Guidelines for Detection and Remediation of Soluble Salt Contamination Prior to Coating Steel Highway Structures

TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Research Report 912: Guidelines for Detection and Remediation of Soluble Salt Contamination Prior to Coating Steel Highway Structures consolidates practical guidance on the detection and remediation of soluble salt contamination prior to coating steel highway structures.

Soluble salts are those that dissociate in solution into anionic and cationic components. The soluble salts referenced in this guideline are soluble in water at nominal room temperatures. Soluble salts may be transferred to a steel bridge structure as an airborne aerosol (generally from marine or industrial sources), wind-blown debris, and debris transferred from vehicles or rainwater. In many cold climates, the most common source of soluble salts on bridges is deicing materials.

The report presents a brief background on soluble salts as well as information in the form of responses to a series of practical questions that an inspector, contractor, or designer may pose. Appendices B through D of the report are also available in PowerPoint format.

Appendix B – Training: Introduction to Soluble Salts
Appendix C – Training: Detection of Soluble Salt Contamination
Appendix D – Training: Remediation of Soluble Salt Contamination

The contractor’s final report, titled Detection and Remediation of Soluble Salt Contamination Prior to Coating Steel Highway Structures, is a technical report presenting the results of the laboratory and field testing and their analyses that support the guidance contained in NCHRP Research Report 912. This contractor’s final report and associated appendices can be found on the NCHRP Project 10-97 web page.