4 Ways To Manage The Ice On Sidewalks In Your Commercial Area
For many businesses, winter is a difficult time. Because of the slippery ice all around, people try to stay inside most of the time. Therefore, the sales are impacted. Not only this, the piles of snow can prevent people from entering a particular area. The heavyweight of snow can also potentially damage outdoor features like awnings, signages, etc. However, the biggest hazard in winter is slipping. It can lead to serious injuries to workers, customers, and passersby. Potential lawsuits that may follow slip and fall accidents are another point of concern for business owners.
In this article, we will explain how to prevent ice on sidewalks, driveway, and parking lot of your commercial area.
How Do You Manage Ice on Commercial Sidewalks?
Commercial sidewalk ice management works best by combining several methods: remove snow before it becomes compacted, add traction where slippery ice remains, maintain good visibility around walking areas, and use deicing or anti-icing materials selectively based on surface and weather conditions. Pay particular attention to entrances, stairs, ramps, parking-lot walkways, and other high-traffic areas. Continue monitoring treated areas because melting snow or ice can refreeze when pavement temperatures fall.
Key Takeaways for Commercial Sidewalk Ice Management
- Remove accumulated snow as early as practical so it is less likely to become compacted into a slippery layer.
- Use traction materials when immediate grip is needed; traction improves friction but does not necessarily melt ice.
- Deicing and traction perform different functions and may be used together depending on conditions.
- Watch for refreezing when temperatures fall after snow or ice begins to melt.
- Give extra attention to entrances, ramps, stairs, crossings, and other high-traffic walking areas.
- Choose ice-management materials according to the surface, pavement temperature, weather conditions, and intended function.
Understanding Snow Removal, Traction, Deicing, and Anti-Icing
Commercial winter maintenance involves several different processes. Snow removal physically removes accumulated snow. Traction adds friction to a slippery surface but does not necessarily remove the ice. Deicing is performed after ice has formed and uses a material intended to weaken or melt the ice layer. Anti-icing is a preventive approach used before or near the beginning of an icing event to reduce the formation or bonding of ice. The appropriate method depends on weather conditions, pavement temperature, surface type, traffic, and whether the immediate objective is removal, melting, or improved grip.
Ice management does not end when melting begins. Meltwater can move into shaded areas, low spots, entrances, or drainage paths and refreeze as temperatures drop. Commercial properties should therefore continue checking treated areas as conditions change.
4 Ways to Manage the Ice on Sidewalks in Your Commercial Area
1- Clear up parking lots
Having an open parking lot is additional work for business owners. You need to remove snow and ice regularly to have a safe and accessible parking area. The layers of snow make it difficult to see the parking lane and park the vehicle. You can use an ice melt to remove the snow from your parking lot, walkways, sideways, and even stairs.
2- Add traction
Ice melt takes hours to melt the snow. You want your walkways accessible all the time. By adding traction, you can immediately access the road or sidewalk.
Sand, kitty litter, and grit are some popular traction agents to add friction and prevent slipping. Using these traction agents helps, but you may still have to clean the driveway post melting of the ice as it may stick to the bottom of the shoes and create a mess.
Another less popular but extremely effective method to help businesses tackle their snow and ice problem is using anti-slip walkway products. This agent has 100% natural crystals in its blend. These crystals act as anti-slip agents, give a good grip on any icy surface and provide good traction.
Get ready for winter with Traction Magic instant grip on snow and ice
3- Have proper lighting
Apart from using anti-slip walkway products, another way to deal with snow and ice is to have proper lighting. Winter means less sunlight and more darkness. To help keep visitors safe, ensure that adequate exterior lights are installed. Areas around your commercial property like the parking lot and driveway should be well lit so that people can see and identify slippery areas.
4- Do not salt
Using salt to melt ice, pits the cement on your establishment’s walkways, steps, and other concrete areas. Once the cement pits, it will eventually crack or cause potholes on your surface.
If you’re concerned about your concrete, then do not salt. Salt is slightly acidic, and the acidity breaks down the chemical bonds essential for the concrete’s strength. Another thing that makes the situation worse is that most concrete in driveways is reinforced with steel. And salt corrodes steel.
Pros and Limitations of Common Sidewalk Ice-Control Methods
| Method | Advantages | Limitations |
| Mechanical snow removal | Physically removes snow; useful before snow becomes compacted | Requires equipment or labor and may leave thin ice behind |
| Traction materials | Can improve grip immediately on slippery surfaces | Generally do not melt the underlying ice and may require cleanup |
| Deicing materials | Can weaken or melt bonded ice | Performance varies with material, temperature and conditions |
| Anti-icing treatment | Helps reduce ice bonding when applied at the appropriate time | Must be applied before or near the beginning of icing conditions |
| Improved lighting | Helps people identify icy or uneven areas | Does not remove or treat ice |
| Chloride-free ice-management options | Avoid chloride-based ingredients where that is a site priority | Performance and use conditions depend on formulation |
Traction vs. Deicing vs. Anti-Icing
| Attribute | Traction | Deicing | Anti-Icing |
| Main purpose | Increase friction | Remove or weaken existing ice | Reduce formation or bonding of ice |
| When used | When a surface is already slippery | After ice forms | Before or near the start of icing |
| Does it necessarily melt ice? | No | Yes, when conditions allow | Intended primarily to prevent or reduce bonding |
| Immediate grip | Often | Depends on treatment and conditions | Not its primary purpose |
| Temperature sensitivity | Usually less dependent on melting performance | Often important | Important |
| Typical role | Short-term friction improvement | Ice removal | Preventive treatment |
Conclusion
Snow and ice can have a huge impact on the ground of your commercial establishment. However, with the solutions mentioned above, you can definitely have a safe and slip-free winter.
Get ready for winter with Traction Magic instant grip on snow and ice
Important Limitations to Keep in Mind
- Traction materials improve friction but generally do not eliminate the underlying ice.
- Deicer performance can change considerably with pavement temperature, precipitation, dilution, and product formulation.
- Hot water may temporarily melt ice but can create additional freezing conditions if the water remains on the surface and temperatures fall.
- Meltwater may refreeze in shaded areas, low spots, and drainage paths.
- Excess traction material may require cleanup after conditions improve.
- Use any ice-management material according to its documented application instructions and suitability for the surface being treated.
- Avoid assuming that one treatment method is appropriate for every sidewalk, parking area, staircase, or weather condition
FAQs
Related Winter Surface Guides
Ice Melt vs. Traction Agents for Concrete
What to Use on New Concrete to Add Traction
Best Winter Traction Products for Ice and Snow
Other Ice Melt Products
Safe Paw
The Original and the #1 Pet and Child Safe Ice Melt for over 20 years. Guaranteed environmentally safe – will not harm waterways and sensitive wetlands. Safe Paw can change how winter affects our planet.
Safe Thaw
Imagine an ice melt you can put down and never worry about. It won’t harm pets, kids and your property. That’s Safe Thaw. Unlike anything else on the market, Ice and Snow Management You Can Trust.
