# Glass paritions in ice hockey **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 10, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glass-paritions-in-ice-hockey/64952 "2001-05-10T02:53:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glass-paritions-in-ice-hockey/64952/1 "2001-05-10T02:53:27Z")
Can anyone explain to me why hockey arenas use glass around the perimeter of the rink above the boards? Seems like at least once during the playoffs (and probably innumerable times during the regular season) one section of that glass shatters after being hit by a puck. Why don’t they use plexiglass? Why would they use something as dangerous as actual glass - when it’s shattered, pieces of it can easily go into the crowd and injure fans (not to mention players). Am I missing something? Anyone know why they use glass instead of plexiglass? ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glass-paritions-in-ice-hockey/64952/2 "2001-05-10T03:39:02Z")
I think it **IS** plexiglass. One more than one occasion, I have seen the “glass” fall from it’s moorings and they just send someone out, lift it up, and whack it back into place. I believe St Louis has a form of “glass” that is fused as it’s installed. That is, it doesn’t have the typical 1/4 inch gap and metal pieces between sections, it appears solid. Also, NBA backboards aren’t real glass, yet those shatter under certain circumstances. Anything can break if you hit it right, even diamonds. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glass-paritions-in-ice-hockey/64952/3 "2001-05-10T03:43:45Z")
I’m pretty darn sure that it _is_ plexiglass. Ever notice how it doesn’t break while being hit with all those wild slap shots? This is all I could turn up from the NHL rule book: All glass or other types of protective screens and gear to hold them in position shall be properly padded or protected. Protective glass shall be required in front of the penalty benches to provide for the safety of the players on and off the ice. All equipment used to hold the glass or screens in position shall be mounted on the boards on the side away from the playing surface. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glass-paritions-in-ice-hockey/64952/4 "2001-05-10T03:49:42Z")
Well, I’m searching and I can’t seem to find a definitive answer. I’ve seen a few references to “acrylic glass” but nothing concrete. I’ll keep looking. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glass-paritions-in-ice-hockey/64952/5 "2001-05-10T03:58:31Z")
from [http://www.howstuffworks.com/ice-rink2.htm](http://www.howstuffworks.com/ice-rink2.htm) > [@](#): > > There are two types of glass: > > Tempered glass: The sides of the rink – as well as the team benches and penalty boxes – are lined with seamless, tempered glass. Although the primary purpose of the tempered glass is to provide an unobstructed view for the fans, it can also better withstand the force of a player or a slap shot slamming into it. Tempering is an annealing process, involving successive heating and cooling, and makes glass harder and less brittle. The pieces of side glass, each 6 feet tall and 5/8 of an inch thick, fit together smoothly. > Plexiglas: The ends of the rink are lined with Plexiglas – acrylic plastic sheets. The end glass is 8 feet tall and a 1/2 inch thick. The Plexiglas sheets are fitted together with supports that are mounted on the outside edge of the boards, so they don’t interfere with play. So St Louis has Tempered Glass and San Jose has Plexiglas. I guess it depends on the rink. ---
**Author:** ![Gatsby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@Gatsby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatsby)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glass-paritions-in-ice-hockey/64952/6 "2001-05-10T04:33:35Z")
Well, Sue hit the right link. Players like plexiglass because it has more give, fans like tempered for minimal obstruction. Players get paid. Fans pay. They pay the most for rinkside seats. The rest pretty much explains itself. I don’t think anyone is putting up Plexiglass in new facilities. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glass-paritions-in-ice-hockey/64952/7 "2001-05-10T06:23:16Z")
The kind of glass St. Louis and many other places have is called seamless glass. It doesn’t have those metal things sticking up to hold the glass in place; it has little blocks at the top. It doesn’t give freaky bounces like the other kind and it gives the fans a better view, but causes more injuries because it doesn’t bend or sway as much. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glass-paritions-in-ice-hockey/64952/8 "2001-05-10T12:04:04Z")
Thanks, everyone. Always good when other people do research you should have done yourself! 🙂 But I was tired, and cranky, and the dog ate my keyboard. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sue Duhnym \* > > Also, NBA backboards aren’t real glass, yet those shatter under certain circumstances. Anything can break if you hit it right, even diamonds. \*\* I’m sure that what you’re saying is true, but it’s just tough for my mind to wrap itself around. I see play halted in an NHL game because the glass shattered, and darned if it doesn’t look like shards of actual glass. However, you’re right - if it was all “real” glass, the constant slapshots aimed at it would surely break more sections. So I dunno, guess it’s actually the plexiglas or tempered glass… ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glass-paritions-in-ice-hockey/64952/9 "2001-05-10T12:33:32Z")
Tempered glass IS glass. That’s why it looks like glass when it shatters. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it usually breaks in fairly rounded shards. Occasionally, sharp shards will form, and spectators will get a few cuts. Go to your favorite rink and tap on the glass…it feels like glass. It’s just really thick (about 1/2 inch it seems). I like the seamless glass. Our hockey team (college) just got seamless glass installed in our rink, and it made this year so much more fun to watch, and the really funky bounces off the supports was gone. Jman ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glass-paritions-in-ice-hockey/64952/10 "2001-05-10T12:40:09Z")
As one who regularly “eats glass” every Tuesday and occasional Saturday night . . . I can say that for some reason it’s easier to wipe blood off of the tempered glass than it is the plexiglass. In any case, I remember last year when an NHL slapshot _did_ hit a piece of tempered glass, and shattered it, showering a fan with the pieces. The referee was nice enough to skate to a bench and fetch the poor soul a towel for the cuts on his forehead. One of the more memorable moments of the 99-00 regular season 🙂 Tripler Go Devils! ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glass-paritions-in-ice-hockey/64952/11 "2001-05-10T12:44:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jman \* > \*\*Tempered glass IS glass. That’s why it looks like glass when it shatters. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it usually breaks in fairly rounded shards. Occasionally, sharp shards will form, and spectators will get a few cuts. Go to your favorite rink and tap on the glass…it feels like glass. It’s just really thick (about 1/2 inch it seems). I like the seamless glass. Our hockey team (college) just got seamless glass installed in our rink, and it made this year so much more fun to watch, and the really funky bounces off the supports was gone. > > Jman \*\* Whoops! Sorry about that; of course it’s real glass. And that does 'splain a lot. Whenever I saw that the glass had been shattered, I invariably asked myself, “Darn it to heck, why in tarnation don’t they put in plastic? Someone’s liable to get in a whole mess of trouble!” But if the shards are fairly rounded, it’s not as nasty. **Tripler** , congrats on making it to the next round (not you, the Devils). I don’t even wanna know how tough it is to get blood off the Plexiglas! ---
**Author:** ![hockeynut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@hockeynut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hockeynut)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glass-paritions-in-ice-hockey/64952/12 "2001-05-10T13:58:46Z")
Tempered glass is clearer than plexiglass. Plexiglass also scratches a lot easier. Therefore tempered glass is better if you want to see the games. Automobile windows are also made of tempered glass. When you get in an accident, the glass breaks into many small pieces rather than large jagged sheets that could do serious damage. You should be able to find small pieces of it around any intersection. As for injuries, I remember a few times when the plexiglass sections came loose during a game (when players hit the boards) and went crashing down on the fan’s heads. I think I’d rather get showered with little pieces of tempered glass than hit over the head with 50lbs of plexiglass. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glass-paritions-in-ice-hockey/64952/13 "2001-05-10T14:46:12Z")
Last season Calgary Flames had 10 players who had concussions. The players felt that it was due to the seamless glass. This season the team added “spacers” so that the seamless glass would have some give. I don’t think that it helped too much since they still had 8 or 9 players end up with concussions this season. The seamless glass is great for the fans, but the players are really weary of it, as one player called it “senseless glass”. The new American Airlines Centre in Dallas will have the seamless glass along the sides and old fashioned plexiglass on the ends in in the corners where the majority of the big hits occure.