Snow & Ice Melt for Aluminum Ramps

As a leading manufacturer of stairs and ramps, Upside Innovations understands the importance of maintaining safe, ice-free surfaces. Our aluminum ramps have a knurled decking, providing slip resistance in dry and wet conditions. However, snow and ice build-up on your ramp is a safety hazard and should be removed properly. As you probably know, removal from any metal surface has always been tricky because metal doesn’t react well with salt.

In regions with harsh winters, selecting the proper ice melt is crucial for facility and commercial property managers. We suggest three common ways to minimize any safety issues arising from weather-related problems.

A simple way to remove any light snow accumulation from the ramp with knurling is to use a stiff-bristled or push broom. The bristles of these brooms are strong enough to remove the snow from the ramp and from the grooves in the decking surface that give the ramp the grip in the first place. On the ramp surface, you will have to push the snow up or down a ramp to a platform or to the ground since the wheel guard at the ramp’s edges will not allow the snow to be swept off the side. Once the snow is on a platform, it can be swept across and pushed off the edge or through the rails. The key to using a stiff-bristled broom is to push hard enough to get into the grooves of the ramp surface and remove the snow, but you don’t want to scrub the surface so hard that you scratch the aluminum. If the aluminum is scratched, oxidation will occur more quickly.

If the snow and ice are too much for a broom to handle, you may want to think about some chemical snow melt. We do not recommend using common rock salt on the aluminum. Typical rock salt will cause a reaction with the aluminum and will eventually cause some pitting and weaken the structure. We recommend that our customers use a magnesium chloride ice melt for most applications. This is particularly beneficial due to its non-corrosive nature on aluminum, ensuring the longevity and integrity of your installations. As an alternative, especially for government entities or large businesses seeking cost-effective solutions, calcium chloride is a viable option.

Additionally, we have identified the Melt Premium Enviro Blend Ice Melter as an excellent alternative for use on our aluminum ramps. This environmentally friendly product can be effectively applied to snow and ice, ensuring no damage to the metal or concrete surfaces.