Ammonia Leak Forces Closure of Three Hakametsä Rinks

A small ammonia leak on Monday forced the closure of three ice surfaces at Hakametsä in Tampere after a broken pipe sprayed oil and released ammonia during morning maintenance. Ice-making equipment was taken offline for about four hours and organised practice sessions were cancelled because the ice softened. Activities resumed at 4 p.m. after staff aired the building and cleared the ventilation and ice problems, Aamulehti reported.

Hall manager Jarmo Nurminen said there was no real danger because the ventilation directed the leak outdoors, although the smell of ammonia lingered in the corridors and outside. "Ammonia is noticeable immediately, even in small amounts. The staff aired it out," he said. He warned the arena's ice-making machines have been problematic recently and are effectively at the end of their service life. "It's like giving artificial respiration to 25-year-old machines, constant repairs and maintenance to keep them together," he said. The incident comes amid concerns about the arena's ageing equipment after the city earlier advised clubs to brace for tighter budgets and a planned Hakametsä overhaul that could change facility use.