Frame sizes

[Poggle]

Is there a specific reason why super frames are smaller than brood frames???

 

[Strength_10]

Is there a specific reason why super frames are smaller than brood frames???

The weight of a super when full of honey.

You could (and some do) use a brood chamber and brood frames for honey storage but the full chamber would be heavy to lift during inspection and extraction.


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.411467,-2.606262

 

[thedeaddiplomat]

Could it be because supers are smaller than brood boxes??

 

[itma]

Is there a specific reason why super frames are smaller than brood frames???

Apart from the weight, another reason would be to increase the frequency of having completely filled frames for harvesting.
The smaller, the more easily it is completed.

 

[drstitson]

and so that your extractor can fit through the loft hatch.

 

[oliver90owner]

Is there a specific reason why super frames are smaller than brood frames???

Simple. They are not.

The original British Standard had three frame sizes and three boxes (on to suit each frame size).

They were, and still are, shallow, deep and extra-deep. What each box might be used for is entirely another matter. Most supers are shallows; most broods are deeps. But lots use extra-deeps as broods and some use deeps as supers.

This year, as usual, I have used shallows and extra-deeps - no deeps. Both have been used for broods and supers at different times.

So the problem is one of assuming what each box is designated as, which was not the aim of the Standard.

Sloppy use of the nomenclature is the reason. Like calling a cell a battery. It most certainly is not, but the terms have been allowed to mingle over the years because some are not aware of the nomenclature differences. Like Sunday - it is actually identical to the other six days but is regarded by some as special, or reserved for the day of rest. Not much use for a job with a process which needs to carry on 24/7.

Here is a question to highlight the problem. The 'dark side' exams have had this idi-ot question: How much honey does a full brood frame hold? Fairly obvious that any frame full of brood does not have a great deal of space for honey, but the people that set the question were sadly not aware of the correct answer!

RAB

 

[DanBee]

Here is a question to highlight the problem. The 'dark side' exams have had this idi-ot question: How much honey does a full brood frame hold? Fairly obvious that any frame full of brood does not have a great deal of space for honey, but the people that set the question were sadly not aware of the correct answer!

This has been discussed at length and I still think you're being overly pedantic. It is entirely reasonable to call a deep frame a brood frame and vice versa. I don't like the inference (then, as now) that the whole exam system is wrong just because you debate the terminology used in one question

 

[Phil280]

Hi there.

This has been discussed at length and I still think you're being overly pedantic.

Personally I think RAB has a point because the frame size basically has nothing to do with a frames function.
I have colonies living on 3 boxes of ÖBW-shallow (Austrian-Wide-Frame-shallow, 16x42cm) frames.
In summer they have 5 or more, the lowest 2-3 with brood...so those would be considered brood frames/boxes.
A brood frame has no specific measurements - it is simply a frame with brood in it.

Back on topic: The reason is that smaller frames full of honey are lighter in comparison to larger frames full of honey (I bet that's real news!) which makes the super easier to handle when full.
Bees also usually fully cap the honey-comb in smaller frames.

Greets
Phil

 

[Midland Beek]

Is there a specific reason why super frames are smaller than brood frames???

No.

In large parts of the worldwide beekeeping industry, it is common for hives to be operated using just one size of box for brood and supers, and this is usually Langstroth medium.