Frequently Asked Questions
(Last updated: September 12, 2008 )

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  Q. Can your FlexiTunnel be vented sufficiently despite having no top venting?

A. With FlexiTunnels full length side ventilation you are not only able to control any surplus heat, but by opening both sides you can in fact create an environment that would resemble outdoor growing conditions (temperature and airflow) while benefiting from of above protection from excessive sun, rain or hail.

  Q. How will FlexiTunnel stand up to high winds and storms?

A. FlexiTunnels are secured to the ground with our unique screw anchor system. Properly installed FlexiTunnels have to date withstood anything that has come their way. Since 1st July 2003 a FlexiTunnel S-03 has been weathering the elements at the foot of Canterbury's first power generating wind turbine, manufactured by Windflow Technology. Situated on an exposed ridge high above Gebbies Pass on Banks Peninsula this tunnel has been subjected to nearly constant winds that on several occasions have exceeded 100km/hr. This site has experienced a top wind gust of nearly 200km/hr in the 12months prior to the installation of our tunnel!

  Q. Will an unheated Flexitunnel be able to keep out frosts?

A. The Greenhouse film (Agphane 101) used on FlexiTunnels absorbs the maximum heat during the day. It's opacity to long wave Infra Red radiation ensures that Flexitunnel temperatures are always at a minimum of 4 degC higher than outside temperatures. Consequently, the risks of frost and sudden temperature drops are highly reduced and mostly eliminated.

  Q. How level must the ground be to have a FlexiTunnel?

A. A FlexiTunnel can be erected on just about any ground contour. A FlexiTunnel will always "hug" the ground however sloping or uneven it may be. That's just another area where FlexiTunnels really live up to their name!

  Q. Not having a foundation, how are FlexiTunnels secured to the ground?

A. FlexiTunnels are secured to the ground with our unique screw anchor system. A number of anchors are 'screwed' into the ground with the tool supplied and the tunnel structure attached to them. The anchors have been tested to each resist a minimum of 700kg of pull in average soil conditions.

  Q. How do they handle snow loads?

A. While not specifically engineered to handle heavy snow loads, light to average snow loads should not affect a FlexiTunnel. In most cases anyway, snow tends to either melt when coming into contact with the slightly warmer film surface temperature or especially on the 4m wide tunnel simply slide off the sides of the tunnel.