The
most important consideration when designing a new polystyrene beehive
is to ensure compatibility with existing wood and polystyrene hives. If
each manufacturer designs their own beehives independently and without
reference to existing designs, they are probably not compatible. This
would ultimately be a lack of consumer confidence, which beekeepers
would not know what to do with their existing hives, both of which lead
from wood and polystyrene.
According
to the manufacturer after a few common design principles they can
ensure that all polystyrene British National hives and compatible with
existing wooden hives. This
common design principles will still allow each manufacturer to provide
sufficient freedom to ensure that designs can differ from each other in form and function, while each manufacturer has its own unique feature.
The design of polystyrene hives not limited as wooden sticks of commonly available sizes or cutting profiles, so the design possibilities for a polystyrene version to an existing hive are numerous. The most important concept is the compatibility with existing honeycomb frame ensures that the beekeeper simply transfer their images from their existing wooden hive or nucleus in the new hive. Frame size is basically what distinguishes hive species from each other and therefore it is what a specific hive a British National or not.
An additional feature of the British National beehive design, not common in other hives, is that it is external space. This allows the beekeeper to align the frame with the input either a warm or cold way way. While there is little evidence to support any differences between the results obtained by the support frame either so obtained are, many beekeepers do not change their management practices. It is therefore important that the beehive is square and oriented in two directions.
The density of the polystyrene in the production of hives is important since this determines the balance between strength and insulation costs. Higher density material is stronger, but more expensive insulation and provides less. Lower density polystyrene provides better insulation, but is subject to damage during inspections and the bees are able to chew holes into the material. Recent attempts to cut cheap polystyrene beehives in the UK, the British National designs were produced using polystyrene insulation class. These were initially popular, but rarely lasted more than one or two seasons and have now been withdrawn from sale. These low grade hives caused distrust within the community against polystyrene bee hives and have seriously damaged their reputation in the UK. It is important that this error is not repeated. A minimum of 100 grams per liter than it recommended the best balance between adequate insulation in the walls and provides sufficient strength and resistance to damage. It is the density of the material used widely on the Continent.
In order to achieve the same strength, the polystyrene walls of a beehive must be thicker than a corresponding catch timber. Even if the walls of the hive are too thin, the bees can chew through a thinner section to create an additional input. This is of particular importance in sections such handle rebates and the wall at the end of the upper bar of the frame.
When designing a new polystyrene beehive are the ways to reduce the same as a wooden hive and the internal dimensions of the external dimensions, or keep the same internal dimensions and increase the external dimensions. Keeping the outside dimensions of the hive the same as a wooden hive imposes several significant problems. To ensure sufficient wall thickness in the side walls you need to reduce the number of frames 11-10, since reach that many queens in the UK so fruitful they must be reared in hatcheries and a half times, double brood or 14x12 are hives, reducing the number the brood frames compounds this problem. The biggest problem of keeping the external dimensions of the hive is the same that the walls remain in the area of the handle Discounts and at the end of the frame top bar of the same thickness as a wooden structure. These areas are too thin and very prone to damage during inspections, which can significantly reduce the overall life of the hive.
Keeping the internal dimensions the same as a wooden hive has many important advantages. Most importantly, adequate wall thickness in the range of handles and at the end of the frame top bars can be held. Careful design should also ensure that sufficient wall thickness can be maintained when a hive is taking on commercial framework. By removing the constraint of the dimensions of the outer walls can be made substantially thicker. This improves the insulation of the hive, the bees keep cooler in summer and warmer in winter, potentially increasing honey yield and reduces the need for winter feed. For the beekeeper, they can loot their colony from a timber move directly into new polystyrene beehive. You do not have to change all of their management practices or techniques also. The only disadvantage of this design is that the optional extras polystyrene or propagules can not fit within existing wood ceiling. However, the majority of beekeepers is the conversion to polystyrene buy complete hives including roofs and in view of the benefits that design option allows both beekeeping and longevity, the problem is not significant.
The exact external dimensions are not as critical, but it is important that they provide a balanced ratio between wall thickness and functionality. To deliver this, and to ensure compatibility with existing designs, it is recommended that a standard external dimension of 500mm x 500mm assumed during the internal dimensions are identical to those of a wooden British National hive. This gives thick highly insulating end and side walls and allows deep, easy to grip, handle grip. It also allows to obtain a sufficient wall thickness, when a commercial framed hive are produced. The increase in size is not too big and not noticeable when the bee hives or moving these external dimensions.
For compatibility with two wooden hives and other designs of the British National polystyrene hives top and bottom of each lift must be flat to ensure although a small round on the outer edge helps in the separation of elevators. This means that the hives may be stacked and used in the usual manner. There is a temptation, nose or latching portions at the edges of the elevators or on the ground, so that the hives go together and can not put out of alignment. This can cause significant problems when they try to solve the elevators from each other and also prevents compatibility with other design hive.
The majority of the British National hives sold in the UK have bee space below. Regardless of the beekeeping justifications for both systems to ensure compatibility with the majority of the UK market, should use polystyrene hives bee space below.
The design of the roof, floor and entrance block, inner cover or crown board and hive stand can all unique to a particular manufacturer. Provided they have internal dimensions identical to the wooden British National hives and are compatible with lifts with a flat top and bottom in a beehive with external dimensions of 500mm x 500mm. This allows each manufacturer have a unique selling point. By ensuring that the designs of each new British National polystyrene beehive are different but remain compatible with each other, consumer confidence in polystyrene beehives in the UK should improve.
The main design standards to ensure compatibility and to maintain consumer confidence are: 1 The density of the polystyrene should contain at least 100 grams per liter. 2 The internal dimensions of the stick should be identical with a wooden British National hive as 11 or 12 standard Hoffman frames even spacing. 3 The outer dimensions of the stick should be 500mm x 500mm. 4 The top and bottom of each lift should be flat, possibly with a small round on the outer edge. 5 The hives should bee space below....
