The global refrigeration industry is in the midst of a regulatory-driven transition toward a new generation of environmentally sustainable refrigerant solutions. This shift has major impacts on all private and community ice rinks, both large and small, operating in North America. For rink operators and owners, this study details key factors impacting the selection of refrigerants and refrigeration systems in today’s changing environment.
An estimated three quarters of currently operating National Hockey League (NHL) ice arenas were built in the mid-1990s. In addition to these larger arenas, there are thousands more private, community, and locally owned rinks across North America. Many of these rinks are much older and are nearing, if not well past, the expected usable lifetime of the refrigeration systems that enable ice making. To keep these facilities up and running, now is the time to plan for the future of your rink, including considering if, when, and how to retrofit, upgrade, and/or replace your ice-making chiller.