Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/850186
ASK RINK You have rink questions, RINK has rink answers Send your rink questions to: INFO@USICERINKS.COM 50 / JULY.AUGUST.2017 USICERINKS.COM WE ARE LOOKING INTO A LOW-E CEILING PROJECT. CAN WE INSTALL THE LOW-E CEILING WITH THE WHITE SIDE DOWN? To address your question regarding the use of a white scrim instead of the aluminum for aesthetic purposes, the question becomes: what is most important to your operation? If energy efficiency is the most important consideration, then definitely use a true aluminum scrim. Aluminum is a very low emissive material, meaning that it will transmit radiant heat very slowly. The radiant heat load to an ice sheet can be as much as 30% of the entire load that your refrigeration system must deal with on a daily basis, whether it is summer or winter. The use of aluminum will make a significant difference in energy costs. This is why the aluminum scrim is recommended, along with an R30 ceiling insulation and full vapor barrier for all modern rink construction. To get an idea of this effect, try putting a small piece of aluminum foil into your oven at, say, 400 degrees for 10 minutes (just the foil, no food) and then remove it. You will find that you will be able to handle it without burning your hands, which is due to the low emissive characteristics of this material. Now think about this same situation multiplied many times over (in square feet) in an ice rink and you will begin to see the full effect. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO CALCULATE REFRIGERATION SYSTEM COOLING CAPACITY FOR OUR ICE RINK. Here is a simple way to give you a good idea of how much ice you can build during an hour with your ice system. Find one hour of empt y ice. Resurface as many times as you can but only go back out when it is 90% frozen and dr y. Keep track of how much water you put down and then you will have a good idea as to the capacit y of your system. An average of 400-500 gallons per hour is a good working system. Many factors need to be taken into account when doing this. Outside temperature, humidity level, thickness of the ice and insulation of the building will affect this. If you are starting with a new ice sheet, you will notice a big difference in how much ice you can build at 1/4" vs. 3/4" of ice thickness — as the ice gets thicker, the freezing rate will slow. This is a good number to know when you are trying to build a new sheet of ice or if you need to do some ice maintenance. Many small rink operators wonder how an NHL facility can build a sheet of ice in 36 hours. Keep in mind that many of those facilities have extra tonnage to accomplish this. Community rinks usually do not have extra capacity built into them for building ice quickly. J A: Q: PHOTOS: COURTESY OF RINK ARCHIVES Q: A: Low-E install of a aluminum for is then scrim. installing the ceiling with the white side facing down. The silver foil of any Low-E ceiling is you put down and then you will have a good idea as to the capacity of your system. An average of 400-500 gallons per dave ■ You have rink questions. Dave has rink answers. Send your questions to AskDave@rinkmagazine.com. Low-E benefits are the result of silver foil on the ceilings. RINK PHOTO What is most important to your operation? If energy efficiency is the most important consider- ation, then definitely use a true aluminum scrim. 9/15/10 11:18 AM Page 50 operation? If energy efficiency is important consideration, then use a true aluminum scrim. Aluminum is a very low emissive meaning that it will transmit heat very slowly. The radiant to an ice sheet can be as much of the entire load that your refrigeration system must deal with on a basis, whether it is summer or The use of aluminum will make a significant difference in energy costs. why the aluminum scrim is recommended, along with an R30 ceiling insulation and full vapor barrier for all rink construction. To get an idea effect, try putting a small piece of aluminum foil into your oven at, say, 400 for 10 minutes (just the foil, no and then remove it. You will find will be able to handle it without your hands, which is due to the emissive characteristics of this Now think about this same multiplied many times over (in feet) in an ice rink and you will see the full effect. –Thanks to Jack Hicks, Director of Management/Service, Roustan Arena Solutions Team/Roustan Refrigeration for this answer. ANSWER 2: I have been involved with Low-E ceilings for over 20 I would strongly advise against installing the ceiling with the white side facing down. The silver foil of any Low-E ceiling is what provides the Low-E benefit. The emissivity of the foil facing is 3-5%, or an emissivity value of .03 to .09. The white vinyl side has an emissivity of 90%, or .9. What this means is that with the foil facing the ice the material will only radiate 3% to 5% of the heat from the roof area to the ice surface. If you flip the same material over, the ceiling will now radiate 90% of the heat from the roof deck to the ice surface. This will negate any benefit you may have received from the Low-E ceiling. In addition you may create severe moisture problems above the newly installed ceiling. – Thanks to Greg Dean, Sales Manager of CUSTOM ICE inc./ENERGY ICE for this answer. We would like to know how to calculate refrigeration system cooling capacity for our ice rink. Here is a simple way to give you a good idea of how much ice you can build during an hour with your ice system. Find one hour of empty ice. Resurface as many times as you can but only go back out when it is 90% frozen and dry. Keep track of how much water you put down and then you will have a good idea as to the capacity of your system. An average of 400-500 gallons per hour is a good working system. Many factors need to be taken into account when doing this. Outside temperature, humidity level, thickness of the ice and insulation of the building will affect this. If you are starting with a new ice sheet, you will notice a big difference in how much ice you can build at 1/4" vs. 3/4" of ice thickness — as the ice gets thicker, the freezing rate will slow. This is a good number to know when you are trying to build a new sheet of ice or if you need to do some ice maintenance. Many small rink operators wonder how an NHL facility can build a sheet of ice in 36 hours. Keep in mind that many of those facilities have extra tonnage to accomplish this. Community rinks usually do not have extra capacity built into them for building ice quickly. ★ INK MAGAZ INE July/August 2007 Calculating refrigeration system cooling capacity is a rather simple process. Many small rink operators wonder how an NHL facility can build a sheet of ice in 36 hours. Keep in mind that many of those facilities have extra tonnage to accomplish this. Low-E benefits are the result of silver foil on the ceilings. Calculating refrigeration system cooling capacity is a rather simple process.