Fiberglass and resin safety

[blackcavebees]

Been fixing my boat and have some fibreglass and resin left over. In my experience it doesn't keep well so looking for alternate use.

First thought was to cover some kingspan to make insulated dividers to reduce brood box void next year for splits, but unsure if suitable for inside hive?

Then thought may be ok to waterproof roof on DIY national hives I've made from pallet wood, as outside hive.

Any insight guys? Thanks

 

[oliver90owner]

A thin film, short time inside the hive at a non-production period. The only parts which should need extra protection are the edges ans entry/exit points if running 'warm way'.

The biggest problem with dividers is that they get propolised in. That is why I have thin ply ones packed with polystyrene; they can be easily removed with some force without damage.

Roofs and boxes? Are you going to add fibreglass to this? I would think any cracking due to expansion/contraction may soon crack the coating , unless thick, and allow ingress of moisture, leading to earlier than expected failure.

I have mostly metal clad roofs which are no trouble for years and years and some ply roofs which need regular attention.

As far as bee safety is concerned, I would think most are fairly safe if cured completely, the temperature in use will only get to 30ish degrees inside the hive and only 35 if they were brooding right up against it - which should not be the case. Outside will be of no concern.

I would not expect it to be a food grade item, but neither is wood, for that matter.

So go for it, if you deem the product will be a durable option for these applications.

RAB

 

[blackcavebees]

Thanks RAB, very helpful answer (as usual). Prob will go for roof coating - it is fibreglass mat plus resin so cured finish is like the underside of a bath tub, only smoother as I run a flow coat it. Too thick to crack, unless a breeze block dropped on etc. Will try it and see, but may put 1" kingspan under it.

Like your idea about thin ply dividers plus insulation. I'm def getting an education on forum, thanks

 

[user 6228]

Thanks RAB, very helpful answer (as usual). Prob will go for roof coating - it is fibreglass mat plus resin so cured finish is like the underside of a bath tub, only smoother as I run a flow coat it. Too thick to crack, unless a breeze block dropped on etc. Will try it and see, but may put 1" kingspan under it.

Like your idea about thin ply dividers plus insulation. I'm def getting an education on forum, thanks

I use fibre glass and resin and polyurethane foam extensively in making insulated hives.
However Im more using resin and fibreglass to cover a kingspan structure to give toughness rather than using kngspan to insulate a fibreglass structure, if you catch my meaning.

I'm using it on 50mm foam, this is quite strong but not tough. I 'found I only need a single layer of glass tissue to give it the toughness required.
The roofs I have used are just kingspan with a few coat of resin to seal the cut edges with corner protection from something like fibre glass tissue, plastic or very thin ally

There hasnt been any cracking due to expansion in over a year.

Of course the heavier you make things the stronger they have to be.

btw not all PIR insulation is the same, I've found Reticel to be a better hive construction material than Kingspan. Kingspan is not as strong and is subject to more shrinkige when left unsealed than Reticel.

 

[madasafish]

Celotex insulation boards are quite good for insulating hives: more dense than Kingspan I suspect. (I bought 3 sheet cheap on ebay - 1/3rd retail price..)

 

[joelsoo]

was googling fibreglass hive roofs and came across this thread.. so resurrecting this thread abit...

i plan to coat the external of my DIY hive roofs with fibreglass resin, currently i use foil tape which is water proof but when i flip it upside down on the ground during inspection, the grass/stones/gravel of where i leave it upside down and weight of supers/brood box placed on roof whilst inspection will damage the foil, exposing its waterproofing properties to the elements.

just checking in this thread 8 years ago, are the respective person's who replied this post who had done the same have any issues over the years?