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.
BS 3247:2011 — British Standard for Salt for Spreading on Highways
BS 3247:2011: "Salt for spreading on highways for winter maintenance" is the UK national standard for de-icing salt used by National Highways (formerly Highways England) and UK local authorities. It is harmonised with EN 16811-1 but adds UK-specific procurement requirements. Egypt Globe Group supplies BS 3247:2011-compliant rock salt from Siwa Oasis and Qattara Depression and sea salt from North Sinai and the Red Sea, with every lot verified against the chemical and gradation clauses by the port laboratory before the Bill of Lading.
Standard at a glance
| Clause | Requirement | EGG verification method | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| NaCl content | ≥ 95 % (dry basis) | Chemical analysis (argentometric chloride) at the port laboratory | Every lot, before B/L |
| Insoluble residue | ≤ 5.0 % | Gravimetric water-insolubles | Every lot |
| Moisture | ≤ 2.0 % (kiln-dried) or ≤ 4.0 % (natural) | Loss on drying; dryer outlet checks during kiln-drying | Every lot |
| Anti-caking | E535 sodium ferrocyanide, max 100 ppm (optional) | Dosing record + ferrocyanide assay | Every dosed lot |
| Gradation (UK Highways target) | 10 mm 100 % · 6.3 mm 90–100 % · 2.8 mm 50–85 % · 0.85 mm 5–30 % · 0.063 mm 0–3 % passing (1–6 mm working range) | Sieve analysis per BS 410 / EN 933-1 | Every lot; per-screen checks during production |
| Pre-wetting compatibility | Uniform acceptance of 30 % MgCl₂ brine without clumping or moisture-induced caking | Brine absorption uniformity check | Per contract |
| Sampling | Representative composite of the loaded lot | ISO 11648 / EN 932-1 sampling plan | Every lot; witnessed by Intertek / TÜV Austria when contracted |
Scope
- De-icing rock salt for UK motorway, trunk road, local authority road, runway, footpath winter maintenance
- Applicable to: rock salt (mined), solar salt, vacuum salt — any NaCl source meeting purity + gradation
- Procurement reference for Salt Association UK members + Public Sector buyers
Chemical requirements
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| NaCl | ≥ 95% (dry basis) |
| Insoluble residue | ≤ 5.0% |
| Moisture | ≤ 2.0% (kiln-dried) or ≤ 4.0% (natural) |
| Anti-caking | E535 sodium ferrocyanide, max 100 ppm (optional) |
Gradation (particle size)
UK Highways spec typically requires:
| Sieve | % passing (target) |
|---|---|
| 10 mm | 100 |
| 6.3 mm | 90-100 |
| 2.8 mm | 50-85 |
| 0.85 mm | 5-30 |
| 0.063 mm | 0-3 |
This produces a 1-6mm working range optimised for UK spreader vehicles (Schmidt, Bucher, Romaquip) at 10-40g/m² application rates.
Pre-wetting compatibility
UK winter operations increasingly use pre-wetted salt at 30% MgCl₂ brine for sub-zero working temperatures. BS 3247 compliant salt must accept brine uniformly without clumping or excessive moisture-induced caking.
Egyptian compliance
Egypt Globe Group supplies BS 3247:2011-compliant rock salt:
Typical Egyptian assay:
- NaCl: 96.5-97.5% (rock from Siwa + Qattara, guaranteed minimum 97.00 %; exceeds 95% spec)
- Insolubles: 1.5-2.5% (well under 5.0% limit)
- Moisture: 1.0-1.5% (kiln-dried) — meets ≤2.0%
- Particle size: ≥85% within 1-6mm window — meets typical UK Highways spec
UK Highways procurement context
National Highways operates ~25 strategic salt-storage facilities across the UK Strategic Road Network (motorways + trunk roads). Annual consumption: ~2 million MT in average winters, up to 3+ million MT in severe winters (2018 "Beast from the East").
Procurement typically goes through:
- Salt Association UK member suppliers
- Public contracts published on Find a Tender / Contracts Finder
- Multi-year framework agreements (typically 2-4 year contracts with extension options)
Egyptian salt enters this market via:
- Direct National Highways contracts (with pre-qualification)
- UK distributor / aggregator partnerships
- Local authority direct supply (county-level)
How EGG certifies conformity
Many regional exporters are inconsistent lot-to-lot because the specification is checked once, on a type sample, and then assumed. Egypt Globe Group's Quality Assurance division has been at the nucleus of the group since incorporation in 2014 and certifies every lot, not the product type:
- Source release — the on-site laboratories at the Siwa Oasis and Qattara Depression rock-salt mines and at the North Sinai (El-Arish / Bardawil) and Red Sea (Ain Sokhna) saltworks assay each production lot for NaCl, insolubles and moisture before it is released for processing or trucking. Rock salt is guaranteed ≥ 97.00 % NaCl; sea salt is classified raw 94–97 %, washed 97.5–98 % or double-washed ≥ 99 %.
- Processing verification — screening, kiln-drying and any E535 dosing are run to the standard's grade / type definition and re-checked on the processed lot.
- Port laboratory gate — the port-side QC team at the loading port takes a composite sample per the ISO / ASTM sampling plan, runs the full parameter set of the standard and issues the per-lot Certificate of Analysis before the Bill of Lading. Zero tolerance on specification deviation: a lot outside the CoA is rejected at the loading port, never re-graded or renegotiated.
- Independent verification — on request, TÜV Austria (primary, EU / GCC), SGS, Intertek (US / UK / ECOWAS) or Bureau Veritas (all ISO/IEC 17020 + 17025; Cotecna on request) sample during loading, run witness or independent tests and issue a Certificate of Inspection with sealed retained samples.
- Contractual guarantee — the specification is guaranteed at the port of loading and binding under the sales contract; voyage condition is governed by the B/L and marine insurance. Laycan discipline with documented NOR / SOF keeps the verified lot and the vessel aligned.
Related: inspection & quality control, trade documentation, quality & compliance, de-icing-grade salt.
Documentation per BS 3247 shipment
- Mill Test Certificate per BS 3247 chemical analysis (per-lot CoA issued by the port laboratory before B/L)
- Gradation report per BS 410 / EN 933-1 sieve analysis
- BS 3247:2011 compliance letter signed by QC manager
- Salt Association UK supplier registration confirmation
- SDS per CHIP / CLP
- Bill of Lading + Certificate of Origin + Commercial Invoice
- Optional third-party TÜV Austria / SGS / Intertek inspection report
BS 3247 vs other standards
| Standard | Region | Min NaCl | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| BS 3247:2011 | UK | 95% | UK Highways + Local Authorities |
| EN 16811-1 Grade A | EU | 96% | Motorway pre-treatment |
| EN 16811-1 Grade B | EU | 95% | High-speed roads |
| EN 16811-1 Grade C | EU | 95% | Lump stockpile |
| ASTM D632 Grade 1 | USA | 95% | Coarse de-icing |
| AASHTO M-143 | US Federal/State DOT | 96.5% | Adopts ASTM D632 + tighter spec |
| SS-EN 16811-1 | Nordic | 95% | Pre-wetting + Type 2 natural moisture |
| GOST 13830 Grade I | CIS | 97% | Russian highway authority |
Applications: road salt, de-icing rock salt. Loading ports for UK lanes: Alexandria, El Dekheila, Damietta.
Request a UK BS 3247 quote →
Compare with EN 16811-1 →
UK import guide →
Contents· 11 sections
- 01BS 3247:2011 — British Standard for Salt for Spreading on Highways
- 02Standard at a glance
- 03Scope
- 04Chemical requirements
- 05Gradation (particle size)
- 06Pre-wetting compatibility
- 07Egyptian compliance
- 08UK Highways procurement context
- 09How EGG certifies conformity
- 10Documentation per BS 3247 shipment
- 11BS 3247 vs other standards
Ready for a quote?
FOB / CIF / CFR pricing from 7 Egyptian ports — turnaround within 24 hours.
More in Standards
EN 197-1 — European Standard for Common Cement | Egyptian Cement Spec
EN 197-1 is the European standard for common cements (CEM I-V). Covers Portland cement, blended cement, slag cement, fly ash cement, pozzolanic cement. Egyptian cement (Egypt Globe) compliance, CE marking, DoP requirements.
ASTM C150 — US Standard for Portland Cement | Egyptian Compliance
ASTM C150 is the US standard for Portland cement. Covers Type I/IA/II/IIA/III/IIIA/IV/V Portland cements + masonry. Egyptian cement (Egypt Globe) ASTM C150 compliance, MTC per ASTM C114/C109, AASHTO M-85 acceptance, US state DOT supply.
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How do I request a quote?
Where are your products sourced from?
Other questions? Email our export desk — we respond within 24 hours.