Best Practices in Salt Storage: Best Practices in Salt Storage By Susan Feldman Salt Institute


Overview: Overview Introduction Why Have Under-roof Storage? Selecting the Right Site. Factors to Consider When Designing the Optimum Site. Salt Institute “Excellence in Storage” Award Canada’s Synthesis of Practice Conclusion


Why Store Salt Inside?: Why Store Salt Inside? Covered storage facilities may seem expensive, but the benefits far outweigh the costs.


Why Have a Salt Storage Facility?: Why Have a Salt Storage Facility? Economy Availability Convenience


Economy: Economy Salt is the most economical deicing material available. Initial cost is low. Handling and storage are simple. Spreading is fast and easy.


Availability: Availability Salt sources are spread throughout the U.S and Canada. Off-shore product is brought into coastal locales and river systems. Most contracts are put out for bid during the early summer months Delivery should take place well before the onset of cold weather.


Convenience: Convenience Handling and storage are simple. Spreading is fast and easy.


Moisture Absorption: Moisture Absorption Salt does not absorb moisture from the air until the humidity reaches 75 %. When the humidity falls below 75 %, the moisture evaporates, sometimes forming a thin crust on the surface of the salt pile. Salt can also “wick” water up from underground sources through porous footers.


Anticaking Additives: Anticaking Additives Most salt producers add anti-caking agents to salt. If left exposed to the elements, the agents can be washed from the outer layer of the salt pile. The best way to prevent or minimize caking is to store salt under cover.


Select the Right Site: S-A-L-T-E-D: Select the Right Site: S-A-L-T-E-D Safety Accessibility Legality Tidiness Economics Drainage


Safety: Safety Workers and general public Visibility Secure the area—fence Environmental safety


Accessibility: Accessibility Equipment Storm access Low visibility Facility access Front-end loader maneuvering Door size


Legality: Legality Local zoning requirements Local, state and federation regulations governing environmental and discharge concerns.


Tidiness: Tidiness Blend with local surroundings. Make as attractive as possible. Clean up spilled salt.


Economics: Economics Distribute storage facilities where trucks don’t have to “dead-head” long distances to reload. Reduces operating costs. Speeds up spreading operations. Permanent covered storage makes good “cents”.


Drainage: Drainage Slope away from the stockpile. ¼ inch per foot away from the center. Pads, aprons and other adjacent work areas should be able to support the loads of stockpile and equipment. Containment Collected brine can be reused. Disposal Follow proper regulatory procedures. Control and collect all drainage!


Put it Under a Roof: Put it Under a Roof Best deicing salt storage is ground level storage building. Design is optional and there are many varieties. Make it to withstand winter winds. Anchor the foundation. Coat/seal construction materials. North American Snow Conference April 27, 2004


How Much Space ?: How Much Space ? Salt physical characteristics determine the space. Conical pile—32 degrees. Deicing salt density: 72-84 lbs/cu. Ft. Use 80 lbs/cu. Ft. One ton=25 cubic feet of storage space. Salt Storage Handbook download. North American Snow Conference April 27, 2004


How Much Building Space?: How Much Building Space? Divide wt. in lbs of salt to be stored by 80= number of cubic feet required. Deduct space lost due to slope of the pile and width of building. North American Snow Conference April 27, 2004


Slide20: Estimating Storage Requirements


Thus, the storage capacity of a building 300 ft. wide and 40 ft deep, with salt piled ten ft. high, would be 384 tons.: Thus, the storage capacity of a building 300 ft. wide and 40 ft deep, with salt piled ten ft. high, would be 384 tons. 300x40x10x80 - (10x10x30x0.0318) = 384 tons 2000


How Much is Needed?: How Much is Needed? Estimating future salt requirements is tough! Never reduce last winter’s figure hoping that next winter will be milder. Take into account new mileage added to road systems: new subdivisions, changes. Anticipate needs based upon needs for previous 5-10 yr. period. Consider extremes, i.e. unseasonably cold temps, blizzard conditions, lots of snow. North American Snow Conference April 27, 2004


How Much is Needed?: How Much is Needed? Order enough. There should be storage room for at least 100% of the estimated average winter’s salt requirements. Take early delivery and store salt until needed. North American Snow Conference April 27, 2004


Order Salt Early: Order Salt Early By mid-summer for summer and fall delivery. Early ordering and stockpiling in good weather assures a ready salt supply. Transportation problems grow more complicated once winter begins and salt demand increases. Salt cannot be transported by barge once waterways are frozen.


The Salt Institute highly recommends that all salt be stored inside permanent facilities.: The Salt Institute highly recommends that all salt be stored inside permanent facilities.


Storage Under Roofed Enclosure:: Storage Under Roofed Enclosure: Prevents salt lump formation Eliminates brine runoff which could contaminate streams and wells Eliminates salt loss through dissolving and runoff


Constructing a Storage Building: Constructing a Storage Building Choose a building that meets location loading practices or future design. How will you load salt /unload deliveries? Round structures allow for total pile withdrawal. Long buildings are excellent for first-in-first out loading patterns.


Constructing a Storage Building: Constructing a Storage Building Check the laws in your state. Are doors required? Door height needs to be over 30 feet. Will you keep mixing chemicals inside? Earthquake loads. Safety with equipment/electricals/ etc.


Salt Institute Excellence in Storage Award: Salt Institute Excellence in Storage Award Integral part of Sensible Salting Program. Award recognizes agencies with outstanding storage facilities & programs. Deadline May 1, 2004. Canadian Excellence in Storage involves the new “synthesis of practice” and uses a separate form (Available in French & English.


Canada Code of Practice: Canada Code of Practice Emphasis on storage. Synthesis of Best Practice contains 9 items. Patrol yards = salt storage. Available from Transportation Association of Canada (TAC). www.tac-atc.ca or link through the Salt Institute website.


Winners-Salt Institute 2003Excellence in Storage Awards: Winners-Salt Institute 2003 Excellence in Storage Awards Canterbury Maintenance Facility, CT DOT East Great Plains Maintenance Facility, CT DOT Groton Maintenance Facility, CT DOT Marlborough Maint. Facility, CT DOT City of Houghton Dept. of Public Works, Houghton, MI McHenry County Hwy Dept., Woodstock, IL


Winners-Salt Institute 2003Excellence in Storage Awards: Winners-Salt Institute 2003 Excellence in Storage Awards Hooksett/Hampton Maintenance Facility, NH DOT Bureau of Turnpikes, Hooksett, NH Shawnee Mission Maintenance Facility, City of Overland Park, Overland Park, KS


2003 Continuing Excellence in Storage Awards: 2003 Continuing Excellence in Storage Awards Village of Addison, IL; Village of Arlington Hts, IL; Village of Buffalo Grove, IL; Columbia County, Wyocena, WI; CT DOT/Cornwall; City of Elgin, IL; City of Geneva, IL; Village of Hanover Park, IL; Village of Lake Zurich, IL; Lockport Township, IL; Mount Prospect P.W., Macomb County, MI (Warren Facility); City of Marquette, MI; Cumberland NJ DOT, Bridgeton, NJ; NJ DOT Cumberland Yard #425; #426; Elmer Yard #420, Pittgrove, NJ; Glassboro Yard #417; Red Lion Yard #434; Berlin Yard # 415; Deepwater Yard #425; Cherry Hill Yard 411; West Depford Yard #413; Town of North Salem, NY; Town of Orangetown, NY; Village of Orland Park, IL; City of Rochelle, IL; City of West Des Moines, IA; Wright County, Buffalo, MN; Town of Yorktown, NY; City of Zion Public Works, Zion, IL.


Over Ten-Time Winners in Continuing Excellence in Storage Awards: Over Ten-Time Winners in Continuing Excellence in Storage Awards Fifteen-time winner (1989-2003) Village of Buffalo Grove, Buffalo Grove, IL. Twelve-time winner (1991-1999, 2002-2003) Village of Arlington Heights, IL Eleven-time winner ( 1991-2001) Ten-time winner (1994-2003) City of Marquette, MI


Where to find more information:: Where to find more information: Salt Institute website: www.saltinstitute.org Salt Storage Handbook Excellence in Storage Voluntary Salt Storage Guidelines for Distribution Stockpiles. Ground Water & Source Water Protection.


Review: Review Why have inside storage? Know how to select the right site: S-A-L-T-E-D Know the steps in designing the optimum building. Excellence in Storage Award deadline.