Residential Sidewalks and Driveways: Magnesium Chloride
- Rationale: Low-corrosion deicers are preferred for homes to protect metals, vehicles, landscaping, driveways, and gardens.
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Application Tips:
- Apply at the first sign of winter precipitation to prevent ice bonding
- Use spreader settings for granular products to achieve even coverage
- Sweep up excess product after storm events to minimize tracking indoors
- Product Form: Pelleted or granular forms with blue dye for visibility are ideal for residential use
- Environmental Note: Magnesium chloride's lower toxicity makes it safer for homes with pets and surrounding vegetation
Commercial Parking Lots and Garages: Blended Products (Magnesium Chloride Base)
- Rationale: MgCl₂/CaCl₂ blends (10-20%) optimize performance, corrosion control, and safety for large paved areas.
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Application Tips:
- Pre-treat surfaces before anticipated storms using liquid applications
- Focus application on pedestrian pathways and high-traffic areas
- Implement post-storm sweeping to remove residual material
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Special Considerations:
- Areas with embedded steel (expansion joints, rebar) benefit most from magnesium-based products
- Sloped areas may require additives to improve product retention
Highways and Critical Transportation Routes: Calcium Chloride or Custom Blends
- Rationale: CaCl₂ ensures rapid ice control on highways in extreme cold, but eco-blends are now preferred for sustainability.
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Application Strategies:
- Anti-icing with liquid calcium chloride brine before storms
- Pre-wetting rock salt with magnesium chloride solutions to improve performance
- Targeted use of pure calcium chloride in extreme cold emergencies
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Innovative Approaches:
- Some agencies use geographic information systems (GIS) to map vulnerable areas (bridges, sensitive watersheds) where magnesium chloride substitutes are mandated
- Variable application rate technology adjusts output based on roadway temperature sensors
Airport Runways and Aprons: Magnesium Chloride-Based Formulations
- Rationale: Airports favor MgCl₂ over CaCl₂ for better corrosion safety while maintaining deicing performance.
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Special Requirements:
- Strict purity standards to prevent foreign object debris (FOD)
- Often combined with urea or other non-chloride additives in sensitive areas
- Requires careful coordination with aircraft deicing operations to prevent chemical interactions
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Performance Notes:
- Runway treatments focus on preventing ice bonding rather than complete snow removal
- Apron areas may use heated magnesium chloride brines for enhanced performance
Environmentally Sensitive Areas: Pure Magnesium Chloride with Organic Additives
- Rationale: MgCl₂ is ideal for eco-sensitive areas due to low toxicity and nutrient benefits.
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Application Protocols:
- Reduced application rates (as low as 0.5 lbs/100 sq ft in some cases)
- Buffer zones near water bodies with increased mechanical removal
- Seasonal monitoring of soil and water chemistry
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Ecological Benefits:
- Research shows magnesium chloride has less impact on phosphorus retention in soils compared to other chlorides
- Does not contribute to sodium accumulation that damages soil structure