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.
SS-EN 16811-1 — Nordic De-icing Salt Standard
SS-EN 16811-1 is the Swedish (and broader Nordic) national adoption of the European Standard EN 16811-1: De-icing agents — Sodium chloride. Sweden's Trafikverket (Swedish Transport Administration) led the Nordic adoption, with Norway's Statens vegvesen, Finland's Väylä, and Denmark's Vejdirektoratet following with parallel national references.
Standard Nordic winter operating conditions (long sub-zero periods, frequent freeze-thaw, heavy traffic on motorways) favour particular salt characteristics:
1. Type 2 natural-moisture sea salt is preferred
- Why: Mediterranean sea salt arriving with natural 2.5-4% moisture stockpiles better in covered Nordic depots; no kiln-drying premium
- Nordic salt depots are typically enclosed/covered so moisture handling isn't a problem
- Lower FOB cost (no drying step) = better total delivered economics
2. Pre-wetting compatibility is critical
- Nordic operations universally pre-wet with MgCl₂ brine (32%) or NaCl brine (23%)
- Salt grain structure must accept brine evenly — fine + medium grades preferred
- Working temperature extension to -20°C with MgCl₂ pre-wet
3. Coarse-fraction limits
Pure lump salt is less useful in Nordic operations because modern Trafikverket spreaders are calibrated for 2-8 mm fraction range. Lump cargo must be re-crushed at depot, adding cost.
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| NaCl | ≥ 95% (matches EN 16811-1 Grade B) |
| Insolubles | ≤ 4% |
| Moisture (Type 2 natural) | ≤ 3.5% |
| Moisture (Type 1 kiln-dried) | ≤ 1.5% (less commonly required) |
| Particle size — preferred | 0/8 mm with d50 typically 2-5 mm |
| Anti-caking | Usually NO E535 (Nordic environmental preference for ferrocyanide-free) |
| Pre-wetting compatibility | Required — uniform absorption test |
Egypt Globe Group ships SS-EN 16811-1-compliant sea salt to Nordic markets via Mediterranean lines to Gothenburg (SEGOT), Stockholm (SESTO), Oslo (NOOSL), Helsinki (FIHEL), Copenhagen (DKCPH).
Typical Nordic-spec SKUs
Typical assay (sea salt source — North Sinai + Red Sea)
- NaCl: 96.5-97.5%
- Insolubles: 1.5-2.5%
- Moisture: 2.5-3.5% (natural)
- Particle size: 1-8 mm (≥90% within range)
- Anti-caking: NONE (ferrocyanide-free for Nordic environmental preference)
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury: ppm-level (sub-RAYS limits)
- Tender publication — typically March-April by Trafikverket and parallel Nordic authorities for upcoming winter
- Bid submission — May-June, including 3-year framework agreement options
- Award — June-July
- Pre-positioning — July-October to ~80 salt depots across Sweden, ~150 across Nordic region
- Operational use — October-April
Typical Trafikverket annual procurement: 120,000-180,000 MT across multiple framework lots. Norway: ~80,000 MT/year. Finland: ~40,000 MT/year. Denmark: ~50,000 MT/year.
Default = CIF Gothenburg or CIF Stockholm with Type 2 natural-moisture sea salt 0/8 mm, ferrocyanide-free, MgCl₂ pre-wetting compatible. We provide pre-shipment SGS/Intertek inspection and Trafikverket-compatible lab reports.
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