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An often overlooked part of ice arena design, and retrofits, is the protection of steel and control of radiant heat transfer from the roof deck. In 1991 Paquette Ice arena, Burlington, VT a municipality owned arena, experienced such a dilemma. Their facility was exceeding budgeted amounts for utility costs by 30%. To solve this issue they sought out the expertise of Indoor Courts of America (ICA). Using the patented Energy Miser® Insulated Ceiling System ICA was able to cut energy use and create an appealing skating atmosphere.

How it works The Energy Miser® Insulated Ceiling System attaches to the purlins and suspends below the mainframe beams. This is accomplished using one and one-half inch diameter by six feet long galvanized tubes, spaced at 10'- 12' on center, with eighteen inch internal galvanized connectors. These in turn are held up with an eye bolt attached to quarter inch threaded rod and the appropriate cliphead for the buildings ceiling components. After attachment of the hardware, ICA's IR-HD low-emissivity (Low-E) facing and insulation is installed creating an integral vapor barrier. Eliminating the possibility of condensation can be achieved by venting the cavity with the use of eave and ridge vents.

What it did for Paguette   The first thing ICA looked at on the forty-two thousand square feet of ceiling was its existing height. The ridge of the building stood at 48 feet. This in itself was a consumption of wasted energy. A unique property of the Energy Miser® system is it can be suspended at any height. ICA was able to drop the ceiling 16 feet creating a finished ceiling height of 32 feet above the floor. Now that the ceiling is closer to the ice, hockey players are able to follow the puck better and figure skaters can see improvement in tracing their patterns.

Dropping the ceiling for a more pleasurable skating environment was only one of the benefits it achieved for Paquette. They are now able to maintain a more consistent temperature in the building. The building is not heated and the average temperature in winter months is 40 to 41 degrees. The lowest it has reached is 32 degrees, with the thermometer outside reading minus 20 degrees. The average temperature ranges from 60 to 62 degrees in the hottest times of the summer.

Since this was a municipally owned project, Paquette was able to receive funding from the local utility company. The hundred thousand dollars borrowed for the ceiling was paid back in a 5 year period. Now that the ceiling is paid for, the tax payers are reaping the benefits on a more energy efficient facility. With the Energy Miser® system installed they have calculated an average 30 percent increase in energy savings. This includes a 45 percent increase attained during August, their hottest time of the year.

Their ice making time has dropped from 24 to 30 hours down to 12 to 13 hours. The 50 percent decrease has allowed them to raise the brine temperature, producing a much faster and clearer ice surface.

The one particular feature of the system that has most impressed Wendall Kirk of the Burlington Parks & Recreation Department is the upkeep. "In the seven years since the Energy Miser® system was installed we have not had to perform any maintenance on it. There has not been a single puck that has penetrated the vapor barrier."

Protect your steel
Initial construction costs are approximately 35 to 40 percent of an ice arenas' budget for structural steel and its erection. Although this is the single largest dollar investment made in the building, it is often ignored when estimating long term maintenance expenses. Leaving the steel exposed can lead to rust and corrosion due to condensation. Using the Energy Miser® Insulated Ceiling System with ICA's IR-HD low-emissivity (Low-E) facing combats this problem. The IR-HD facing has an ASTM E408 emissivity tested rating of 0.03 percent, or 97 percent blockage of radiant heat from the roof to the building. The Energy Miser® Insulated Ceiling Systems thermal performance is also certified according to ASTM C-236 Guarded Hot Box Tests. Paquette had condensation problems before the installation of the Energy Miser® system. Since then no condensation has formed.

With today's rising energy costs and the depletion of natural resources, a large number of utility companies offer rebates or low cost loans to customers for upgrading their facilities. Some can also provide you with a savings comparison for a minimal fee or no charge at all. In the long run the savings incurred from a well-insulated building will free up funds for improvements in other areas of your facility.