Stop ice, or what you need to know about ice removal

In winter, roofs, roads, and sidewalks are covered with ice. Its timely cleaning is the primary task facing those responsible.

Read the article about why you need to clear ice, what methods and tools are used to remove it, and what rules exist.

Why do you need to clean?

Removing ice from the road and surrounding areas is the direct responsibility of the organizations that own them. Each zone has a service responsible for it, which must clear it of snow and also knock down the ice crust. A similar rule applies to the roofs of houses.

It is necessary to clear ice on the road, sidewalks and roofs for a number of reasons:

1. The icy surface is dangerous for pedestrians. It is easy to slip on it and get injured.
2. Ice on the road increases the likelihood of an emergency. Drivers find it more difficult to control the vehicle.
3. Utility services will not be able to get to frozen wells to quickly eliminate the accident.
4. Icicles and frozen blocks of snow need to be removed from roofs, as they can fall down and fall on passers-by or parked cars. This is a direct threat not only to health, but also to life.
5. Ice creates additional stress on the roof, causing its rapid destruction.
6. Ice that gets into the drainage system will take a very long time to melt, and if water accumulates and freezes, the pipe may simply burst.
7. The ice on the roof periodically melts, moisture penetrates under the roofing and freezes again, which leads to its destruction.

Methods and tools

You can get rid of ice using mechanical cleaning, for which use special tools:

• ice axes,
• shovels,
• crowbars and more.

The second way to deal with weather surprises is non-mechanical. It is implemented by using soda, pebbles, and sand. Each of the listed methods has its own characteristics that must be taken into account when implementing.

Mechanical means

You can deal with ice build-up using mechanical cleaning. This method involves manual labor or the involvement of special equipment. For this purpose, the following tools are used:

1. Scrap. It is used to remove thick ice crusts. It is pointed on both sides, quite heavy, and affects a small area.

   A crowbar should be used to break off thick pieces of ice; it is not advisable to use it to remove ice.

2. Ice ax. It does a better job of crushing thin pieces of ice. The blade of the tool is wide, so it does not require enormous force to operate. Another advantage of the ice ax is the ability to use it as a scraper.
3. Shovel. This tool can only cope with a thin crust of ice that has not had time to set. It is strictly forbidden to use a plastic or wooden shovel; its bucket will instantly burst upon contact with a hard surface.To remove ice crust, use a tool with a metal working surface.
4. Snow tractor or walk-behind tractor. When changing attachments, the equipment can not only remove snow, but also clear off ice crust.

You need to choose the tool that will allow you to quickly complete the task.

How to get rid of it using non-mechanical methods?

Non-mechanical methods of removing ice crust include exposing it to some substance. It could be:

• sand;
• salt;
• pebbles

These methods do not involve the application of physical force.

Sanding

The cost of sand allows it to be used as a means to combat ice. They evenly cover roads and sidewalks, without prior mixing with any materials, or in combination with salt in a 70:30 ratio.

Advantages of the method:

1. Low cost.
2. Instant results.
3. Ease of use.
4. Minimal negative impact on cars, shoes, road surfaces.

If the quality of the sand is low and it contains a lot of clay, then when the air temperature rises, a soapy mess will appear on the road. If there are large stones in the sand, there is a risk of damage to cars.

Using salt

To clear roads of ice, they are sprinkled with salt. For this purpose, sodium chloride is used, which does not undergo thorough purification (compared to store-bought salt). Upon contact with the substance, snow and ice begin to melt, thereby making the area safe for pedestrians and vehicles.

Benefits of using salt:

• the roads are cleared and not just masked;
• financial savings;
• ease of use;
• no need to apply physical force;
• saving time.

Among the disadvantages of using salt:

• harm to shoes, cars, coatings;
• harm to the environment;
• difficulty in storing the material (exposure to moisture should not be allowed, otherwise the salt will form clumps).

Application of pebbles

Pebbles are another material that is sprinkled on paths to combat icing. The main thing is that the stone is not too large, otherwise it will do harm rather than benefit. The optimal fraction of the fill is 6 mm.

Benefits of using pebbles:

1. Affordable price.
2. Quick results.
3. No harm to cars and shoes.

Flaws:

1. Ice cannot be removed using pebbles; it only covers it.
2. The effect is short-term. In just a few hours, the factions will be blown apart by car wheels and the wind.
3. There is a risk of storm drains becoming clogged if the area is not cleaned properly.

Cleaning Rules

When removing ice from different surfaces, you need to follow certain rules. They will help avoid damage to the coating and injury.

From the rooftops

Recommendations for removing ice from roofs of residential and commercial buildings:

• Only plastic or wooden shovels can be used as tools;
• cleaning is carried out from the ridge to the eaves;
• Do not allow individual sections of the roof to be overloaded with ice;
• Do not start cleaning from the edges;
• metal tools are not used for processing gutters, drainpipes and drain trays;
• To remove icicles at the edge of the roof, special hooks are used.

From the sidewalks

Rules for clearing ice from sidewalks:

1. Sidewalks are cleared of ice first. If these are public places, then cleaning should be done in the morning.
2. Well hatches, hydrants, and porches must be cleared of ice.
3. From areas where people walk and cars drive, ice is first removed and then sprinkled with sand, salt, crushed stone or a mixture of these materials.
4. Flowerbeds and lawns are not cleared of ice so as not to damage them.
5. Measures to prevent ice formation must be taken as early as possible. For this purpose, special reagents or salt can be used.
6. The work is carried out using snow shovels, icebreakers, crowbars, and scrapers. You need to act carefully so as not to damage the asphalt or other coating.

Off the roads

Municipalities are responsible for clearing roads of ice. Basic Rules:

• the presence of an ice crust on rural and urban roads is unacceptable; in GOST, the concept of “ice” is replaced by “winter slipperiness”;
• cleaning should begin right during a snowfall or blizzard;
• the roadway is cleared within 3-6 hours after the formation of ice; if this is not possible, traffic in the dangerous area should be limited;
• pure salt is sprinkled on roads only at temperatures from -2 to -16 degrees; the melted mixture must be removed within 2-3 hours to avoid the formation of puddles and dirt; if the frost is severe, salt is not used, as it will not have the desired effect;
• In addition to hand tools, in the form of crowbars, shovels and icebreakers, equipment should be involved in clearing roads of ice.

Safety precautions

Compliance with safety rules will save the health and life of the person removing the ice and the people around him.

Basic safety precautions that must not be violated:

1. Ice is removed from roofs only during the day. If work is carried out at night, the area should be well lit and fenced.
2. It is unacceptable to hang from a roof under any circumstances.
3. It is prohibited to touch electrical wires, antennas, lighting and advertising structures to avoid electric shock.
4. During cleaning, there should be workers below to warn passers-by about the danger. The duty officer must have a whistle and a bright signal vest.
5. While on the roof, the employee must be provided with personal protective equipment.
6. Areas where ice and snow fall are fenced off with shields, tapes, ropes with flags. They must be located at least 6 m from the building.
7. During the period of work, restriction and warning signs must be placed on the road.

Periodicity

Periodicity clearing ice from different areas:

• private property - at the discretion of the owner of the house;
• roofs - as ice and icicles form;
• sidewalks - within 1.5-3 hours after ice formation;
• roads - within 3-6 hours after ice appears.

What can happen if you don't remove the ice?

If you ignore removing ice from roads and sidewalks, this will lead to traffic and pedestrian collapse.People will not be able to get to work, fire brigades will not be able to get to fire sites, and ambulances will not be able to get to patients. According to statistics, up to 80% of accidents in winter occur precisely because of failure to remove snow and ice on time.

All utilities must do their jobs properly. Even if there is ice in 2-3 yards, this threatens pedestrians with serious injuries.

If you do not clear the roofs of ice, there is a risk of icicles and hardened snow masses breaking off. They not only damage balcony canopies, but can also lead to the death of people below. In addition, ice causes premature damage to the roof.

Conclusion

Removing ice is not an easy task, but it can be done. To combat ice, various methods are used, including:

• technology,
• reagents,
• sand,
• icebreakers,
• shovels and other tools.

The sooner work begins, the higher its effectiveness and the lower the likelihood of pedestrian injuries and accidents on the roads.