EPDM, concrete slab, QuartzPhalt® / IcePhalt® or SkateWay®? Choosing the right ice-rink technology

The correct ice technology depends on the operating model. Seasonal public skating, a permanent hockey arena, a multifunctional venue and a connected skating trail should not start from the same floor system.

Naming note: AST’s current English communication uses QuartzPhalt® / Quartzphalt® for its refrigerable asphalt-based rink concept, while older project and SPORTWAVE material may refer to IcePhalt®. On SPORTWAVE these names refer to the same AST technology family unless a project document states otherwise.

Start with the project, not the product name

Before selecting technology, define season length, annual installation frequency, required flexibility, sport level, off-season use, storage, base construction, future change-of-use and maintenance capability.

EPDM ice mats

Flexible EPDM mats suit mobile, seasonal and semi-permanent projects. They can be installed over a prepared base, removed after the season and reused. Their main strengths are low construction height, flexible geometry and reversibility.

Best fit: seasonal public skating, rental, recurring winter attractions, temporary professional events and selected permanent or retrofit concepts.

Main trade-offs: repeated installation labour, storage, hydraulic connections and seasonal handling.

AST IceBox

IceBox integrates EPDM mats and collectors into transportable modules, making recurring installation and storage more repeatable. Standard modules use 2.5 m width with 20 / 30 / 40 m mat lengths, corresponding to 50 / 75 / 100 m² per module.

Best fit: recurring seasonal rinks where handling time and organised storage matter.

Concrete ice slab

A concrete slab with integrated refrigeration pipework is the conventional permanent solution for dedicated arenas. It provides structural integration, dimensional stability and long service life.

Best fit: permanent hockey, figure-skating and public arenas operating long seasons or year-round.

Main trade-off: high permanent construction commitment and low reversibility once the refrigeration system is embedded.

AST QuartzPhalt® / IcePhalt®

AST’s asphalt-based refrigerable floor concept is intended for permanent and multifunctional indoor or outdoor use. Refrigeration pipework is integrated into an asphalt-based structure whose elastic characteristics are intended to tolerate temperature variation and reduce cracking risk.

Best fit: multifunctional venues, outdoor areas and projects where the refrigerated surface should remain useful outside the ice season.

AST SkateWay®

SkateWay® extends mobile refrigeration into connected paths, curves and ice networks. AST uses connection-panel widths of 0.5 / 1.0 / 2.5 m with 10 / 20 / 30 m mat lengths.

Best fit: city-centre attractions, parks, Ice Worlds and sites where visitor experience is based on movement rather than one open rectangle.

How the technologies compare

Hydraulics still decide whether the ice is uniform

EPDM and SkateWay systems rely on balanced secondary-fluid flow. Long branches, uneven circuit lengths and complex geometry must be reflected in pump, manifold and connection design. Concrete and asphalt-based systems also need careful hydraulic design, but their circuits become permanently integrated into the floor.

Future use should influence the floor today

A dedicated hockey arena can justify a permanent slab. A public square may need its original floor back every spring. A multifunctional arena may need a robust refrigerated surface that can support other activities. The annual activity calendar should therefore be established before the floor technology is fixed.

Installation frequency changes lifecycle cost

If the rink is rebuilt every year, handling and storage become lifecycle costs. IceBox or dedicated handling equipment such as AST Sherpa can become more important than small differences in first-year material cost.

Quick selection guide

• Seasonal / rental rink: start with EPDM or IceBox.
• Dedicated permanent arena: start with concrete slab and compare other permanent concepts.
• Multifunctional venue: evaluate QuartzPhalt® / IcePhalt®, semi-permanent EPDM or a removable system against the annual calendar.
• Custom paths / Ice Worlds: evaluate SkateWay®.
• Recurring seasonal operator: include handling, storage and seasonal labour in the technology decision.

What to define before technology is fixed

• annual operating months;
• permanent or seasonal use;
• sport and public programme;
• off-season use of the floor;
• required geometry;
• base and structural concept;
• available storage;
• installation frequency;
• refrigeration and hydraulic concept;
• future expansion or change-of-use.

SPORTWAVE compares these technologies from lifecycle and operating requirements rather than treating them as interchangeable catalogue options.

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