Snow insulation and conservation systems

Abstract

Various aspects of application of polyethylene foam implemented for roof thermal insulation within the frame of one of the sports venues and, closely, the realization of insulation systems for cold conservation on the territory of public sports facilities, particularly for snow storage conservation within ski resorts have been regarded in this article. Additional demands are placed on thermal insulating material for suchlike constructions. Apart from high thermo technical properties, the material should involve hermeticity, lightness, easy mounting and maintenance, durability, bacterial and fungal resistance and temperature differential resistance. The examination results concerning properties and particularities of application of non-cross-linked polyethylene foam within the scope of production of insulation coatings protecting the snow from melting are given in the article. It has been established that being the part of insulation system polyethylene foam preserves the accuracy of mechanical and thermo physical characteristics. Taking all functional particularities of insulation systems implementation into consideration, the principles of protection and conservation of snow covering have been developed being realized on the mountainsides and plateaus of ski resorts. Polyethylene foam rolls have been connected in a butt joint and mechanically fixed. As a result, a seamless insulating coating - thermal blanket has been formed, which covered the entire mountainside. Maintenance of insulation system is performed during the off-season between March and September in the period of stable positive temperatures.