Rink

I'm looking at replacing my 400w metal halide rink lights with the new energy savings fluorescent lights. The energy savings look tremendous but we were wondering how much more bright it really makes it. I have one great example of the quality of the light provided by a well done rink fluorescent lighting project. The San Jose Sharks practice rink added a 4th ice sheet a couple years ago. The new rink had the new fluorescent lights installed during construction. Well when the teams played in the new lights no one wanted to skate in any of the rinks with the old style lights including the Sharks! The energy savings and lower heat loads associated with fluorescent lighting systems are fact. Remember to apply to your local utility for grants to help with the costs of a project like this. We have been having a problem with large chunks of ice along the boards popping out after contact along the boards. Can you suggest some possible solutions? I am told that we have as much as 1.25" of ice in some spots, and I think we are running a temperature of around 16 degrees. Sounds like the ice is way too cold. When you say 16 degrees is that on the surface or the brine (glycol) running through the pipes? If it is the surface you are WAY to cold. Your surface temperature (by the way the only temperature that matters) should be 22-24 degrees. You measure this with an infrared thermometer, if you do not have one buy one! Keep in mind the brine (glycol) temperature has no relation to the surface temperature. It's the surface temperature, room humidity and room temperature that you must monitor. Another item to consider is brand new kickplate. If the kickplate is brand new it will cause some blowouts. You must be aware of these problems and patch the blowouts every ice make. We are considering doing covered ice events in our building, what is the purpose of an ice dam underneath rink dasher board systems? Is it removable from off of the concrete floor surface? Ice dams are used to allow the removal of the dasher boards and prevent damage to the ice surface while the boards are out. Ice dams are mounted directly to the floor and are usually 1-2" high. The main dasher boards are then mounted to the ice dam. Imagine what would happen to the ice sheet if you removed the boards and did not have this in place to hold the edges of the ice in place. Yes the ice dam is removable from the concrete surface once the ice sheet is removed. This will allow the entire floor to be used when the ice is out. Contact any STAR dasher board vendor member for more information on ice dams and dasher board systems. ★ ask dave 50 R INK MAGAZ INE MArch/April 2007 ■ You have rink questions. Dave has rink answers. Send your questions to AskDave@rinkmagazine.com. 0˚ 50˚ 100˚ 0˚ 50˚ 100˚

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