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Controlling Dust

The advantages of calcium chloride treatments typically far outweigh concerns about environmental, health and safety impact when proper handling and application procedures are followed and products are applied at recommended rates.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) Calcium Chloride Handbook
Controlling Dust - Use Responsibly - OxyChem Calcium Chloride

Follow recommended guidelines and application rates to minimize negative impact. Avoid applying calcium chloride during heavy rainfall or if rain is threatening, because rain will leach out or dilute the chloride and cause it to run off the road. High application rates increase risk of run-off. As application rate increases, so does the risk of run-off into ditches before it can soak into the road. Not only is this wasteful, but it also can lead to negative impacts.

Begin a season-long dust control program in the Spring as follows:

  • Start with a quality gravel foundation.

Recommended Aggregate Characteristics

Characteristic

Preferred

Acceptable
Maximum Size

3/4 inch

1 inch
Grading Description

Well graded – not uniform or skip graded
Percent Pass #4

55 to 70

50 to 70
Percent Pass #200 (Nonplastic)

14 to 17

12 to 17
Percent Pass #200 (Plastic)

12 to 15

8 to 15
Plasticity Index

2 to 9

Nonplastic
Los Angeles Abrasion

Less than 30

Less than 40
Percent Fracture, one face

Greater than 85%

Greater than 75%
Recommended Aggregate Characteristics
Maximum Size

Preferred

3/4 inch

Acceptable

1 inch

Grading Description

Preferred

Well graded – not uniform or skip graded

Percent Pass #4

Preferred

55 to 70

Acceptable

50 to 70

Percent Pass #200 (Nonplastic)

Preferred

14 to 17

Acceptable

12 to 17

Percent Pass #200 (Plastic)

Preferred

12 to 15

Acceptable

8 to 15

Plasticity Index

Preferred

2 to 9

Acceptable

Nonplastic

Los Angeles Abrasion

Preferred

Less than 30

Acceptable

Less than 40

Percent Fracture, one face

Preferred

Greater than 85%

Acceptable

Greater than 75%

  • Blade the road while the moisture content and humidity are relatively high. Water the road surface prior to blading unless rain has fallen within the previous two days.
  • Remove ruts, washboards, and potholes, and mix in loose aggregate.
  • Ensure good drainage by shaping road to at least a 4% crown.
  • Clean and reshape ditches, shoulders, and culverts.
  • Apply product according to the recommended application rate:

Recommended Application Rates (US Units)

Product

Unpaved Roads

Truck Terminals & Parking Lots

Mine Haul & Logging Roads
LIQUIDOW® 35%

0.30 gal/yd2

0.33 gal/yd2

0.39 gal/yd2

2117 gal/lane-mi*

2532 gal/lane-mi

2744 gal/lane-mi
LIQUIDOW® 38%

0.27 gal/yd2

0.30 gal/yd2

0.35 gal/yd2

1901 gal/lane-mi

2112 gal/lane-mi

2464 gal/lane-mi
LIQUIDOW® 42%

0.24 gal/yd2

0.26 gal/yd2

0.31 gal/yd2

1664 gal/lane-mi

1849 gal/lane-mi

2157 gal/lane-mi
DOWFLAKE® Xtra 83-87%

1.38 lb/yd2

1.56 lb/yd2

1.83 lb/yd2

4.84 ton/lane-mi

5.49 ton/lane-mi

6.45 ton/lane-mi
Anhydrous 94-97%

1.23 lb/yd2

1.39 lb/yd2

1.64 lb/yd2

4.33 ton/lane-mi

4.90 ton/lane-mi

5.77 ton/lane-mi
Recommended Application Rates (US Units)
LIQUIDOW® 35%

Unpaved Roads

0.30 gal/yd2

2117 gal/lane-mi*

Truck Terminals & Parking Lots

0.33 gal/yd2

2532 gal/lane-mi

Mine Haul & Logging Roads

0.39 gal/yd2

2744 gal/lane-mi

LIQUIDOW® 38%

Unpaved Roads

0.27 gal/yd2

1901 gal/lane-mi

Truck Terminals & Parking Lots

0.30 gal/yd2

2112 gal/lane-mi

Mine Haul & Logging Roads

0.35 gal/yd2

2464 gal/lane-mi

LIQUIDOW® 42%

Unpaved Roads

0.24 gal/yd2

1664 gal/lane-mi

Truck Terminals & Parking Lots

0.26 gal/yd2

1849 gal/lane-mi

Mine Haul & Logging Roads

0.31 gal/yd2

2157 gal/lane-mi

DOWFLAKE® Xtra 83-87%

Unpaved Roads

1.38 lb/yd2

4.84 ton/lane-mi

Truck Terminals & Parking Lots

1.56 lb/yd2

5.49 ton/lane-mi

Mine Haul & Logging Roads

1.83 lb/yd2

6.45 ton/lane-mi

Anhydrous 94-97%

Unpaved Roads

1.23 lb/yd2

4.33 ton/lane-mi

Truck Terminals & Parking Lots

1.39 lb/yd2

4.90 ton/lane-mi

Mine Haul & Logging Roads

1.64 lb/yd2

5.77 ton/lane-mi

* lane-mile equals 4 yards wide by 1760 yards long

Recommended Application Rates (Metric Units)

Product

Unpaved Roads

Truck Terminals & Parking Lots

Mine Haul & Logging Roads
LIQUIDOW® 35%

1.36 liter/m2

1.51 liter/m2

1.76 liter/m2

5027 liter/lane-km*

5604 liter/lane-km

6511 liter/lane-km
LIQUIDOW® 38%

1.22 liter/m2

1.36 liter/m2

1.58 liter/m2

4514 liter/lane-km

5032 liter/lane-km

5846 liter/lane-km
LIQUIDOW® 42%

1.07 liter/m2

1.19 liter/m2

1.38 liter/m2

3951 liter/lane-km

4404 liter/lane-km

5116 liter/lane-km
DOWFLAKE® Xtra 83-87%

0.75 kg/m2

0.85 kg/m2

0.99 kg/m2

2.76 tonne/lane-km

3.13 tonne/lane-km

3.68 tonne/lane-km
Anhydrous 94-97%

0.67 kg/m2

0.76 kg/m2

0.89 kg/m2

2.47 tonne/lane-km

2.80 tonne/lane-km

3.29 tonne/lane-km
Recommended Application Rates (Metric Units)
LIQUIDOW® 35%

Unpaved Roads

1.36 liter/m2

5027 liter/lane-km*

Truck Terminals & Parking Lots

1.51 liter/m2

5604 liter/lane-km

Mine Haul & Logging Roads

1.76 liter/m2

6511 liter/lane-km

LIQUIDOW® 38%

Unpaved Roads

1.22 liter/m2

4514 liter/lane-km

Truck Terminals & Parking Lots

1.36 liter/m2

5032 liter/lane-km

Mine Haul & Logging Roads

1.58 liter/m2

5846 liter/lane-km

LIQUIDOW® 42%

Unpaved Roads

1.07 liter/m2

3951 liter/lane-km

Truck Terminals & Parking Lots

1.19 liter/m2

4404 liter/lane-km

Mine Haul & Logging Roads

1.38 liter/m2

5116 liter/lane-km

DOWFLAKE® Xtra 83-87%

Unpaved Roads

0.75 kg/m2

2.76 tonne/lane-km

Truck Terminals & Parking Lots

0.85 kg/m2

3.13 tonne/lane-km

Mine Haul & Logging Roads

0.99 kg/m2

3.68 tonne/lane-km

Anhydrous 94-97%

Unpaved Roads

0.67 kg/m2

2.47 tonne/lane-km

Truck Terminals & Parking Lots

0.76 kg/m2

2.80 tonne/lane-km

Mine Haul & Logging Roads

0.89 kg/m2

3.29 tonne/lane-km

*lane-km equals 3.7 meters wide by 1000 meters long

  • During unusually long periods of hot, dry weather, water the road surface as needed to reconstitute the initial treatment.
  • Re-apply in the late Summer or early Fall as needed to prolong dust control benefits.

 

If using a solid calcium chloride product:

  • Water the surface prior to applying product.
  • Either divert traffic or post signs of potential slippery conditions if the road is kept open while product remains on the surface.

 

Learn more about managing impact to metal, pavement & concrete, pets, vegetation, and water & nature.