Specifications include, but are not limited to: provide and deliver sand for runway traction control; It is the intent of these specifications to provide MDOT MAA with washed sharp sand free of all stones, debris, salts, and other corrosive agents and contaminates in compliance with the graduation table below: Sieve Designation 8, Percent by Weight Passing Sieve 100; Sieve Designation 80, Percent by Weight Passing Sieve 0-2; Abrasives are used on airport operational surfaces to improve aircraft traction and braking performance. The use of abrasives on turbojet operational areas shall be carefully controlled to reduce engine erosion effects. Abrasives used on airport operational surfaces shall consist only of washed and dried sand free of stones, clay, debris, chloride salts, and other corrosive materials. The Ph of the material in a water solution shall be approximately neutral. All abrasive materials shall conform to the following material graduation chart. Material size graduation tests shall use USA Sieve Series, ASTM Specification E-11-81. Dark-colored sands are preferred over light-colored sands to offer visual verification where sand has been applied. Optimum performance on both warmer and colder ice, a graduation that balances fine and coarse particles is desirable. For this reason, the inclusion of an additional sieve beyond that required by the FAA minimum standard is recommended, resulting in the graduation as shown above. Material as provided for is mandated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the FAA through their Advisory Circular AC No. 150/5200-30D titled “Airport Winter Safety and Operations”. The moisture content of the sand provided for by these specifications shall be low enough to preclude freezing in a covered unheated storage facility. All traction sand shall meet specifications listed in AC No. 150/5200-30D. The traction sand shall meet the recommended gradation as listed on Table 4-2 of the Advisory Circular.
