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Keeping Winter Sports Venues Competitive With Optimum Temperature Control

Winter sports facility operators know that a well-maintained surface is the key to both good athletic performance and good business. Whether built for figure skating, speed skating, curling, ski jumping, or even bobsledding, venue operators need the right equipment and the right chemistry to produce a frozen surface that optimize sliding surfaces for skis, skates, curling stones, and sled runners. That’s true when you’re hosting champions or simply trying to keep recreational customers returning to your facility. In either case, excellent temperature control is a critical element of success.

Controlling ice temperature at indoor rinks

Operators of the world’s leading indoor ice sheet facilities know it’s not only important to be able to control ice sheet temperature, it’s also vital to understand a facility’s design, use patterns, and operating system.

First, they’re aware of the range of ice temperatures required for various uses of the ice sheet. Adult hockey players prefer harder ice at about 22o F (-5.5oC) for fast play. Softer

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Page 2 of 5 ice at about 25oF (-4oC) is right for figure skating, and ice for public skating is better at a little higher, 28oF (-2oC).

Many different factors can come into play in controlling ice sheet temperature. Some aren’t related to the ice sheet refrigeration system at all. The air temperature and relative humidity both inside the facility and the outdoors are important, particularly during summer months and in warm climates. How often facility doors are opened, air circulation patterns inside the building, and the number of spectators in the rink space can also affect ice sheet temperature.

Operators of top-rated facilities make it a point to thoroughly understand the capabilities of their rink refrigeration systems relative to considerations like these. They are very disciplined about record-keeping and know what it takes to change or maintain ice sheet temperatures for various uses at different times of the year. For example, they use advanced equipment like infrared sensors to measure ice temperatures on the surface of the sheet, rather than simply measuring refrigerant temperatures. And they know how long it takes their system to drive temperature changes from refrigerant lines through different sheet thicknesses to the critical performance zone at the surface.

The Right Heat Transfer Fluid Helps Maintain Ideal Ice Temperatures

Specifying the right heat transfer fluid can make also a real difference in efficiently maintaining the ideal ice temperatures for different types of skating.

High-quality fluids such as DOWTHERMTM SR-1 and DOWFROSTTM Inhibited Glycol- based Heat Transfer Fluids meet the requirements of icemaking systems in a number of

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Page 3 of 5 ways. To begin with, these fluids offer excellent heat transfer performance and operating efficiency to help control energy costs, especially when ice sheet temperatures are adjusted to meet the needs of different sports.

Equally important, they come with advanced inhibitor packages that minimize corrosion problems with pumps, valves, piping and other metallic system components. This helps maintain uniform refrigerant flow throughout the system to provide uniform temperatures across the entire ice sheet. By contrast, many “bargain” fluids and brines come with inferior inhibitors or none at all, leaving icemaking systems vulnerable to erratic temperatures, costly repairs and downtime.

First-Rate Skating Facilities Using First-Rate Fluids

One example of making the right fluid pay off is the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Operators of this facility’s system have used DOWTHERMTM SR-1 Ethylene Glycol-based Heat Transfer Fluid for over 23 years to maintain top-quality ice for the Detroit Red Wings of the , as well as a host of professional and world-class ice skating events.

Another system that relies on DOWTHERMTM SR-1 Heat Transfer Fluid is the state-of-the art Arena on the campus of the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Widely described as the finest facility of its kind in the world, this 13,000-seat venue uses DOWTHERMTM SR-1 Fluid to maintain its ice sheet as well as for heating and cooling the building interior.

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Keeping Ski Jump Ramp Conditions Optimal at the 2010 Winter Olympics

In February 2010, the Dow Performance Fluids Business’ chemistry will be front and center at the Nordic Ski Jump Venue in Whistler, British Columbia, home of the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics Games. The Dow Chemical Company delivered and installed 900 gallons of pure DOWFROST™ HD fluids to the ski jump venue in late December 2007. Since then, the ski ramp has hosted several competitions leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympics Games.

Precise temperature control is extremely important for hosting a successful ski jumping competition. The temperature of the track must be held as consistently as possible from top to bottom to provide a safe run that gives equal chances to all jumpers. However, winter air temperatures can change significantly through the course of a day; a morning that begins at 10o F (-12oC) may reach 45oF (7oC) in the afternoon. At air temperatures above approximately 38oF (3oC), the ramp’s surface can begin to melt and accumulate moisture that will slow jumpers down, especially near the critical takeoff point at the bottom. Not only can this cost jumpers distance, it can also be dangerous. A ramp refrigeration system that offers precise temperature control can respond quickly to changing air temperatures and sunlight conditions to keep the ramp surface at a uniform, predictable temperature.

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Does ski jump ramp temperature make a difference in the real world? Just ask Vinko Bogataj, the Slovenian ski jumper whose spectacular 1970 crash at Oberstdorf, Germany became the oft-replayed “Agony of Defeat” on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. What actually happened that day was a change in weather conditions that unexpectedly increased ramp speed. Although Bogataj tried to compensate, he was unable to maintain control and fell before reaching the lip of the ramp. Who knows…perhaps better temperature control might have averted Bogataj’s misfortune.

For the Olympics in Whistler, advanced heat transfer fluid chemistry from Dow will help keep 100 meters of ice uniformly frozen on the Nordic Ski Jump ramp, and will contribute to many exciting world-class competitions in 2010 and beyond. Whatever the ice sport, Dow Heat Transfer Fluids can provide the controllable, uniform performance needed to keep surfaces in top form for competitors and recreational users alike.

About Dow With annual sales of $54 billion and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element ” to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. ###

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