for conducting field testing to determine the effectiveness of deicers in a variety of locations under a variety of winter conditions.