Managing Metallic Corrosion on Winter Maintenance Equipment Assets

Many metallic components in highway maintenance equipment fleet are at risk of corrosion, which is exacerbated in service environments where roadway deicers have been applied. Roadway deicers generally feature chloride salt(s) as their freezing point depressant. As such, the exposure to roadway deicers poses a substantial risk to highway maintenance equipment. This work will review best practices available to manage the risk of deicer corrosion to equipment assets and present a user’s manual for the use of maintenance agencies in the northern climate. The manual has addressed the following subjects: Corrosion Basics; Causes and Effects of Corrosion; Materials Used for Snow and Ice Control; New Equipment Specification; Repair, Rehabilitation and Retrofitting of Existing Equipment; Preventive Maintenance Practices; Training and Facility Management. This manual would be applicable to the winter maintenance community and could aid agencies in the prevention of metallic corrosion and the extension of service life and reliability/readiness of equipment assets.