AASHTO M-143 Sodium Chloride for Highway Use — Specification Guide
AASHTO M-143 is the US standard for de-icing sodium chloride used by state DOTs and federal highway agencies. Covers chemical composition (≥96.5% NaCl), gradation (Type 1 Coarse, Type 2 Fine), moisture, anti-caking. Egyptian sea + rock salt available to spec.
AASHTO M-143 — Sodium Chloride for Highway Use
AASHTO M-143 is the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials specification for sodium chloride (NaCl) used as a de-icing agent on roadways. It's the federal-level US complement to ASTM D632 and is the procurement reference for most state DOT winter contracts.
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| NaCl (sodium chloride) | ≥ 96.5% (dry basis) |
| Insoluble matter | ≤ 2.5% |
| Moisture (loss on drying at 110°C) | ≤ 2.0% (Type 1) / ≤ 3.0% (Type 2) |
| Anti-caking additive | Optional, e.g. Sodium ferrocyanide (Yellow Prussiate of Soda — YPS / E535) ≤ 100 ppm |
Type 1 — Coarse
| Sieve | % passing |
|---|---|
| 12.5 mm (½") | 100 |
| 9.5 mm (⅜") | 95-100 |
| 4.75 mm (#4) | 20-90 |
| 2.36 mm (#8) | 10-60 |
| 600 µm (#30) | 0-10 |
Use: traditional spreader bar trucks, low-speed traffic, high-application-rate roadways
Type 2 — Fine
| Sieve | % passing |
|---|---|
| 9.5 mm (⅜") | 100 |
| 4.75 mm (#4) | 90-100 |
| 2.36 mm (#8) | 50-90 |
| 600 µm (#30) | 5-30 |
| 300 µm (#50) | 0-10 |
Use: pre-wetting brine prep, high-speed highway, faster melt response
AASHTO M-143 salt is commonly pre-wetted with one of:
Pre-wetting extends working temperature down to ~-15°C (MgCl₂) or -20°C (CaCl₂) vs ~-7°C for dry NaCl.
Egypt Globe Group supplies AASHTO M-143-compliant salt from:
Rock salt source — Siwa Oasis + Qattara Depression
Sea salt source — Egyptian Mediterranean + Red Sea
| Standard | Region | NaCl min | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AASHTO M-143 | USA federal/state DOT | 96.5% | + ASTM D632 |
| ASTM D632 Grade 1 | USA (ASTM ref spec) | 95% | More liberal than AASHTO |
| EN 16811-1 Grade A | EU motorway | 96% | + Type 1 with E535 / Type 2 natural |
| EN 16811-1 Grade B | EU high-speed | 95% | |
| BS 3247:2011 | UK Highways | 95% | UK Salt Association accredited |
| SS-EN 16811-1 | Nordic (Sweden Type 2 emphasis) | 95% | Pre-wetting standard |
| GOST 13830 Grade I | CIS (Russia, Belarus, KZ) | 97% | Stricter NaCl spec |
- RFP issued by state DOT or cooperative (e.g. Sourcewell, NJPA) typically May-July for upcoming winter
- Vendor responds with NaCl spec sheet, AASHTO M-143 compliance letter, gradation report, plant inspection records
- Award Aug-Sept based on price + delivered logistics
- Pre-positioning Sept-Nov to DOT salt domes (~25,000-50,000 MT per major contract)
- Operational use Nov-Apr (varies by state)
- Mill Test Certificate per ASTM C114 chemical analysis
- Gradation report per ASTM E11 sieve analysis
- AASHTO M-143 compliance letter signed by QC manager
- SDS per OSHA HazCom
- Bill of Lading + Certificate of Origin + Commercial Invoice
- Third-party SGS/Intertek inspection report (buyer option, typical cost 0.3-0.5% of cargo value)
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More in More
SS-EN 16811-1 Nordic De-icing Salt Standard — Specification Guide
SS-EN 16811-1 is the Swedish national adoption of EN 16811-1 with Nordic-specific emphasis on Type 2 natural-moisture sea salt and pre-wetting compatibility for sub-zero winter operations in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark.
EN 16811-1 Deicing Salt Standard — Egyptian Sea + Rock Salt Compliant
EN 16811-1 European deicing salt standard — full grade table (A 0/2, A 0/4, A 0/6.3, B 2/8, C Lump), Type 1 vs Type 2, anti-caking spec. Egyptian sea + rock salt SKUs compliant across all variants.
ASTM D632 / AASHTO M-143 — US/Canada Deicing Salt Standard
ASTM D632 + AASHTO M-143 US/Canada deicing salt standard. Grade 1 (4.75-9.5 mm coarse) + Grade 2 (2.0-4.75 mm fine). Egyptian sea + rock salt compliant. State DOT specs.
BS 3247:2011 — UK + Ireland Highway Deicing Salt Standard
BS 3247:2011 UK Highway deicing salt standard. 1.0-6.0 mm particle size, 97% NaCl minimum, ≤1.5% moisture, E535 anti-caking. Egyptian sea + rock salt SKUs compliant.
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