FlexiTunnel General FAQ's
Q: How long does the plastic film last?
A: The tunnels are covered with a minimum 200micron greenhouse film with a manufactures guarantee of three years (pro rata) and an expected live span of 5 - 7 years plus. However, we often get film replacement orders for covers that lasted for well over 10 years!
(”Hi Ernst, the payment for the new film is set up for Monday. I hope that it is the same thickness as the previous one (I don’t know what that one was). Although my cat insists on climbing over it she doesn’t seem to make holes. It has worn through where it rubs on the frame and there is a split in it but I think it has done very well – 12 years. It has endured snow, frosts and wind. Regards, Elizabeth G.” Elizabeth G. Timaru)
Q: How level must the ground be to have a FlexiTunnel instaled?
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. Every single Hoop is secured with a pair of anchors that are 'screwed' into the ground with the tool supplied. The anchors have been tested and will each resist close to 1000kg of pull in average soil conditions.
Q: How would a FlexiTunnel stand up to high winds and storms?
A: FlexiTunnels’ are secured to the ground with our unique screw anchor system. Properly installed and maintained FlexiTunnels have to date withstood most storms that have come their way. Back in 2003/04, over a 12 months period, a FlexiTunnel 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/hours in the 12months prior to the installation of our tunnel!
In more recent times, during the Canterbury weather event of September 2013, a dairy farm near Oxford, who measured wind guest of up to 270km/hours on his weather station was able to report no damage whatsoever to his FlexiTunnel, while experiencing some damage to his Cow Stand-off Shelter, as well as complete destruction to his next door neighbors Radiata Pine wood lot!
Q: How does a FlexiTunnel 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 simply slide off the sides of the tunnel.
A: The tunnels are covered with a minimum 200micron greenhouse film with a manufactures guarantee of three years (pro rata) and an expected live span of 5 - 7 years plus. However, we often get film replacement orders for covers that lasted for well over 10 years!
(”Hi Ernst, the payment for the new film is set up for Monday. I hope that it is the same thickness as the previous one (I don’t know what that one was). Although my cat insists on climbing over it she doesn’t seem to make holes. It has worn through where it rubs on the frame and there is a split in it but I think it has done very well – 12 years. It has endured snow, frosts and wind. Regards, Elizabeth G.” Elizabeth G. Timaru)
Q: How level must the ground be to have a FlexiTunnel instaled?
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. Every single Hoop is secured with a pair of anchors that are 'screwed' into the ground with the tool supplied. The anchors have been tested and will each resist close to 1000kg of pull in average soil conditions.
Q: How would a FlexiTunnel stand up to high winds and storms?
A: FlexiTunnels’ are secured to the ground with our unique screw anchor system. Properly installed and maintained FlexiTunnels have to date withstood most storms that have come their way. Back in 2003/04, over a 12 months period, a FlexiTunnel 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/hours in the 12months prior to the installation of our tunnel!
In more recent times, during the Canterbury weather event of September 2013, a dairy farm near Oxford, who measured wind guest of up to 270km/hours on his weather station was able to report no damage whatsoever to his FlexiTunnel, while experiencing some damage to his Cow Stand-off Shelter, as well as complete destruction to his next door neighbors Radiata Pine wood lot!
Q: How does a FlexiTunnel 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 simply slide off the sides of the tunnel.
FlexiTunnel Grower FAQ's
Q: Can I extend my growing season with FlexiTunnel?
A: With a FlexiTunnel you will be able to extend your growing/harvesting season by weeks if not months on either end of the season. With a FlexiTunnel you can mediate the effects of extreme temperatures and that unexpected freeze. Spring sowings and plantings can be done weeks earlier than in open fields and will result in faster maturing of crops, increased quantities and superior quality.
Q: How is pest control any different with a FlexiTunnel?
A: There are two distinctive ways a FlexiTunnel can help pest management in a unique way: Firstly, the ability to fully side-vent the tunnels and thereby turn the greenhouse environment temporarily “upside-down” can greatly disrupt the establishment of insect and disease pests in greenhouse crops. Secondly, soil-borne diseases can be disrupted or avoided by spelling tired ground and shifting tunnels on to “clean” or rested ground.
Q: Can a FlexiTunnel be vented sufficiently despite having no top venting?
A: The large Double Sliding Doors (4 m2 opening) and the large Window/Vents (2 m2) will generally provide all the ventilation needed for tunnels up to 22 m to 30 m lengths. Furthermore, with FlexiTunnel’s full length side ventilation you are not only able to control any amount of 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 protection from above, like excessive sun, rain or hail.
Q: Will an unheated FlexiTunnel be able to keep out frosts?
A: The Greenhouse film 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 4oC higher than outside temperatures. Consequently, the risks of frost and sudden temperature drops are highly reduced and mostly eliminated. This however depends to large extend to the existing soil temperature and the heat stored in the soil and this in turn, on the day time temperature of the day(s) preceding a frost.
A: With a FlexiTunnel you will be able to extend your growing/harvesting season by weeks if not months on either end of the season. With a FlexiTunnel you can mediate the effects of extreme temperatures and that unexpected freeze. Spring sowings and plantings can be done weeks earlier than in open fields and will result in faster maturing of crops, increased quantities and superior quality.
Q: How is pest control any different with a FlexiTunnel?
A: There are two distinctive ways a FlexiTunnel can help pest management in a unique way: Firstly, the ability to fully side-vent the tunnels and thereby turn the greenhouse environment temporarily “upside-down” can greatly disrupt the establishment of insect and disease pests in greenhouse crops. Secondly, soil-borne diseases can be disrupted or avoided by spelling tired ground and shifting tunnels on to “clean” or rested ground.
Q: Can a FlexiTunnel be vented sufficiently despite having no top venting?
A: The large Double Sliding Doors (4 m2 opening) and the large Window/Vents (2 m2) will generally provide all the ventilation needed for tunnels up to 22 m to 30 m lengths. Furthermore, with FlexiTunnel’s full length side ventilation you are not only able to control any amount of 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 protection from above, like excessive sun, rain or hail.
Q: Will an unheated FlexiTunnel be able to keep out frosts?
A: The Greenhouse film 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 4oC higher than outside temperatures. Consequently, the risks of frost and sudden temperature drops are highly reduced and mostly eliminated. This however depends to large extend to the existing soil temperature and the heat stored in the soil and this in turn, on the day time temperature of the day(s) preceding a frost.
FlexiTunnel Calf Rearing Shelter FAQ's
Q: Will the tunnels not get too hot for the calves?
A: The FlexiTunnel Calf Rearing Concept always guaranties optimum air circulation and ventilation without the need to introduce draught and also prevents overheating even on very hot days. Any surplus heat is either trapped well above the level of the calves or thermo-siphons off to just below the edge of the open front. It is simply impossible to overheat the tunnel. Farmers unfamiliar with the FlexiTunnel system are often surprised to see the calves’ preference to be inside the tunnel even on the hottest days of the season. Remember that every single feed-calorie that is not uses to keep up the animals body temperature is available for growth!
Q: How many calves can I fit into a tunnel?
A: As a rough guide you can allow up to 5 calves per 1 meter of tunnel length which will then give each calf a minimum of 1.6 m2. For more information please refer to the “FlexiTunnel Calf Rearing unit” on our PRICE LIST page.
A: The FlexiTunnel Calf Rearing Concept always guaranties optimum air circulation and ventilation without the need to introduce draught and also prevents overheating even on very hot days. Any surplus heat is either trapped well above the level of the calves or thermo-siphons off to just below the edge of the open front. It is simply impossible to overheat the tunnel. Farmers unfamiliar with the FlexiTunnel system are often surprised to see the calves’ preference to be inside the tunnel even on the hottest days of the season. Remember that every single feed-calorie that is not uses to keep up the animals body temperature is available for growth!
Q: How many calves can I fit into a tunnel?
A: As a rough guide you can allow up to 5 calves per 1 meter of tunnel length which will then give each calf a minimum of 1.6 m2. For more information please refer to the “FlexiTunnel Calf Rearing unit” on our PRICE LIST page.
