Effects of Deicing Chemicals in Natural stone

Start Date

11/30/2023

End Date

11/30/2023

Description

Commonly fielded questions by the NSI’s technical staff include numerous queries regarding the selection of deicing chemicals for use on natural stone, particularly limestone. Building maintenance personnel are routinely attempting to achieve a balance between providing safe walking surfaces for occupants while minimizing potential damage to stone surfaces due to the application of deicing chemicals. A recently completed research study performed by the NSI Technical Department has yielded some valuable insight regarding the degradation of limestone products when subjected to a variety of deicing chemicals. The chemicals included in the study cover a spectrum of chlorides and acetates representing a rather wide range of costs and effects. The stone test specimens were subjected to repeated wet/dry cycling and freeze/thaw cycling, in addition to the chemical exposure. This webinar topic is purposely presented just in time for the onset of winter snow and ice season in many of our northern regions.

Location

Oberlin, OH

Distance Learning

Course Equivalency

Subjects

Campus Planning & Design

Health, Safety and Welfare

Yes

Hours

1.0

Learning Outcomes

Learning Objective 1:
Learn of the commonly used deicing chemicals, from common rock salts to high tech acetates
Learning Objective 2:
Become familiar the approximate range of costs for various deicing products

Learning Objective 3:
Discover the potential for surface and subsurface degradation of natural stone due to repeated deicing applications

Learning Objective 4:
Understand the mechanics of salt attack by recrystallization within stone fabrics

Instructors

Chuck Muehlbauer, Natural Stone Institute

Course Codes

NSI-T04

Provider

Natural Stone Institute

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