How does an ice rinks stay frozen

Underneath the insulation, a heated concrete layer keeps the area below the ice from freezing, which could damage the rink structure. Below that, there is a base layer of gravel and sand, which has a drain at the bottom. When the skating surface is defrosted, the brinewater is heated, which warms up the under layer of the ice. Ice rinks used by the NHL must follow strict requirements regarding shape, size, surrounds, maintenance, and temperature.

Converting a sports arena into a professional ice rink is quite complex. To make an ice rink, water is carefully released onto the floor to ensure ideal thickness. The process involves several steps, including spray-painting marking and logos. A rink surface will need between 12, and 15, gallons of water. Temperature and humidity conditions are crucial for creating and maintaining an ice rink. Even small changes can make a huge difference.

High humidity can create fog over the ice. Hot weather outside may soften the ice inside as arena doors open. Ice gets damaged during a game. Time and outdoor temperature changes could cause unexpected expansion or contracting, so the insulation acts as a barrier. At the very bottom on the rink, there is a layer of sand and gravel which holds a drainage pipe for groundwater.

When it comes time to defrost or remove the ice to use the facility for other events, the brine water is simply heated. The ice can eventually be broken up and removed with an end loader. It takes a minimum of 12 layers of ice to get the perfect ice rink. The layers of ice work like this:. Fun Fact: An ice rink takes over 10, gallons of water to make the skating surface!

White powdered paint is mixed with water and is applied to the surface of the ice with a large sprayer. The ice surface is covered with two or three layers of paint and then sealed with another layer of water to form an ice layer over the paint.

Next, the rink is marked out for where circles, lines, and logos should be painted. Thin lines are marked on either side of where lines should be painted. The thick colored lines are painted between the thin lines, to make the appropriate size and colored lines. Circles are painted like a protractor where someone holds the center of the circle while someone else holds the other end painting the circle.

Lastly, logos are stenciled on the ice and hand painted. Once all the lines, circles, and logos are painted more layers of ice are added on top to seal everything. The thicker the ice, the softer and slower it becomes. That doesn't work so well in Florida. Indoor skating rinks almost always use cold concrete to make the ice. When the rink is built, miles of metal pipes are laid inside a concrete slab. A large refrigeration plant see How Refrigerators Work for a description of the refrigeration process produces ice-cold glycol that runs through these pipes.

The entire slab of concrete that makes up the arena floor drops below freezing. Then, thin layers of water are poured on the concrete and allowed to freeze. The lines and logos at a hockey rink are literally painted onto the ice. Then, more ice is added on top of the paint to protect it.