| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Abrasive, grit | Natural or artificial material (e.g. gravel, cinders or sand) used to increase the adhesion of a slippery surface |
| Additives | Organic or inorganic materials added to de-icing salt to reduce corrosion and/or improve the spreading characteristics of the salt |
| Anti-caking agent | Component added to spreading material to prevent coagulation |
| Barn | Structure built to cover the stored de-icing salt to protect from the effects of the weather |
| Bin | Receptacle for the storage of small quantities of spreading material, on steep inclines |
| Brine | Aqueous chloride solution, usually sodium, but can be calcium, magnesium or potassium |
| Brine production facility | System for the production of water based de-icing solutions |
| BS 3247 | The British Standard for De-icing Salt |
| De-icing, anti-icing agent | Granular material or solution used to lower the freezing point in order to remove ice or prevent it from forming |
| Depression of freezing point temperature | The lowering of the freezing point of a liquid by the addition of a solute. This is a fixed property of a given combination of liquid and solid and is the mode of action of de-icing agents |
| Eutectic point | Temperature below which salt will not melt ice (-21oC) |
| Grit | Natural mineral spreading medium consisting of particles of stone |
| Gritter | Vehicle with conveyor or auger conveyor for spreading salt onto the road surface |
| Gritting/ Spreading agent Agent | used to increase adhesion between tyres and the road surface, so preventing skidding |
| Marine salt, sea salt | Sodium chloride from solar evaporation of sea water. It contains associated impurities such as Calcium Sulphate and Magnesium Chloride |
| Mechanical shovel bucket loader | Wheeled loader for loading a spreader with spreading material |
| Open stockpile | Open storage on a thick base for groundwater protection |
| Precautionary treatment | Treating road surfaces with salt, prior to an expected snow or ice event |
| Pre-wetted salt | Salt which is wetted prior to spreading, usually using sodium chloride or calcium chloride brine solution. This improves adherence to the road, and may encourage rapid thawing action, especially in dry air conditions |
| Residual salt | Salt on the road surface |
| Rock salt, halite | Sodium chloride mined from natural salt beds. May contain impurities such as Calcium Sulphate and Silicates |
| Salt saturator | Specially designed vessel for continuous production of saturated sodium chloride brine |
| Sand | Natural mineral spreading medium (also “crushed” sand). |
| Silo | Raised storage vessel which allows direct filling of spreading vehicles |
| Spreading material | Material spread in order to counter slippery conditions (Sand, salt, grit, granulates, brine) |
| Tank storage | Reservoir for the storage of liquid de-icers |
| Thaw time | The time taken for the ice or snow to melt after treatment |
| Thawing component | Portion of spreading medium responsible for thawing |
| Vacuum salt | Pure sodium chloride prepared by the evaporation of brine under vacuum conditions. The brine is usually extracted by controlled solution mining of rock salt beds, but may be naturally occurring |
