Austech External Building Products recently delivered 7,200 m of 50mm thick Foamular extruded polystyrene to the National Ice Sports Centre (NISC) that is currently under construction in Docklands, Melbourne. The Foamular extruded polystyrene has been supplied to help with the challenging task of insulating the building.
The innovative National Ice Sports Centre features two rinks that will cater for the sporting elite and ice recreation enthusiasts. Located in Melbourne’s Docklands, the ice rink is set to be the new home of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia.
Ice rinks represent a unique environment where the extreme cold, moisture and high pressure can cause insulation to under perform. Foamular Metric 400 Extruded Polystyrene is specifically designed for use in areas such as the ice rink in Melbourne. When installed under the ice, Foamular extruded polystyrene prevents cold temperatures from escaping through the floor, helping to make cooling equipment more efficient and extending its usable life.
Foamular extruded polystyrene has been used successfully in ice rinks world wide, but its ability to handle extreme cold and moisture has seen it extensively used in cool-room and cold storage applications.
The cooling equipment and people skating on the ice may add weight, but it is small when compared with the weight of ice cleaners. Ice cleaners can weigh many tonnes with the weight concentrated on a small moving area. Foamular extruded polystyrene’s closed cell design minimises compression, reducing compressive creep and prolonging the life of the structure.
Two sheets of 50mm Foamular extruded polystyrene specified for the ice rink provides an R-value of R3.57. Foamular extruded polystyrene maintains at least 90% of its thermal rating for 20 years, helping make this a sustainable project with a long lifespan.
The ice rink is scheduled to open in 2010, providing Australians with a world class ice sports centre dedicated to improving the accomplishments of Australians in the Winter Olympics.