What is under an ice rink?

Underneath the ice or 'skating surface' (A) is a large concrete floor. It is also known as the 'ice slab' (B). The ice slab contains hundreds of metres of pipes (C). Brine (salty water) is pumped through these pipes. The concrete floor sits on a layer of insulation (D).

What is the floor of an ice rink made of?

Ice rink rubber flooring is elastic flooring typically made of synthetic rubber EPDM. This type of flooring is highly durable and is available in several material combinations. Ice rink rubber flooring is resistant to abrasion from ice skates and heavy loads.

How do they keep ice rinks cold?

The technology used in indoor ice rinks is the same type found in refrigerators and air conditioners. Brine water, which is a salt and water solution, is pumped through a system of pipes under the ice. Those pipes are built into the concrete that makes up the arena floor.

How does an ice rink system work?

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.

What is the barrier around an ice rink called?

The safety of players and spectators is of paramount importance. The barrier that separates the rink and the spectator consists of the dasher boards and the rink shielding systems.

Building An Ice Rink | How Do They Do It?

What is the material around a hockey rink?

In today's market, there are two approved types of 'glass' shielding used in hockey rinks: Tempered Glass, and Acrylic. Tempered Glass goes through the process known as tempering, which involves the successive heating and cooling of glass to strengthen it.

What is around a hockey rink?

Hockey glass is the glass around the boards at ice hockey rinks. There are primarily four reasons for this glass. Firstly, it protects the spectators from getting hit by any line-drive pucks. Flying pucks can cause severe injuries, and installing hockey glass is a sure-fire way to prevent a fan from getting hurt.

Are ice rinks bad for the environment?

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.

How do they remove ice from an ice rink?

The ice in an ice hockey rink is only removed when the regular season and playoffs are finished. When it's time to get rid of the ice, the brinewater is warmed and circulated under the ice to begin the melting process. Once the ice has melted sufficiently, it is then broken up and carted off by front end loaders.

Are ice rinks fake ice?

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.

Do ice rinks stay open in the rain?

The Ice Rink is an outdoor event and operates in nearly all weather conditions. However, please bring suitable outdoor clothing whatever the weather. Ice is, of course, made from water - rain or dry there is always a risk of getting wet.

Why do they put hot water on ice rinks?

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.

Are ice rinks always frozen?

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.

Why is rink ice white?

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.

What makes an ice rink white?

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.

Why is it called a rink?

Rink, is a Scottish word meaning 'course', it was used as the name of a place where curling was played. Early in its history, ice hockey was played mostly on rinks constructed for curling. The name was retained after hockey-specific facilities were built.

Why do ice rinks not melt?

How does an ice rink stay frozen? The most common method of refrigeration used in keeping an ice rink frozen is an indirect refrigeration system. This is where a liquid refrigerant (often ammonia) absorbs heat from a secondary liquid (often brine) which has absorbed heat from the source.

Why is NHL ice so thin?

The thicker the ice is, the softer and slower it will be for players. Thinner ice is best because the ice will be harder, allowing the game to be faster. Meanwhile, an outdoor ice-skating rink's ice surface may have a variable thickness. They don't need to be constructed using NHL-style ice.

How thick is NHL ice?

The ice in NHL arenas is typically 0.75 inches thick. That's about 19.05 millimeters or 1.905 centimeters thick. The rink has dimensions of 200 feet by 85 feet and requires about 15,000 gallons of water to create (and another 800-1,200 gallons of water to maintain on game days.)

How cold are most ice rinks?

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.

Is ice skating a high risk sport?

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.

What are the problems with ice rinks?

Ice rinks generate a lot of moisture. That leads to rust, corrosion, mold, and mildew. All can be harmful to the health of everyone, not to mention the longevity of doors, frames, and partitions.

Are European ice rinks bigger?

American Rink vs European Rink Sizes

An NHL hockey rink is 200 feet long, and 85 feet wide. In comparison, a European rink is a standard 60 meters by 30 meters, or, 197 feet by 98.5 feet. Though slightly smaller in length, European rinks are significantly wider than those being used by an NHL team.

What is a rink rat in hockey?

nounCanadian. a youth who spends a great deal of time at a hockey rink, helping with maintenance work, sweeping, etc., often without pay or in return for free admission to the rink.

How high is NHL glass?

Affixed to the boards and extending vertically shall be approved safety glass extending eight feet (8') above the boards at each end of the rink and not less than five feet (5') along both sides of the rink.