Car parks across retail centres, business parks, hotels and other establishments see high volumes of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic every day. Keeping the flow moving safely even when snow and ice create slippery conditions takes diligent preparation and rapid response once storms hit.
Assess Risk Areas
Conduct an audit identifying locations most prone to problematic snow and ice accumulation within your car park. Factors like lack of sunlight exposure, shaded spots near trees/buildings, low drainage areas and high foot traffic zones like pay stations deserve priority attention. Note areas accessed by vulnerable users like disabled bays, parent/child spaces and elderly drop-off points for swift clearing focus after snowfall. If part of a larger building or business, determine whether on-site facilities teams or outside contractors hold winter maintenance responsibility in your parking zone and establish alert protocols.
Stock Essential Snow Removal Tools
Having the right snow clearing tools onsite ensures your crew works efficiently to reveal safe pavement. Stockpile sturdy plastic snow shovels for lifting dense piles from compacted trouble areas. Metal ice scrapers pry up thick ice chunks resistant to melting once compacted by tires. A portable spreader allows liberal broadcast application of granular salt or grit across the entire car park simultaneously. Arrange space to also store bagged rock salt, sand, and absorbent material to manage icy slick spots.
Clear After Each Snowfall
Promptly mobilising personnel to clear walking zones and parking bays after the last snowflake falls makes it easier to eliminate accumulation before it bonds to asphalt and turns perilously slick. Work systematically by first creating major vehicle channels then clearing aisles and pedestrian lanes last.
Apply Salt and Sand Liberally
Regular salting during and after snowfalls prevents packed snow from transitioning to stubborn ice that resists removal other than via labour-intensive chiselling. Use a drop spreader to coat an entire section efficiently. Pour granulated rock salt straight onto stubborn slick patches to permeate layers via its hygroscopic properties, absorbing moisture to dissolve ice. Sand gives added traction. Mark any exceptionally slick areas blocked off, avoiding mishaps. Reapply salt after ploughing or whenever freezing conditions persist.
Invest in Advanced De-Icers If Needed
For large facilities in higher latitudes facing frequent winter storms, manual gritting and salting proves inadequate against recurring blizzard threats. Commercial parking managers often turn to more advanced ice melters offering superior penetration through solid ice that exceeds traditional salt capabilities. Products featuring calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), potassium chloride (KCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2) or magnesium chloride (MgCl2) work faster melting snow and ice well below freezing point. Though pricier initially, switching to commercial de-icers reduces labour clearing stubborn bonded ice.
Consider Installing In-Ground Heating
Outfitting the busiest pedestrian lanes and disabled spaces with electrical heating coils safely melts snow accumulation without need for any labour. Preventive temperature monitored solutions like hydronic radiant tubing, electric heat tracing cable or heated mats below the pavement activate before ice develops, keeping high priority pathways perpetually frost-free. Though expensive, automated warming minimises threats from overlooked re-icing and provides liability protection against slip and falls.
Be Proactive Preparing Policies
Compile winter maintenance protocols detailing assigned duties, priority areas, weather monitoring procedures, product application guidelines and any unique hazard circumstances into a defined snow response plan for your location. Give personnel ample training before cold weather begins. Update procedures annually adjusting for new risk patterns. Keep clear documentation of all ice and snow remediation efforts undertaken, including dated logs reporting condition surveys, treatments applied, and incidents encountered.
Enlisting Professional Assistance
For extremely large car parks, the task of continually monitoring conditions and clearing every section after every snow event often surpasses realistic in-house capabilities. Facilities managers in charge of vast parking real estate may consider contracting professional snow removal crews ready to mobilise on-demand. These mobile teams bring specialised ploughs, mechanical brushes, and high-capacity salt/sand spreaders able to canvas acres rapidly. They work systematically based on property maps and priority zones identified beforehand. Some even utilise sensor networks that automatically alert services the minute precipitation begins to stick so mitigation starts before hazards fully manifest.
Though outsourcing snow clearing incurs fees, having blizzard backup resources to summon 24/7 allows managers to focus elsewhere while ensured experts vigilantly maintain safe, ice-free lots all season. Identify qualified contractors in your region in advance and request quotes detailing response times, equipment resources and pricing structures before winter storms strike your property. Their years securing other large lots provides assurance reliable help awaits your call when the weather outlook looks ominous.
Conclusion
Staying vigilant securing safe access during the winter is paramount for managers overseeing facilities open to the public. Following blizzard threats as they come, taking a proactive stance clearing every icy or snow-packed area promptly restores safe operations that support revenue and reputation for both businesses and local councils. Prepare in advance for winter’s blows by stocking removal supplies, training staff and installing permanent heating solutions where possible to keep users secure when snowy months descend.