The concept of sustainability is starting to rewrite the rules for keeping exterior surfaces around institutional and commercial facilities free of snow and ice, according to an article from Facility Maintenance Decisions on the FacilitiesNet website.

Once, grounds managers specified large amounts of deicer chemicals that crews spread on sidewalks, entryways and parking lots to keep them free of ice and snow.

In recent years, significant advances in research and methodology have established better ways to ensure the safety of building occupants and visitors while also considering the environmental and financial impacts of snow and ice management.

Managers who focus on bond prevention and anti-icing as a paradigm, who implement key initiatives and best practice guides, and who take advantage of insights into available deicer chemicals can go a long way toward making snow and ice management more sustainable.

Read the article.