Ice expansion pressure is a vastly underrated damage risk. The size of a body of water is directly proportional to expansion damage risk potential. The larger the body of water, the larger the potential damage risk will be. Pressure damage can affect that part of the dock structure nearest the shore or at the opposite end as shown above.

Although it may be preferred to maintain an ice-free zone around the dock structure, it is also possible to limit damage risk with an open water buffer zone. Kasco De-Icers on the horizontal floats positioned between docks and expanding ice can relieve damaging expansion pressure. Given proper depth, Robust-Aire Diffusers can also be very effective with this type of ice damage prevention.