Each rink is 200 feet by 85 feet and uses ice that typically is 3/4 of an inch or 0.75" thick, which equates to 19.05 millimeters or 1.905 centimeters. Many of you might assume a hockey rink's ice is extraordinarily thick, given how well it can withstand having dozens of players skating on it at once.
The depth of the ice on an NHL rink does vary but 3/4″ up to 1 1/2″ is considered optimal. However thicker ice is not necessarily slower. If chilled below 16F or -8.8C and otherwise properly maintained and resurfacing at correct intervals.
Underneath there is a layer of insulation and a heated concrete layer. This keeps the ground below the ice from freezing, which could expand and ultimately crack the rink structure.
Those pipes are built into the concrete that makes up the arena floor. Brine water freezes at a lower temperature than plain water, thus allowing it to stay a liquid as it moves through the pipes but still cold enough to freeze the water poured onto the concrete floor.
Most ice rinks will keep the air temperature at a brisk 55-65 degrees and the on-ice temperature between 17 and 29 degrees. This temperature can affect how you skate, how often you cut your steel and what hollow or profile you choose.
Natural ice rinks, like frozen lakes, depend on cold weather. But some artificial rinks have special cooling technologies that allow you to skate on them even when the temperature is above zero degrees Celsius. Some of these specialized technologies rely on gases to provide heating or cooling properties.
The NHL has specific rules about hockey rink dimensions and ice thickness. Each rink is 200 feet by 85 feet and uses ice that typically is 3/4 of an inch or 0.75" thick, which equates to 19.05 millimeters or 1.905 centimeters.
In enclosed ice arenas, a primary source of indoor air concerns is the release of combustion pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM) into the indoor air from the exhaust of fuel-fired ice resurfacers.
There are two types of ice rinks in prevalent use today: natural ice rinks, where freezing occurs from cold ambient temperatures, and artificial ice rinks (or mechanically frozen), where a coolant produces cold temperatures in the surface below the water, causing the water to freeze.
Using hot water when you add a layer to the top of your ice will give your rink a glass-like surface, especially if you are using our Magic Ice Resurfacer. The heat in the water will melt any small bumps in the ice for a smooth finish, and the hot water will freeze quickly to form the surface.
Along with painting red and blue lines to indicate different play areas, white paint is used to color the entire ice surface. This is done to allow players to have better visibility of the puck on the ice.
Ice rink refrigerants, much like those in household refrigerators, contain potent greenhouse gases that warm the atmosphere. Common synthetic refrigerants called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have a Global Warming Potential (GWP) hundreds to thousands of times stronger than that of carbon dioxide (CO2).
As a general rule of thumb, ice is safe to walk on when there is 4 inches or more of clear ice. It is important to understand that different types of ice varying in their strength. Clear blue or black ice is the strongest. This ice is formed from the lake water freezing.
The heated water, according to Tharaldson, is about 140 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit (60-63 centigrade); "the hotter the water," he says, "the more even a surface you'll get--it melts that top layer when you cut across [the ice]."
In ice rinks, the refrigerant cools brine water, an anti-freezing agent, which goes through pipes underneath the ice. These steel pipes are typically embedded into a concrete slab and kept at 32 F / 0 C, so that any water placed on top of the slab freezes and becomes the skating surface that we see.
Falling will happen many times as a beginner on the ice. Professional and competitive skaters fall a lot, but they seldom get hurt. “Bad falls” are the ones that can cause an ice skater immense pain and sometimes even destroy careers; these are usually unforeseen.
Anhydrous ammonia is a toxic gas recognizable by its pungent odor. Anhydrous ammonia compressed into a liquid form is commonly used in mechanical refrigeration systems for indoor ice rinks and other facilities. It becomes a gas when released into the ambient air.
Due to its very nature, the main danger in ice skating is falling on the ice, with a consequent risk of acute injuries such as fractures, abrasions and sprains. In a study of over 500 synchronised skaters [3], 42% had sustained an acute injury at some time during their career, with the majority affecting the limbs.
Most European rinks are Olympic size, not because of the Olympics but because European hockey style of play has tended to be more about movement and less contact, using open space, much like soccer, and more content with lower scoring games. Naturally, North American fans prefer more goals and more contact.
How thick does the ice have to be? A minimum of 2'' (two inches) thick for the ice to stay solid and hold the weight of a 300lb person is required. For the municipal rinks, we recommend at least 3'' (three inches).
White powdered paint is mixed with water in a large tank creating a liquid paint mix. This paint is then applied to the ice surface with a large 12-foot spray boom and a pump. Two to three coats are applied to cover the surface. This is then sealed in with fine water spray, which freezes.
