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.

Learning Objectives

• Learn of the commonly used deicing chemicals, from common rock salts to high tech acetates
• Become familiar the approximate range of costs for various deicing products
• Discover the potential for surface and subsurface degradation of natural stone due to repeated deicing applications
• Understand the mechanics of salt attack by recrystallization within stone fabrics

This course has been approved for CEU credit through the following organizations:

• AIA :        NSI-T04OD, 1 LU|HSW
• LACES:  NSI-T04OD, 1.0 HSW PDH