Hive insulation

[Shutler]

With winter setting in and temperatures reportedly dropping to -3°C here in the south, I’m curious to hear everyone’s thoughts.

At the moment, I have organic sheep's wool above the crownboard for insulation, but does anyone else wrap their hive for added protection during the colder months?

For context, it’s a National hive with a gabled roof. Would love to know what works best for you!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

noone in the UK, in their right minds wraps their hives.
But what you should do is cut a piece of 50mm PIR (celotex) to fit snuglu inside the roof and fix it permanently in place - after blocking off any 'vents'

 

[Shutler]

noone in the UK, in their right minds wraps their hives.
But what you should do is cut a piece of 50mm PIR (celotex) to fit snuglu inside the roof and fix it permanently in place - after blocking off any 'vents'

I hadn’t considered the PIR insulation approach, but it sounds like a great idea. I’ll look into getting some and making the adjustments. Out of curiosity, would the sheep’s wool I’ve added above the crown board achieve a similar effect? Really appreciate the advice.

 

[Erichalfbee]

With winter setting in and temperatures reportedly dropping to -3°C here in the south, I’m curious to hear everyone’s thoughts.

At the moment, I have organic sheep's wool above the crownboard for insulation, but does anyone else wrap their hive for added protection during the colder months?

For context, it’s a National hive with a gabled roof. Would love to know what works best for you!

50mm PIR on the crown board.
I used to do this but all my colonies are in poly now

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

would the sheep’s wool I’ve added above the crown board achieve a similar effect? Really appreciate the advice.

I'd forgotten that you said you'd used wool - and that you had a gabled roof. Yes, wool would to the trick, same, I woild seal off the vents then pack the whole roof space with wool.
Dani's idea of just putting a slab of PIR on the crownboard would work too, trouble with fagle roofs is you haven't got the luxury of the 'telescope' roof (aspecially If you have an extra deep flat roof.

 

[ericbeaumont]

wrap their hive for added protection

Best insulation for bees is more bees, so if you've reduced the hive volume so as to pack them in, treated for varroa and they're up to weight, then no more need be done except to seal lid & roof and insulate the space above. PIR outranks sheep's wool in terms of thermal efficiency.

 

[Sutty]

One insulation material i have used recently (for insulating around and above a rapid feeder in a spare super) is loft insulation - but  not the glassfibre/rockwool stuff, but the stuff made from recycled plastic bottles. I'm not sure I'd use it much in a loft as I suspect it's flammable.

 

[Garry R]

The idea of PIR is great with one big but.... You must ensure that there is not a single pin prick, tear or rip in the foil which can allow water to get into the Celotex. I was asked by someone to check on some hives which seemed to be abandoned and in the course of the inspection I realised that the insulation itself as the most wonderful sponge and the surrounding box was waterlogged. Not sure if they survived as they disappared but I doubt it. The weight of the hives was collossal. Like Erichalbee I I keep in polyhives and have done since 1977 and they do not mop up water like Celotex.

 

[Penninetrader]

All sounds much too high brow, those who poopoo insulating hives seem to have little problem with permanently insulated manufactured plastic tubs. I insulate and draughtproof in the way I see best. Foam insulation that is dense in structure does not draw water to any degree. And yes, more bees less unnecessary space in winter.

 

[pargyle]

The idea of PIR is great with one big but.... You must ensure that there is not a single pin prick, tear or rip in the foil which can allow water to get into the Celotex. I was asked by someone to check on some hives which seemed to be abandoned and in the course of the inspection I realised that the insulation itself as the most wonderful sponge and the surrounding box was waterlogged. Not sure if they survived as they disappared but I doubt it. The weight of the hives was collossal. Like Erichalbee I I keep in polyhives and have done since 1977 and they do not mop up water like Celotex.

Aluminium tape to cover the cut edges and the whole lot given a couple of coats of Garden Shades renders PIR almost totally weatherproof - my solar wax melter stood outside for 10 years without deteriorating - what finished it was me thinking I could use it with steam as a wax melter - big mistake !

 

[Erichalfbee]

The idea of PIR is great with one big but.... You must ensure that there is not a single pin prick, tear or rip in the foil which can allow water to get into the Celotex.

You cover every surface with overlapping aluminium tape then you paint them.
The ones in my photo were before they were painted. Laborious, yes, but lasted a good ten years.