What is the glass in a hockey rink made of?

Can anybody please tell us the dimension of the glass? Do we know the name of the material of the glass around hockey rink? Thank you.

15 Comments

EgyptianWonder
on February 8th, 2012

All NHL arenas use a plexi-glass that is custom made for NHL purposes. The company that makes it is based near St. Louis, Missouri and they had the existing contract for almost 40 years.

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The NHL does not use Lexan in their rinks, nor is what they use made by DuPont
HighMaintenance
on February 8th, 2012

Concrete
MindsEye
on February 8th, 2012

plexi glass, about 1/2 inch thick.
Fly
on February 8th, 2012

plexi glass, about 1/2 – 3/4 inch thick
FollowTheLeader
on February 8th, 2012

It’s safety glass, an approved plexi-glass, and the sheets are 8′ x 5′. Any variations from this need approval from the NHL.
Bambi
on February 8th, 2012

Typically plexiglas (PMMA). I don’t know the dimensions of a typical pane but my guess would be somewhere around 36″ – 48″ wide by 6-9′ tall (depending on the area, the boards near the goal nets are taller).

Plexiglas =! Lexan. Chemically dissimilar, similar physical qualities, except for one that is not so good for a hockey rink: Plexiglas fractures into dull fragments, Lexan doesn’t (CDs and DVDs are made from polycarb, old LDs were made from Plexiglas. Shatter one of each and see what happens to get an idea of why Plexiglas is better for hockey rinks. . . .)

Functional groups for Lexan and PMMA are different, Lexan is heavier than PMMA (10-15% more by volume)….
RollingSands
on February 8th, 2012

I know this is a weird answer but….

the glass is made of plastic… hence, plexiglass
Dimensions vary, how big do you want the rink?
Dolphinswimmer
on February 8th, 2012

Its made eather of plexiglas or laminated glass, dimensions are The protective glass located above the boards shall be 160 cm to 200 cm in
height on the ends and shall extend 4 m from the goal line towards the Neutral
Zone and not less than 80 cm in height along the sides, except in front of the
players? benches.
Erin
on February 8th, 2012

In Pulaski, NY it is made of fence. Seriously, that fence ripped more jersey’s than Jaws.
StarGirl
on February 8th, 2012

Plexi Glass
Cashsplash
on February 8th, 2012

Gorrilla Glue
SkateRForeveR
on February 8th, 2012

plexiglass but did you ever see the time ovechkin smashed it and it was shattered (shouldnt happen with plexiglass) i saw it as like a replay at a game on the tv screen. prob lyk and inch thick 2 dnoo
Gunship
on February 8th, 2012

plexi glass
Gideeup
on February 8th, 2012

plexi is the common term which everybody gave.But the real name is LEXAN made by du pont i believe.
Peter Repovski
on April 19th, 2011

The glass surrounding most ice hockey rinks (in North America) is NOT plexi-glass or acrylic or Lexan – it is 1/2″ thick tempered glass. Ever notice how it shatters into a million tiny pieces when it breaks on impact from a puck, player or stick? That’s the primary safety feature of tempered glass.