Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1268579
44 / JULY.AUGUST.2020 USICERINKS.COM • Remove the existing ceiling insulation system and replace with impermeable type. This can be rigid insulation, spray-foam or built-up. The important point is that it be impermeable. Obviously, this is an expensive and invasive proposition. Conversely, if the building structure is at risk from chronic corrosion, it would be beneficial to remediate any damage to keep the building from falling down around your ankles; new insulation and all. Additionally, removal of the insulation offers a golden opportunity to find and correct concealed moisture leaks in the building and roof. • Install a low-emissivity ceiling below the existing ceiling in order to interrupt the heat transfer pathway from the ceiling to the ice. In practice, this is a dubious solution because it is not likely to completely solve the problem. The intent is to keep the existing ceiling warm enough to inhibit condensation of trapped moisture within the batt insulation. Unfortunately, in summertime, the dewpoint of outdoor air can be in the low-to-mid-70s degree Fahrenheit range, so it does not take much cooling to cause condensation. If this approach is taken, it is important that the Low-E ceiling membrane does not extend wall to wall. This would merely recreate a problem above the new ceiling. A margin around the perimeter is necessary to allow moisture above it to easily dissipate into the dry air below it. • Raise the temperature in the arena. This is of limited value, but as an interim measure until a more permanent solution is effected, some heat in the arena will warm the ceiling and reduce condensation by some amount. Obviously, there is a diminishing return on this strategy. Keeping a cold ice sheet in a hot arena doesn't work very well. That said, heat is a valuable thing to have. A very cold arena needs to be kept drier than it otherwise would. • Perforate the existing ceiling liner to allow vapor to breathe into the arena. This has been attempted by many desperate arenas with limited success. Even a very breathable liner represents some impediment to moisture vapor transmission, but a valiant effort to well-perforate an existing liner might be a worthy experiment before a more expensive solution is sought. The higher the breathability of the liner, the higher the tolerance to condensation within the batt insulation. There have been some "creative" and humorous solutions proffered and attempted including: BB guns, Garden Weasel on a pole and a plywood board on a stick with nails pounded through it. • Prevent moisture from leaking in above the insulation liner. While this sounds good in theory, in practice it is impossible to eliminate all moisture pathways. Even a small hole will eventually sink your boat. That said, any remedies for the ceiling should include a diligent effort to identify and reduce leaks: especially at the wall-to-ceiling joint. This includes interior walls. A can of sprayfoam is a worthy weapon to attack any voids you discover. The difficulty is that access to these joints is commonly prevented by insulation and/or wall skins on the inside and decorative fascia and architectural soffits on the outside. • Cut a 1-1/2' to 2' margin around the perimeter of the insulation to expose the wall-to-ceiling joint. This exposed margin will then permit moisture that leaks in to readily breathe into the dry arena. The exposed roof deck can be reinsulated with impermeable rigid insulation or spray foam. This solution presupposes that the source of moisture vapor is at the wall-to- ceiling joint. If your arena is one of those that also has mechanical "things" mounted on the roof above the ice, you will need to ponder how to address those leaks. Remember that you might not see immediate improvement, but do not despair. If your arena has had a chronic problem with condensation, the insulation will be damp for a long time. Until it dries, it will be rejecting moisture that can continue to cause visible drips. The insulation might not dry out for months: depending upon how the remediation was addressed. Remember, too, that the same problem can occur within walls. This is especially true for arenas where the walls are close to the ice sheet. This makes them colder and more prone to condensation. Ponder this when considering your remediation plan. As you can see, simply having an adequate dehumidification system might not fix your arena. Any investigation of dehumidification systems for existing arenas needs a candid evaluation of the building so that you can be assured of a superior result. A site visit by your friendly dehumidifier provider before you commit is time well spent. J Note: This information is advisory in nature. Your arena might involve several of the above scenarios and issues. Please consult a professional engineer to confirm your best course of action. Mark Bradley is a Senior Application Specialist for Climate by Design International, head office in Owatonna, Minnesota. RINK ISSUES Dehumidification , Any ceiling remedies should include a diligent effort to identify and reduce leaks, especially at the wall-to- ceiling joints.