Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
Prior to departure; the aircraft was de-iced due to overnight frost buildup. After deicing we began our taxi out and we were informed by the tower that there would be flow control beginning shortly. Upon reaching the runway; while we were being cleared for takeoff; Operations called us regarding our deicing. We called the tower and told them we were not ready to depart.Throughout the discussion both Celsius and Fahrenheit scales were being used concurrently by operations without distinction.  At this point it seemed to both the Captain and I that some error had been made in the math being used by the deice personnel. After further query it was revealed that the 14 degrees referenced was in Fahrenheit; however it was still unclear in the cockpit if there was indeed a problem. It was not effectively relayed that the aircraft had been deiced using the wrong fluid and needed to be deiced again. Soon thereafter operations stated that they had run the numbers again and that we were good. After a short discussion in the cockpit; the decision was made that the flight would depart as the aircraft had been deiced and was clean. Station operations deicing the aircraft with the wrong fluid. Station operations did not effectively communicate that the aircraft had been deiced using the wrong fluid and that we were required to return to be deiced properly.
First Officer reported there was a procedural deviation during preflight deice procedures that was not discovered until they had taxied to the runway. The flight took off even though the reporter realized later they should have returned to the gate for proper deice procedure.