Composition, application and price of road salt

Frosts and the first snowfall coming in late autumn are a big challenge for both property owners and companies that maintain public roads. To improve the conditions in front of properties and on the streets, road salt , also known as technical salt, is often used.

Read what this mixture consists of, where to buy it, and above all - what is the price of road salt in bags .

Composition of bagged road salt

Road salt is almost pure sodium oxide. According to the applicable Polish Standard PN-86/C-84081/02, its content should be not less than 90%, although in practice you will more often come across a concentration of 95-97%.

In addition to this element, road salt includes:

• substances insoluble in water - used to increase friction (maximum 8%),
• water - for better chemical reactivity (maximum 3%),
• potassium gelocyanide – prevents caking of road salt (in the amount of 20 mg/kg).

Road salt should also meet certain requirements for grain size, i.e. the size of individual particles. The optimal grain size is from 1 to 6 mm in certain proportions.

When you buy bagged or loose road salt , pay attention to whether it meets the parameters specified above. Remember that the Polish Standard defines technical requirements only for domestic products. If you import a mixture from abroad, its parameters may differ.

Since January 1, 2003, compliance with Polish Standards is not mandatory and there is no sanction for changing the composition of the goods. Manufacturers often meet the requirements of the Polish Committee for Standardization voluntarily, because the appropriate marking is a guarantee of the high quality of the goods offered.

Many companies import road salt in bulk from Eastern European countries where there are large open-pit salt mines. In this case, however, it is difficult to predict how a given product will behave in practice, because its composition may differ significantly from Polish products.

How should you use road salt ?

Road salt is used to break down the structure of snow and ice, which turn into a watery slurry under the influence of chloride and sodium ions. However, a typical mixture only works down to -7°C. Below this temperature, its efficiency drops drastically.

That is why in many wholesalers you will find specialized preparations intended for removing snow and ice even at 20-degree frosts. Although the price of technical salt with such parameters is higher, its use will sometimes be necessary.

Salt has a strong hygroscopic effect. This means that there is no point in feeding her all the time. Regular supplementation of small portions works much more effectively. With heavy rainfall, you can do it even every few hours.

On the plot and directly in front of it, a simple shovel is enough to spread salt. In this way, you will ensure that the salt is precisely placed exactly where it is needed.

If your workers need to deal with the snow as quickly as possible, heavy equipment will help them work more efficiently. It spreads salt over a radius of many meters and in much larger quantities.

Where to buy road salt and how to store it?

If you need to buy road salt wholesale , you should familiarize yourself with the offer of chemical stores. You will usually find road salt there in impermeable bags that eliminate the possibility of contact of the active substances with water. Some companies also sell loose road salt . It is usually cheaper, but more troublesome to store.

Remember to store road salt in a dry, shaded and cool place. It is very important that it does not come into contact with water, mud and other moist impurities, which will lead to the degradation of the mixture very quickly.

If you keep it in an open space (e.g. a rented square), it is worth covering the heap with thick foil and surrounding it with a tight fence on all sides. A better idea is to store salt in a warehouse, where it will be easier to maintain the right temperature and humidity.

Purchasing raw material from a professional wholesaler has a number of advantages:

• you choose goods from a proven supplier;
• chemistry most often meets all technical standards specified in the regulations;
• you save because the wholesale purchase price is much lower than unit packaging;
• you receive the goods carefully packed and delivered on a pallet, ready to be placed in the warehouse.

Some companies also apply a policy of discounts and price reductions for regular customers and especially large orders.

How much does road salt cost ?

How much you pay for road salt depends primarily on the amount of raw material. The price of a 25-kilogram bag of road salt is about PLN 30. The price of road salt per ton starts from PLN 500, so you can save a lot. Before you make a choice, consider how much raw material you will need.

If you buy chemicals for your individual needs (e.g. for clearing snow from the driveway or sidewalk in front of the property), a single large package of bagged salt is enough. Even with heavy snowfall, a 25 kg bag (it is recommended to spread about 1 kg of salt for every 5-6 m ² of surface) can last you for many weeks.

If you run a road company and your tasks include keeping the roads clean, it may turn out that buying a ton of road salt in bags is a better solution. You can easily divide it into portions and distribute it among individual cleaning teams.

You can easily store excess salt until next year, but you must remember to ensure the right storage conditions.

The price of bagged road salt rises sharply at the end of autumn. Don't be surprised by the cold and get ready for winter! In the Distripark warehouse offer you will find a wide selection of road salts . Choose between classic sodium chloride, efficient calcium chloride and ecological magnesium chloride.

We sell both individual bags and wholesale quantities, intended for companies. All products in our offer have the necessary approvals and certificates. You can be sure that the goods purchased from us will fulfill their task.

Take care of your safety during the winter with us!