If you’ve ever wondered what those big panes of glass are made of that protect hockey players from flying pucks, wonder no more! Hockey glass is made of a special type of tempered safety glass that is designed to withstand high-impact collisions.
Hockey glass – what it is and what it’s made of
Hockey glass is a type of safety glass that is used in hockey arenas to protect spectators from flying pucks. It is made of a laminate of two sheets of tempered glass that are bonded together with a layer of clear plastic. The plastic layer helps to absorb impact and prevents the glass from shattering.
The history of hockey glass
Hockey is a sport that has been around for centuries, and over time, the equipment used has evolved to better suit the needs of the athletes. One of the most important pieces of equipment in hockey is the glass that surrounds the rink. This glass is specially designed to protect the players from flying pucks and other potential injuries.
The first hockey games were played without any type of protection, and as you can imagine, there were a lot of injuries. In 1883, a player named John Creighton had his teeth knocked out by a puck, and this incident led to the development of protective netting around the rink. However, this netting did not offer much protection from flying pucks, so in 1897, a glass company called Howell & Company developed the first sheet of safety glass specifically for hockey rinks.
Howell & Company’s safety glass was made with a process called annealing, which made it up to three times stronger than regular glass. This new type of glass quickly became popular among rink owners and players alike, and it is still used in many modern hockey rinks today.
How hockey glass is made
Hockey glass is a clear, shatter-resistant material used to line the playing surface of an ice hockey rink. The most common type of hockey glass is made from acrylic, which is a clear plastic.
Hockey glass is typically made from two sheets of acrylic that are bonded together with an adhesive. The adhesive used to bond the two sheets of acrylic together must be strong enough to withstand the impact of a hockey puck traveling at high speeds.
Hockey glass is available in a variety of thicknesses, but the most common thicknesses used in professional ice hockey rinks are 3/16 inch (4.8 mm) and 1/4 inch (6.4 mm).
The benefits of hockey glass
Hockey glass is a type of tempered glass that is used in hockey rinks. It is designed to be shatter-resistant so that it can protect players from being hit by flying debris. Hockey glass is also transparent, which allows fans to see the action on the ice.
The drawbacks of hockey glass
Hockey glass isn’t made of the same material as other sports glasses. It’s made of a tempered glass that’s different from what’s used in other areas. Although it’s designed to resist shattering, it doesn’t always do a good job. One of the drawbacks of hockey glass is that it can shatter more easily than other types of glass.
How to clean hockey glass
Hockey glass is made of tempered safety glass. It is twice as strong as annealed glass of the same thickness, and if broken, it will break into small, safe pieces rather than large, sharp shards.
How to install hockey glass
Hockey glass is one of the most important pieces of equipment in a hockey rink. It provides a barrier between the playing surface and the fans, and it also protects players from errant puck or stick shots. Installing hockey glass properly is essential to ensuring the safety of everyone involved in the game.
Most hockey glass is made from tempered safety glass, which is designed to shatter into small, harmless pieces if it breaks. Tempered glass is strong and sturdy, but it can still break if it receives a hard impact. That’s why it’s important to install the glass properly, using heavy-duty mounts and supports.
To install hockey glass, first clean the area where the glass will be installed with a window cleaner or alcohol-based cleaner. Then, using a tape measure, mark the dimensions of the opening on the floor or wall where the glass will be installed.
Next, cut out plywood sheets to fit those dimensions. The plywood will provide support for the weight of the glass and will prevent it from shattering if it breaks. Once the plywood is in place, use a caulking gun to apply silicone sealant around the perimeter of each sheet.
Then, carefully place the tempered hockey glass into position on top of the plywood sheets. Make sure that there are no gaps between the glass and the plywood; otherwise, the glass could fall out and shatter. Finally, use strips of felt or other soft material to cushion any areas where two pieces of glass come into contact with each other. This will help prevent vibrations that could cause the tempered glass to break prematurely.
How to replace hockey glass
Most hockey rinks have Plexiglas or tempered glass along the boards. The standard size for NHL boards is 6 feet high and 200 feet long. Plexiglas is a safer alternative to glass because it shatters into big, dull pieces instead of small, sharp shards. Tempered glass is even stronger than Plexiglas and is often used in larger arenas where there are more people in close proximity to the glass, such as in basketball arenas.
While tempered glass is very strong, it can still break under the right conditions. A flying puck or hard body check can cause a crack or chip in the glass, and if the damage is bad enough, the entire pane will need to be replaced. Replacing hockey glass is a fairly simple process that most rink operators are familiar with.
- Remove the old pane of glass by unscrewing the bolts that hold it in place. Be careful not to drop the pane of glass – it’s much heavier than it looks!
- Place the new pane of glass into position and screw it into place. Make sure that the bolts are tightened securely so that the pane of glass doesn’t fall out accidentally.
- That’s it! You’ve successfully replaced a pane of hockey glass.
