Procurement reference · 2026-08-03
De-icing Salt Standards Worldwide
The minimum NaCl content, gradation, moisture and anti-caking rules for road de-icing rock salt in 84 jurisdictions — plus the full EN 16811-1 grading and ASTM D632 / AASHTO M143 gradation tables. A reference for writing and matching tenders.
6 regions · EN + ASTM grading included
Three regulatory models
Not every country regulates de-icing salt the same way. Read the minimum NaCl column as the legal floor the standard requires, not the purity vendors ship — EN 16811-1 requires only 90% NaCl, yet commercial European rock salt tests 97–99%.
NaCl purity specs
A minimum sodium-chloride % plus a gradation band — the most common model (EN 16811-1, ASTM D632, most national specs).
Performance / anti-icing specs
Regulate melting capacity, corrosion and moisture rather than NaCl % — Russia (GOST 33387 / R 59204) and China (GB/T 23851).
No rock-salt standard
A country bans or does not use rock salt (New Zealand uses CMA) or has no winter demand — much of Asia, the Middle East, South America and Australia.
Standards by country
84 of 84 standards shown
| Country / Jurisdiction | Standard | Min NaCl | Gradation | Max moisture | Anti-caking | Conf. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pan-European (CEN) Europe | EN 16811-1:2016 CEN · 2016 | 90% | 4 classes: Extra-Fine / Fine / Medium / Coarse (see 'EN 16811-1 Grading' tab). Sieves 0.125–10 mm | Dry ≤0.6% · Semi-dry ≤2.0% · Wet ≤6.0% (undried vacuum ≤3.5%) | Ferrocyanide (Na/K/Ca, E535/E536): 3–125 mg/kg as Fe(CN)₆ | high |
| United Kingdom Europe | BS 3247:2011 (brown/rock salt) BSI · 2011 | ≥90% soluble chlorides | 6.3 mm 100% · 2.36 mm 30–80% · 300 µm 0–20% | 1.5–4% | Min amount to keep usable after 18 months covered storage | high |
| United Kingdom Europe | BS 3247:2011 (white de-icing salt) BSI · 2011 | ≥98% | Screened <6.3 mm; <4 mm ≤95%; >6 mm <1% | ≤4.5% (≤4.0% with additive) | ≈100 ppm ferrocyanide | high |
| Germany Europe | DIN EN 16811-1 + national annex DIN / FGSV · 2016 | ≥97% | EN classes; historic TL-Streu class M = 0–5 mm | EN moisture classes | Ferrocyanide per EN | high |
| France Europe | NF P98-180 AFNOR · 2003 | ≈98% (typical product; std minimum paywalled) | <5 mm 100% · <3.15 mm ~95% · <1.6 mm ~55% · <0.8 mm ~25% | ~0.3% (typical product) | Hexacyanoferrate by water class: <3 mg/kg (cl.1–2), <10 (cl.3); max 200 mg/kg | medium |
| Czech Republic Europe | ČSN 58 0111 / MoT Guidance 116 ÚNMZ / Min. of Transport · — | ≥96% | 0.16–3.15/5 mm; fines <0.16 mm ≤5% | ≤2% | Sodium ferrocyanide (E535) ≤100 mg/kg (typ. ~30) | high |
| Romania Europe | SR EN 16811-1 ASRO · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | 0–3.15 mm; <1 mm ≤50% | per EN | Chemical anti-caking recommended | medium |
| Iceland Europe | ÍST EN 16811-1:2016 (+ practice) Staðlaráð Íslands (IST) · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN classes; practice: sea salt ~0.8 mm, rock salt 0–3 mm | <4% (practice) | per EN | low |
| Sweden Europe | SS-EN 16811-1 SIS / Trafikverket · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Norway Europe | NS-EN 16811-1 Standard Norge / SVV · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Finland Europe | SFS-EN 16811-1 SFS · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Denmark Europe | DS/EN 16811-1 Dansk Standard · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Netherlands Europe | NEN-EN 16811-1 NEN / Rijkswaterstaat · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Belgium Europe | NBN EN 16811-1 NBN · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Ireland Europe | BS 3247 (via TII) TII / NRA (uses BSI) · 2011 | ≥90% soluble chlorides | Per BS 3247 | Per BS 3247 | Per BS 3247 | medium |
| Italy Europe | UNI EN 16811-1 UNI · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Spain Europe | UNE-EN 16811-1 UNE · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Poland Europe | PN-EN 16811-1:2017 PKN · 2017 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Poland Europe | PN-C-84081-1:1998 (+ PN-86/C-84081/02) PKN · 1998 / 1986 | ≥90% (delivered blend ~96%) | Grain 1–6 mm (60–80% in 1–3 mm; <0.16 mm ≤5%; >6 mm ≤5%) | ≤3% | Potassium ferrocyanide K₄Fe(CN)₆ ~0.2% | high |
| Estonia Europe | EVS-EN 16811-1:2016 EVS · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Lithuania Europe | LST EN 16811-1:2016 LST · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Latvia Europe | LVS EN 16811-1:2016 LVS · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Greece Europe | ELOT EN 16811-1:2016 ELOT / NQIS · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Bulgaria Europe | BDS EN 16811-1:2016 BDS · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Croatia Europe | HRN EN 16811-1:2016 HZN · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Cyprus Europe | CYS EN 16811-1:2016 CYS · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Malta Europe | MSA EN 16811-1:2016 MCCAA / MSA · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | low |
| Luxembourg Europe | ILNAS-EN 16811-1:2016 ILNAS · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| North Macedonia Europe | MKS EN 16811-1:2016 ISRSM · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | low |
| Serbia Europe | SRPS EN 16811-1:2016 ISS · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | low |
| Austria Europe | ÖNORM EN 16811-1 ASI · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Switzerland Europe | SN EN 16811-1 SNV / ASTRA · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Slovakia Europe | STN EN 16811-1 ÚNMS SR · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Hungary Europe | MSZ EN 16811-1 MSZT · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Portugal Europe | NP EN 16811-1 IPQ · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| Slovenia Europe | SIST EN 16811-1 SIST · 2016 | 90% (per EN) | EN grading classes | per EN | per EN | medium |
| United States North America | ASTM D632 (D632-12, reapproved 2020/2026) ASTM International · 2012/2020 (active) | ≥95% | Type I Gr.1: ½"=100, ⅜"=95–100, No.4=20–90, No.8=10–60, No.30=0–15 (see ASTM tab) | Not specified in std | Not specified in std (purchaser-set) | high |
| United States North America | AASHTO M143-14 AASHTO · 2014 | ≥95% | Same Type I Gr.1/Gr.2 table as ASTM D632 | Not specified in std | Not specified in std (purchaser-set) | high |
| USA — New York North America | NYS OGS / NYSDOT (IFB 23409) NYS Office of General Services · 2025 | ≥95% | ASTM D632 Type I Gr.1 table | ≤1.5% (crushed rock) · ≤2.5% (solar) | Conditioner 0.1–0.2 lb/ton | high |
| USA — New Jersey North America | Ocean County spec (DOT-style) County / NJDOT-style · — | ≥97% | ½"=100, No.3=90–100, No.8=5–35, No.30=0–5 | ≤1.0% | Anti-caking agent required (type/ppm not named) | high |
| USA — Illinois North America | IDOT (per PTA-D8) Illinois DOT · — | ≥95% (per M143) | AASHTO M143 Type I Gr.1 | <0.5% (fine grade cited) | Ferrocyanide typical | medium |
| USA — Ohio North America | ODOT Sodium Chloride (Contract 018) Ohio DOT · — | ≥95% (per M143) | AASHTO M143 | — | Ferrocyanide typical | low |
| USA — other state DOTs North America | MnDOT 3911 · PennDOT Pub.408 · Wis. Admin. Trans 277.04 · MDOT etc. State DOTs · — | ≈95–97% | Predominantly ASTM D632 Type I Gr.1 | ≈1.0–2.5% (dry) up to ~4.8% (pre-wet) | Sodium ferrocyanide / YPS ~50–100 ppm, often optional | medium |
| Canada — Ontario North America | OPSS.PROV 2502 Ontario MTO · 2021 | ≥95% | ASTM D632 / AASHTO M143-14 gradation | ≤1.5% | Ferrocyanide conditioner (not quantified in notice) | high |
| Canada — Quebec North America | MTQ (BNQ-referenced) Quebec MTQ · — | ≈95% (est.) | — | — | — | low |
| Canada — federal North America | ECCC Code of Practice (2004) Environment & Climate Change Canada · 2004 | n/a | n/a | n/a | Ferrocyanide additives named in scope | high |
| China Asia-Pacific | GB/T 23851-2017 SAC / SAMR · 2017 (eff. 2018) | n/a (performance-based) | Not a NaCl-purity spec | Controlled (limit not retrieved) | Not applicable (formulated agent) | low |
| China Asia-Pacific | GB/T 5462-2015 AQSIQ / SAC · 2015 (eff. 2016) | Refined superior ≥99.1%; solar lowest ~92% | Solar / refined (dry & wet) grades | Per grade (not fully retrieved) | — | medium |
| China — Beijing (provincial) Asia-Pacific | DB11/T 161-2012 Beijing Municipal Commission of City Mgmt · 2012 | n/a (performance-based) | Particle size for solid spreading agents (limit paywalled) | Controlled (paywalled) | — | low |
| Japan Asia-Pacific | MLIT / NILIM road-salt spec MLIT / NILIM / Japan Salt Business Center · — | ≥95% | Mean 0.5–7.0 mm; max 16 mm; ≥8 mm ≤10%; ≤0.15 mm ≤10% | ≤3% (cold regions ≤1%) | None specified for road salt | high |
| South Korea Asia-Pacific | MOLIT 제설제 품질기준 MOLIT (국토교통부) · — | n/a / >90% chloride (eco-mark) | Not retrieved | Not retrieved | — | low |
| India Asia-Pacific | IS 253:2014 Bureau of Indian Standards · 2014 | ≥96% (common) · 97% (table) · 99.6% (dairy) | — | ≤6% (common) · ≤0.5% (table/dairy) | Vacuum salt: ferrocyanide ≤15 ppm; solar: none | high |
| India Asia-Pacific | IS 797 Bureau of Indian Standards · 1982+ | Industrial grade | — | — | — | medium |
| Australia Asia-Pacific | No national standard — · — | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | medium |
| New Zealand Asia-Pacific | TNZ C22:2005 NZTA / Waka Kotahi · 2005 | NaCl NOT approved | n/a (CMA used) | n/a | n/a | high |
| Taiwan Asia-Pacific | No de-icing standard BSMI (CNS) · — | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | medium |
| Russia Russia/CIS | GOST R 58427-2020 Rosstandart · 2020 | n/a (perf.) — active substance ≥85% | No >10 mm; 5–10 mm ≤15%; 1–5 mm ≥75%; <1 mm ≤10% | ≤2.0% | Caking limited by test (not ppm) | high |
| Russia Russia/CIS | GOST 33387-2015 EASC / Rosavtodor · 2015 (in force 2016) | n/a (performance-based) | (set via companion test-method std) | ≤5% | ≤20 impacts (caking) | high |
| Russia Russia/CIS | GOST 33389-2015 EASC · 2015 | (methods only) | (methods) | (methods) | — | high |
| Russia Russia/CIS | GOST R 59204-2022 Rosstandart · 2022 | n/a (perf.) — active substance ≥85% (≥90% some types) | No >5 mm; 1–5 mm ≥90%; <1 mm ≤10% | ≤2.0% (bulk-transport ≤5%) | — | high |
| Russia Russia/CIS | GOST R 51574-2018 Rosstandart · 2018 | Extra ≥99.70% · Top ≥98.40% · First ≥97.70% · Second ≥97.00% | Grinds: Extra ≥75% ≤0.8 mm; №1 ≥85% ≤1.2 mm; №2 ≥90% ≤2.5 mm; №3 ≥85% ≤4.0 mm | Refined 0.10–0.70%; rock 0.25–0.35%; sea 3.2–5.0% | Potassium ferrocyanide (E536) ≤20 mg/kg (EAEU TR TS 029/2012) | high |
| Russia Russia/CIS | Technical salt / галит (TU-based) Various producers (ТУ) · — | Top ≥97% · First ≥90% · Second ≥80% | Grinds №0 <0.2 mm · №1 0.2–0.8 · №2 0.8–2.5 · №3 >2.5 mm (some №4 up to ~40 mm) | ≤4.5% (all grades) | Ferrocyanide optionally added per TU (not universally capped) | medium |
| Ukraine Russia/CIS | ДСТУ 4246:2003 Derzhspozhyvstandart · 2003 | Top ≥97.7% · First ≥90.0% · Second ≥80.0% | Ground 0.2–4.5 mm; crushed/granular 5–40 mm | Rock 0.25–0.60%; evaporated 0.60%; precipitated 2.5–4.5% | Potassium ferrocyanide ≤150 g/t (150 ppm) | high |
| Kazakhstan Russia/CIS | СТ РК ГОСТ Р 51574-2003 / GOST 13830-97 KAZMEMST / interstate · 2003 | Same grades as Russia (Extra/Top/First/Second) | Per adopted GOST | Per adopted GOST | Per adopted GOST | medium |
| Belarus Russia/CIS | GOST 33387-2015 (interstate) Interstate / EASC · 2015 | n/a (performance-based) | Per GOST 33387 | ≤5% | — | medium |
| Armenia Russia/CIS | GOST 33387-2015 (interstate) Interstate / EASC · 2015 | n/a (performance-based) | Per GOST 33387 | ≤5% | — | medium |
| Kyrgyzstan Russia/CIS | GOST 33387-2015 (interstate) Interstate / EASC · 2015 | n/a (performance-based) | Per GOST 33387 | ≤5% | — | medium |
| Tajikistan Russia/CIS | GOST 33387-2015 (interstate) Interstate / EASC · 2015 | n/a (performance-based) | Per GOST 33387 | ≤5% | — | medium |
| Moldova Russia/CIS | Interstate GOST (GOST 33387 / 13830) INSM · — | n/a / uses GOST | Per interstate GOST | Per interstate GOST | — | low |
| Georgia Russia/CIS | Legacy interstate GOST GEOSTM · — | n/a / uses GOST | Per legacy GOST | Per legacy GOST | — | low |
| Azerbaijan Russia/CIS | Interstate/legacy GOST AZSTAND · — | n/a / uses GOST | Per GOST | Per GOST | — | low |
| Uzbekistan Russia/CIS | Interstate/legacy GOST O'zStandart · — | n/a / uses GOST | Per GOST | Per GOST | — | low |
| Turkmenistan Russia/CIS | Legacy GOST Türkmenstandartlary · — | n/a / uses GOST | Per legacy GOST | Per legacy GOST | — | low |
| Mongolia Asia-Pacific | No de-icing salt standard MASM · — | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | low |
| Turkey Rest of World | KGM Highway Technical Spec (no distinct TSE product std) KGM (Highways) / TSE · 2013 | High-purity (typical, unverified) | ~0–6 mm (typical) | Low (typical) | — | low |
| Middle East (Egypt, Israel, Jordan) Rest of World | No national de-icing standard (exporters) Producers (e.g. ICL, Egyptian exporters) · — | Export product 94–99.2% (product, not std) | 0–6 / 0–15 mm (export grades) | <1.2% (some export product) | — | low |
| Chile Rest of World | No national de-icing standard Producers (e.g. SPL Latam) / INN (NCh food salt) · — | Product to ASTM D632 | 0.6–2.36 mm (example product) | — | Typically without additives | low |
| Argentina Rest of World | No national de-icing standard IRAM · — | n/a / uses industrial salt | — | — | — | low |
| Brazil Rest of World | No national de-icing standard ABNT · — | n/a / uses industrial salt | — | — | — | low |
| Mexico Rest of World | No national de-icing standard DGN / NMX · — | n/a / uses industrial salt | — | — | — | low |
| Iran Rest of World | No national de-icing standard ISIRI · — | n/a / uses industrial salt | — | — | — | low |
| Israel Rest of World | No national de-icing standard SII / ICL · — | n/a / exporter | — | — | — | low |
| South Africa Rest of World | No national de-icing standard SABS / SANS · — | n/a | — | — | — | low |
| (ISO) International | No ISO de-icing NaCl standard ISO · — | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | high |
Min NaCl = the legal minimum the standard requires. Commercial rock salt typically ships higher. Full purity limits (sulphate, heavy metals, insolubles) per standard are held on file — ask our desk.
EN 16811-1 particle-size classes
| EN 16811-1:2016 — Grading classes (mass % passing each test sieve) | ||||
| Four particle-size classes. Values are the % of material passing the stated sieve aperture. | ||||
| Sieve aperture | Extra Fine (EF) | Fine (F) | Medium (M) | Coarse (C) |
| 0.125 mm | ≤5% | ≤5% | ≤7% | — |
| 0.8 mm | 25–100% | 10–40% | 5–35% | ≤35% |
| 1.6 mm | — | 30–80% | 10–60% | — |
| 3.15 mm | — | 90–100% | 45–90% | 30–80% |
| 6.3 mm | — | — | — | 75–95% |
| 10 mm | — | — | — | 100% |
| Other EN 16811-1 requirements: | ||||
| Min NaCl content: 90% by weight (dry) | ||||
| Sulphate (as SO₄): max 3% | ||||
| Moisture classes: Dry ≤0.6% · Semi-dry ≤2.0% · Wet ≤6.0% (undried vacuum salt ≤3.5%) | ||||
| Anti-caking (ferrocyanide, E535/E536): 3–125 mg/kg as Fe(CN)₆ | ||||
| Heavy metals (mg/kg dry): As ≤2.5, Cd ≤2, Cr ≤5, Cu ≤5, Hg ≤0.5, Ni ≤5, Pb ≤5, Zn ≤20, Al ≤50, Co ≤2; hydrocarbons ≤100 | ||||
| pH (10% solution): 5–10 |
ASTM D632 / AASHTO M143 gradation
| ASTM D632 / AASHTO M143 — Sodium chloride gradation (mass % passing) | ||
| Type I is the deicing/pavement grade. Both standards require min 95.0% NaCl. Moisture & anti-caking are purchaser-specified, not fixed in the standard. | ||
| Sieve | Type I — Grade 1 | Type I — Grade 2 |
| 19.0 mm (¾") | — | 100 |
| 12.5 mm (½") | 100 | — |
| 9.5 mm (⅜") | 95–100 | — |
| 4.75 mm (No.4) | 20–90 | 20–100 |
| 2.36 mm (No.8) | 10–60 | 10–60 |
| 600 µm (No.30) | 0–15 | 0–15 |
| Notes: | ||
| Type II = aggregate stabilization / other; grading per purchaser. | ||
| Referenced test methods: ASTM E534 (chemical analysis), ASTM D1429, AASHTO T27 (sieve analysis). | ||
| Typical commercial product (e.g. Cargill): NaCl 95–99%, moisture ≤1.0%, insolubles ≤2.0%, anti-caking YPS/sodium ferrocyanide ~50 ppm (optional). |
We supply to your market’s standard.
Egyptian de-icing rock salt graded to EN 16811-1, ASTM D632 / AASHTO M143, BS 3247, Nordic SS-EN 16811-1 and GOST-referenced specs — ≥97% NaCl, CoA and SGS / Intertek inspection per shipment. Tell us the standard and grade; we ship the exact spec.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum NaCl content for road de-icing salt?
It depends on the standard. The pan-European EN 16811-1:2016 sets a legal minimum of just 90% NaCl, but national annexes tighten it (Germany ≥97%, Czech Republic ≥96%, UK white de-icing salt ≥98%). ASTM D632 / AASHTO M143 require ≥95%. Note the standard minimum is not what vendors ship — most European commercial rock salt tests at 97–99%. Sinai Salt guarantees ≥97% NaCl on rock salt.
What is the difference between EN 16811-1 and ASTM D632?
EN 16811-1 is the pan-European standard: min 90% NaCl with four particle-size classes (Extra-Fine, Fine, Medium, Coarse) on 0.125–10 mm sieves, plus sulphate, heavy-metal, moisture and anti-caking (ferrocyanide) limits. ASTM D632 / AASHTO M143 is the US/Canada standard: min ~95% NaCl with two gradations (Type I Grades 1 & 2) on imperial sieves. EN regulates chemistry more tightly; ASTM leads with gradation.
Does Egyptian rock salt meet EN 16811-1 and ASTM D632?
Yes. Sinai Salt supplies de-icing rock salt graded to EN 16811-1 (all four classes), ASTM D632 / AASHTO M143 Grades 1 & 2, BS 3247, Nordic SS-EN 16811-1 and GOST-referenced specs — with a Certificate of Analysis and third-party inspection (SGS / Intertek) per shipment.
How do I specify de-icing salt in a tender?
Cite your national standard (this table lists it for 84 jurisdictions), the required particle-size class or grade, the minimum NaCl %, maximum moisture, and whether an anti-caking additive is required or banned. Send those to us and we match the exact grade.
Sources & standards bodies (46)
Sources
Primary standards bodies, official documents, and datasheets consulted (August 2026).