There’s more to effective winter maintenance than dry salt and a shovel

Preparation is key to ensuring car parks and footpaths remain clear and safe should icy temperatures once again hit the UK. But how effective is our country’s approach to winter maintenance, questions John Saint, Epoke product manager at Scarab, and how can FMs be more proactive?

Following the heavy snowfall and frosty weather of last winter, hundreds of companies came to a standstill nationwide. Of those that tried to deliver ‘business as usual’, many were left struggling to safely navigate their properties. 

As we look ahead to the coldest months of the year, it is therefore crucial that Facilities Managers adopt a proactive stance to maintaining their clients’ premises.

It must be acknowledged that, as in all areas of business, a ‘one size fits all’ approach is rarely suffice. The best-practice precautionary and de-icing treatments for one client may therefore differ to those recommended for another. FMs, with the help of external experts, should consider factors such as the positioning of the grounds being treated, any localised weather conditions, the size of the land being maintained, availability of existing pieces of plant and winter maintenance equipment and the need to protect the surrounding environment, amongst other criteria.

Keeping external pathways clear may not sound a particularly complex task. However, there is more to effective winter maintenance than just dry salt and a shovel, even for very small jobs.

A miniature hand-pushed salt spreader for instance, offers a more ergonomic and environmentally friendly alternative. This piece of kit – which looks very much like a wheelbarrow and is manoeuvred in the same way – ensures a simple, accurate and homogenous distribution of salt along the width of the spreader. Not only is this better for the operative, but the surrounding landscape is also protected because the salt is not dispersed haphazardly.

Larger kit on the other hand, enables a retail estate with a vast car park to be tackled quickly. Again, technologies exist to deliver swift and accurate spreading and more effective de-icing with less salt consumption, thanks to innovations from mainland Europe. For these bigger projects, FMs may also wish to consider the use of pre-wetted techniques where salt adheres to the ground and enters into the solution more quickly, meaning the thawing action can begin sooner and reduced salt usage is commonly reported. This method can prove additionally beneficial for sites located in coastal areas or in the typically colder parts of the Northern UK, where faster action is needed.

For a more preventative approach, liquid brine could be applied before the snow and ice hits. Using even less salt then the aforementioned techniques, this treatment does not require any activation from traffic to become effective, making it perfect for slippery footpaths and cycleways, as well as car parks and roads.

Thankfully, versatile fleet exists to deliver a combination of techniques from one spreader, allowing FMs to maintain that all-important flexibility. Sometimes considerations are not merely technical. On sites with large traffic volumes or significant pedestrian footfall, a liquid or white salt may be the preferred solution simply because it does not leave the same dirty marks as brown salt.

The key thing is to start thinking about this now. When budgets are tight it is understandable that the purchase of winter maintenance equipment is delayed until absolutely necessary. It is also unsurprising that investment in plant and materials is subsequently minimal, in a bid to save money. However rushing the procurement process or buying cheap equipment that may only last one or two years, is simply a false economy.

Time must be taken to devise the best-fit winter maintenance plan for the particular scenario. This will ensure FMs deliver a good service that saves money, is kind to the environment and keeps their clients safe and satisfied.

www.scarab-epoke.co.uk

For further information about effective winter maintenance or the varied products within the Epoke range, please contact John Saint (Epoke product manager at Scarab Sweepers) on T: 01622 831006 or visit www.scarab-epoke.co.uk

Published in Tomorrow’s FM – October 2013