The winter months in London can transform picturesque streets and landscapes into hazardous icy terrain. From December through February, cold temperatures, snow, freezing rain, and ice storms leave roads, walkways, stairs, and entrances extremely slippery and dangerous for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. For homes and businesses across the city, having an effective de-icing plan in place before the first freeze is essential to keep people safe and prevent property damage when winter weather strikes. In this article, we will look at some must-have de-icing products for both large commercial facilities and residential settings in the London area to combat snow and ice dangers.
De-icing Essentials for London Homes
Protecting the small patches of pavements, short driveways, and entry steps that most London households must keep clear of winter hazards need not require heavy investment in specialised equipment. A few key de-icing products used properly can easily maintain safe access all season.
Hand Shovels and Manual Labour
The first line of defence after any measurable snowfall is to simply grab a shovel and get to work. Clearing freshly fallen powder before it turns to densely packed ice makes relieving hazards easier. Target areas that see the most foot traffic include steps to front doors, primary walkways, and tight spaces where compactors cannot reach. Apply common white ice melt gritting salt or sand generously for improved traction. Repeat after subsequent snow or freezing rain to prevent packed snow from becoming stubborn ice.
Chemical Ice Melt Solutions
For frequent icy build-up during harsh cold snaps, hand scattering pelleted ice melt products keep hazardous slick spots at bay once snow melts or refreezes into ice. Choose environmentally gentle calcium chloride or magnesium chloride formulas over harsh salts. Apply pellets liberally, allowing the chemicals to fully dissolve ice. Reapply as needed after heavy foot traffic, additional precipitation or refreezing. Keep plenty of supply on hand in weatherproof containers.
Long-Handle Ice Scrapers
Car parks, vehicle bonnets and other awkward or elevated areas prone to ice accumulation can be difficult to manually shovel and scatter with pellets. Long handle ice scraping tools easily reach these tricky spaces to chip hardened ice and allow de-icers to permeate. Durable plastic heads reinforce strong metal frames designed for rigorous chipping on thick ice. Keep one accessible to combat hard-to-reach ice before it bonds tightly.
De-icing Must-Haves for London Businesses
Beyond simply avoiding liability claims, business owners and managers have a legal obligation to protect the health and safety of both employees and customers when hazardous conditions arise. Just as providing adequate lighting, safe flooring, and clean facilities during normal operations falls under the responsibility of good corporate stewardship, proactively addressing winter weather threats should be viewed as equally vital. Below are a few ways that London business owners can protect staff and patrons.
Manual Labour Strategies
Before purchasing expensive pavement salt boxes or contracting with snow removal crews, small London business owners should consider handling winter weather threats manually. Provide employees with sturdy snow shovels, thick gloves and ice scraping tools to clear access areas as needed. Instruct workers to focus first on high-traffic zones like disabled ramps, building entry points and carpark routes after storms. Scatter liberal amounts of white ice melt gritting salt across walkways regularly throughout cold snaps to prevent ice from fully bonding. Though labour-intensive, careful manual de-icing can often sufficiently protect access for many urban companies.
Advanced De-Icing Salts and Liquids
Once shovel clearing and basic salt/sand loses its effectiveness as winter hazards escalate, commercial spaces must utilise heavy-duty de-icing products. Bulk quantities of calcium chloride flakes offer superior ice melting over basic salts, whether spread manually or dispersed from powered spreaders across large surface areas like loading docks and expansive carparks. For immediate clearing on contact, liquid de-icers like enhanced sodium chloride brines flow easily from pressurised spray tanks across the slushy melting mix of snow and ice often plaguing city properties. The rapid effectiveness of advanced de-icing chemicals justifies their steeper costs for businesses needing vigilance after storms.
Automated Heating Systems
Though initially expensive to purchase and install, automated snow melting systems offer the ultimate protection against London’s icy threats for high-traffic businesses. Embedded heated pavement panels under key walkways use coiled electrical wires or circulating warm liquid glycol to maintain above-freezing surface areas that cannot ice over even in the most extreme weather. Elsewhere, heated underground drainage tubes along roof drip lines prevent heavy ice dams and icicle build-up. Both systems activate based on ambient air or soil temperature sensors. Though hands-free and requiring no labour, automated heating does use large amounts of electricity. Savvy property managers carefully weigh operating costs against winter hazard risks when considering permanent systems.
Winter Wise Preparation
Braving the mercurial weather swinging from picturesque snowfalls to menacing ice storms means London homeowners and businesses must prepare for winter’s worst. Having appropriate manual and chemical de-icing products stockpiled provides the vital tools to face whatever mix of wintery dangers Old Man Winter metes out. Implement smart plans to efficiently deploy resources when hazardous conditions arise. Stay vigilant in ongoing monitoring and maintenance after storms transition to stretches of bitter cold in the London area. Keeping up a proactive regimen throughout the winter ensures everyone’s safety during the chilliest season.