FY 2010 Snow Manual
Snow and Ice Removal Operations
This booklet is intended to be an operations manual for snow and ice removal on the Ann Arbor campus. Snow and ice removal operations are a complicated task and involve several University departments such as Parking and Transportation Services and Building Services, as well as outside contractors. Grounds and Waste Management Services (GWM) is the lead department and is responsible for producing this manual. It includes:
- Call in procedures and department operating hours
- Building index with identified tasks and responsibilities
- Contact lists
It is the goal of GWM to keep The University of Michigan campus open to traffic during any winter storm event. It is also GWM’s goal to have the roads, docks, walkways, and ramps clear 24 hours following the end of any winter storm event. Parking Services (with assistance from Grounds) provides parking lot snow removal. This includes plowing and deicing. Building Services clears the entrances to the buildings out 14 feet (both snow removal and deicing) during their regular shift. Grounds is responsible for sidewalks, stairs and steps, public sidewalks and loading docks and lots (and entryways when Building Services is unavailable).
Our first priority is to do handicap accessible buildings and these are listed in the index in red. GWM will follow best practices to accomplish these goals. These practices include the use of alternative snow and ice removal methods in order to minimize the damage to the University’s infrastructure and the surrounding environment.
All of these operations are included in this manual. It is intended to be used as a guide and therefore subject to change. Any questions or comments should be directed to the GWM main office at 763-5539.
We also have a website that enables our customers to send via email their requests, concerns and complaints. The address is www.plant.bf.umich.edu/grounds/snow_removal.php.
Alternative Winter Maintenance Practices
Grounds and Waste Management
Proper materials application: The GWM calibration team continues to evaluate and calibrate all anti-icing/deicing materials and equipment. Proper calibration of all equipment is essential. This will always be a work in progress.
Operator training: It is essential that all equipment operators be well trained in applying materials appropriately with their assigned application equipment. It is expected that operators will apply appropriate quantities of anti-icing/deicing materials as per the Operations Matrix and or as conditions warrant. The acting “Snow Supervisor” has the final say on rates and materials during all snow events.
Materials: Alternative granular deicing products continue to be evaluated for effectiveness, non-corrosive properties, ease of application, and cost. Grounds personnel will use only those materials deemed least damaging to University facilities and the environment. GWM is currently using Magnesium chloride as its primary granular deicer for walks, steps, plazas, entryways, etc.
Application: : Anti-icing products will be applied to paved surfaces when forecasts indicate there is a 50% probability of precipitation or other factors that may lead to slippery conditions for pedestrians and motorists. Research has shown that anti-icing practices improve the level of service and reduce total salt usage. Personnel will follow guidelines laid out in the “Operations Matrix”.
Reduced salt use through expansion of liquid anti-icing/deicing materials and equipment: GWM has reduced it’s salt and sand use by an average of 43%. GWM currently has 17 liquid application units to cover all roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and entryways. Areas designated for anti-icing/deicing treatments will be sprayed with rates of application outlined in the “Operations Matrix”. The principle liquid material is 23% Salt Brine mixed with Caliber M-1000 (30% concentration magnesium chloride brine blended with an engineered agricultural byproduct at a 90/10 ratio). This product has corrosion inhibiting properties and a very low effective melting temperature. We mix the two at a 90% Salt Brine/10% M-1000 ratio. The added M-1000 not only lowers the temperature at which you can apply it also acts as a sticker/spreader to hold it in place before the storm.
GWM currently has 3 salt spreaders in its fleet that have ground speed control equipment installed. Ground speed control and the associated in cab computer system enables the operator to make precise applications regardless of vehicle speed. Additionally, Grounds personnel can download actual material application data from each of these three vehicles in real time. These vehicles are equipped with RoadWatch pavement and ambient air temperature sensors. This information is useful to operators for understanding what is occurring at the pavement surface and how to best manage resources.
GWM currently has a 925 gallon liquid application unit that is designed to apply liquids on roads and parking lots for anti-icing and de-icing. This unit is capable of working up to 45 mph covering one, two or three drive lanes. The rates are computer controlled correlated to ground speed from inside the cab. We use this unit for direct road and parking lot applications of very light snow amounts.
GWM will continue to use our brine maker to manufacture 23.3% brine derived from standard, untreated road salt. This material will be applied alone when conditions warrant it and will be blended in various ratios with the Caliber M-1000 when colder effective temperature ranges are necessary. The inclusion of the sodium chloride brine in the product mix will reduce costs and enable more wide spread application. Application rates have been set at 20-40 gallons per lane mile (12’ x 5280’ or 1.454 acres) in the anti-icing mode and 40-100 gallons per lane mile in the de-icing mode.
Treated road salt: GWM will continue the practice of using treated road salt. This practice improves the level of service while cutting total salt use. Treated salt is rock salt that has a magnesium chloride based solution applied at a rate of approximately 8 to 10 gallons per ton. Treated salt has faster melting properties, reduces the temperature at which salt is effective, and minimizes bounce and scatter on the road surface resulting in less salt loss to inappropriate areas. GWM is currently using treated salt as its primary material.
Closure of non-essential facilities ingress/egress: Campus facilities continue to be evaluated for the potential to close certain areas of campus for maintenance purposes. Provided that customer convenience is not compromised, closure of non-essential areas reduces maintenance costs, speeds up reaction time, reduces potential exposure to liability, and reduces the use of chemical deicers.
Additional ongoing programs: This includes enclosing walk and ramps from the elements, the potential for heating paved surfaces, paving surface materials and how they impact snow removal operations or are impacted by them, paved surface area obstacles which hinder snow clearance and result in equipment damage and down time, automatic liquid deicing dispensing systems for high value/high use infrastructure and exploration of a winter emergency ordinance for the winter months.
Operations Matrix for Winter Maintenance of Roads
University of Michigan Grounds and Waste Management Services
| Ground Temperature | Dusting of snow with no snow forecasted | Less than 1" of snow accumulation with no snow forecasted | Less than 1" of snow accumulation with light snow falling | More than 1" of snow accumulation with heavy snow falling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Above 25 degrees F. | Apply 40 gal/lm of Salt Brine or apply 100 lbs/lm of road salt. | Plow and Apply 60 gal/lm of Salt Brine or apply 200 lbs/lm of road salt. | Plow and Apply 300 lbs/lm of road salt. | Plow and Apply 300 lbs/lm to hills and intersections. |
| 18 - 25 degrees F. | Apply 50 gal/lm of Salt Brine with M1000 mix or apply 150 lbs/lm of road salt. | Plow and Apply 75 gal/lm of Salt Brine with M1000 mix or apply 300 lbs/lm of road salt. | Plow and Apply 400 lbs/lm of road salt. | Plow and Apply 400 lbs/lm to hills and intersections. |
| 10 - 18 degrees F. | Apply 300 lbs/lm of road salt. | Plow and Apply 400 lbs/lm of road salt. | Plow and Apply 500 lbs/lm of road salt. | Plow and Apply 500 lbs/lm to hills and intersections. |
| Below 10 degrees F. | Spot treat hills and intersections with 500 lbs/lm of road salt. | Plow and Spot treat hills and intersections with 600 lbs/lm of road salt. | Plow and Spot treat hills and intersections with 800 lbs/lm of road salt. | Plow as necessary. Spot treat hills and intersections with 900 lbs/lm of road salt. |
These Rates are based on using treated salt.
Use Belly Plow when snow accumulations reach 1/2" or more. Plow as often as possible.
Always consult acting snow supervisor for rates when ground temperature is below 10 degrees F.
Chlorinated sand is only used if severe conditions exist and must be approved by the acting snow supervisor.
If freezing rain or ice is accumulating consult acting snow supervisor for materials use and rates.
When Salting: Gates on Trucks should be at 2 inches.
g/lm - gallons per lane mile (12' x 5280')
lbs/lm - pounds per lane mile (12' x 5280')
Department Operating Hours
Grounds Department | |
| 2550 Draper Road | Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. |
| Phone: 763-5539 | Regular Crew: Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. |
| Fax: 764-9390 | Skeleton Crew: Monday through Friday 3:30 p.m.- 7:00 a.m. Saturday, 6:00 a.m.- 10:00 a.m. |
| Radio Channel: 6B | |
Parking and Transportation Services | |
| 3231 Baxter Road | Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. |
| Phone: 764-1225 | Regular Crew: Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m.- 11:30 p.m. |
| Fax: 936-7645 | |
| Radio Channel: 7A | |
Building Services | |
| 109 East Madison Building | Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.- 12:00 a.m. |
| Phone: 647-2059 | Day Crew: Monday through Friday, 4:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. |
| Radio Channel: 6A | Customer Response Team (734-368-6493) |
Radio Communications
| Department | Radio Channel |
|---|---|
| Grounds | 6B |
| Parking | 7A |
| Public Safety | 1A |
| Building Services | 6A |
| Transportation/Buses | 4A |
Operating Hours of Libraries
| Location | Monday-Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bentley Library 1150 Beal Avenue | 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. | 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. | 9:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. | CLOSED |
| Clements Library 909 S. University | 9:00 a.m.- 11:45 a.m. 1:00 p.m.- 4:45 p.m. | 9:00 a.m.- 11:45 a.m. 1:00 p.m.- 4:45 p.m. | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Gerald Ford Library 1000 Beal Avenue | 8:45 a.m.- 4:45 p.m. | 8:45 a.m.- 4:45 p.m. | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Hatcher Graduate Library 920 North University | 8:00 a.m.- 2:00 a.m. | 8:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m.- 2:00 a.m. |
| Information & Library Studies Library 300 Hatcher North | 8:00 a.m.- 2:00 a.m. | 8:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m.- 2:00 a.m. |
| Kresge Business Administration Library 701 Tappan | 7:30 a.m.- 12:00 a.m. | 7:30 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 a.m. |
| Law Library 801 Monroe Street | 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 a.m. | 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 a.m. | 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 a.m. | 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 a.m. |
| School of Public Health Library 109 South Observatory | 8:00 a.m.- 10:00 p.m. | 8:00 a.m.- 10:00 p.m. | 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. | 11:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. |
| Shapiro Undergraduate Library 919 South University | 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 a.m. | 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 a.m. | 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 a.m. | 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 a.m. |
| Social Work Library 1080 South University | 7:45 a.m.- 9:00 p.m. | 7:45 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. | Closed | 1:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. |
| Taubman Medical Library 1135 E. Catherine Street | 8:00 a.m.- 11:45 p.m. | 8:00 a.m.- 7:45 p.m. | 11:00 a.m.- 7:45 p.m. | 12:00 p.m.- 11:45 p.m. |
Operating Hours of Medical Clinics
| Location | Monday-Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Medical Center | 7:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. | CLOSED |
Operating Hours of Recreation Buildings
| Location | Monday-Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Campus Recreation Building (CCRB) 401 Washtenaw | Monday- Wednesday 6:00 a.m.- 2:00 a.m. Thursday 6:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. | 6:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. | 8:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 a.m. |
| Intramural Sports Building (IM) 606 East Hoover Ave | Monday- Wednesday 6:00 a.m.- 1:00 a.m. | Thursday- Friday 6:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. | Closed | 10:00 a.m.- 1:00 a.m |
| North Campus Recreation Building (NCRB) 2375 Hubbard Street | Monday- Wednesday 7:00 a.m.- 12:00 a.m. | Thursday- Friday 7:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. | 8:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. | 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. |
Operating Hours of Museums
| Location | Monday-Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibit Museum of Natural History 1109 Geddes Avenue | 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. | 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. | 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. | 12:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. |
| Kelsey Museum of Archaeology 434 S. State Street | Monday: closed Tuesday-Thursday: 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. | 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. |
| Museum of Art 525 S. State Street | Monday: closed Tuesday: 11:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday: 11:00 a.m.- 10:00 p.m. | 11:00 a.m.- 10:00 p.m. | 11:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. | 11:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. |
Operating Hours of Computing Centers
| Location | Monday-Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angell Hall | 24 Hours | Close at 11:30 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.- 11:30 p.m. | Open at 10:00 a.m. |
| Art & Architecture | 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m.- 10:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. |
| Business Admin (Kresge) | 7:30 a.m.-12:00 a.m. | 7:30 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. |
| Caident (Dental School) | 6:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. | 6:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Center for Statistical Consultation & Research | 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. | 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Dana (SNRE) | 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. | 7:30 a.m.- 10:00 p.m. | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Duderstadt Center (Media Union) | 24 Hours | 24 Hours | 24 Hours | 24 Hours |
| Michigan Union (UNYN) | 7:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m. | 7:00 a.m.- 2:00 a.m. | 7:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m. | 9:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m. |
| Nursing (400 N. Ingalls) | 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. | 6:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Palmer Commons | 7:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m. | 7:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m. | 7:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m. | CLOSED |
| School of Education Media Center | 7:30 a.m.- 9:00 p.m. | 7:30 a.m.- 9:00 p.m. | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| School of Music | 7:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. | 7:00 a.m.- 12:00 a.m. | 7:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. | 7:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. |
| School of Public Health | 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. | 8:00 a.m.- 10:00 p.m. | 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. | 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. |
| School of Social Work | 7:45 a.m.-9:00 p.m. | 7:45 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. | CLOSED | 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. |
| Science Learning Center (Chemistry) | 9:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. | 9:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m | 12:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. | 12:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. |
| Shapiro Micro Computing Center | 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 a.m. | 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 a.m. | 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 a.m. | 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 a.m. |
| Taubman Library Learning Resource Center | 8:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. | 8:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. | 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 a.m. | 12:00 p.m.- 12:00 a.m. |
| West Hall | 7:00 a.m.- 10:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. | CLOSED | CLOSED |