Winter is on its way – it’s time to revisit your winter maintenance and icing event strategies Jaime Gleba Marketing Production Manager ClearSpan Fabric Structures South Windsor, Connecticut ith city and town budgets continuing to shrink, public works officials need to make sure departments are operating at peak efficiency. One strategy is to ensure that your winter snow and ice control operations are making efficient use of one of your most important commodities—salt. Salt is the most economical and widely used deicing material, which public works agencies, municipalities and independent contractors consistently rely on in any location that endures winter weather. Rock salt is already hundreds of millions of years old when it is mined, so it’s easy to understand how it never loses its deicing capabilities. While time does not diminish the salt’s deicing power, exposure to moisture and the elements will. Providing adequate covered storage for this valuable investment is imperative, and in the long run, it will save you money while providing much-needed availability and convenience. Using proper bulk storage facilities will optimize salt quality and speed up
Keeping salt piles protected from the elements with a fabric structure complies with environmental regulations and ensures the salt is easy to work with. 48 APWA Reporter
November 2012
delivery and loading times. Ensuring adequate coverage for salt storage will not only help increase efficiency, it will also keep you from violating environmental regulations regarding groundwater contamination. There are laws in place to protect water supplies, and municipalities that do not practice proper salt storage could find themselves facing additional expenses if excessive runoff occurs. While salt storage regulations can differ from state to state, most share the same basic principle that municipalities and businesses must prevent excessive runoff from their salt piles. In Wisconsin, for example, an impermeable surface and year-round cover is required for salt storage. Complying with these regulations may be a challenge if the correct form of storage is not used. There are two common options for salt storage—tarps and buildings. Tarps are an outdated method of salt storage and most municipalities are moving away from this practice because it can be inconvenient and even hazardous during severe weather. Removing the tarp to load salt during a weather event could put employee safety at risk and also leave salt exposed to the elements. Salt that gets wet can cake and become difficult to work with. Because of the unreliability of tarps, many public works agencies are moving towards salt storage structures to comply with regulations and make operations more efficient. There are three main types of structures that you can choose for your salt storage needs: wood, steel
and tension fabric. Wood and steel structures have traditionally been the most common type of salt storage structure, but tension fabric buildings are quickly rising in popularity. When deciding which type of structure is right for your department, consider the following factors. •
Size: Wood structures tend to have a maximum width of 150’ and can be built to any length. Dimensions for metal structures are often predetermined by the manufacturer, so customization is limited. Fabric structures are usually available in widths up to 300’ and also can be built to any length.
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Materials: When working with a contractor for a wood structure, be sure you know what grades of lumber they are using. It is also important to check the lumber for any defects. Similarly, with a metal building, be sure you know what gauge metal it is (commonly 29-gauge steel sheets). For fabric buildings, the top manufacturers will make their frames out of triple-galvanized structural steel tubing.
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Wind and snow loads: It should go without saying that the building needs to be designed to withstand the levels of wind and snow in your area. Fabric buildings can be engineered to your specific location and designed to withstand up to 150 mph wind loads.
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Life and warranties: You’ve just made an investment in something and you want it to last. With
