Greenhouse Structures and Design
(book excerpts)Greenhouses are used to provide optimal environments for plant growth and development. The greenhouse design must deal with the local outdoor circumstances, like minimum, maximum, and average temperature, humidity, solar radiation, clearness of the sky, precipitation (e.g., rain, hail, and snow), and wind. Some of the considerations of a greenhouse design are location, orientation, site selection, drainage, structure, foundation, flooring, glazing, and ventilation facilities, together with the equipment needed to control the climate inside the greenhouse. The location and orientation of a greenhouse determine the amount of light that enters it. Determining the best location to erect the greenhouse is an important decision. A suitable greenhouse location is where the sun hits the greenhouse all day, and no shadows are cast. Greenhouses can be classified as freestanding or gutter-connected. A freestanding greenhouse can have a Quonset (i.e., hoop), Gothic, or gable roof shape. A gutter-connected greenhouse is a series of bays with gable or Quonset arches connected at the gutter level. Structural members used for the greenhouse skeleton, must be strong enough to prevent structural failure during adverse weather conditions but should be kept to a minimum size and number to reduce the amount of shading and to provide for maximum light transmission. Structure framing materials are made of aluminum, galvanized steel, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, or such woods as redwood, cedar, or cypress. A greenhouse has a large expanse of glazing on its sides and roof so that the plants are exposed to natural light for much of the day. Glass has been the traditional glazing material. Still, plastic films, such as polyethylene or polyvinyl, and fiberglass or polycarbonate are increasingly used.
Click on the following topics for more information on greenhouse structures and design.
Topics Within This Chapter:
- Greenhouse Site Selection
- Microclimate
- Water Availability and Quality
- Topography
- Windbreaks
- Room for Expansion
- Availability of Labor
- Infrastructure
- Market Accessibility
- Legal Considerations
- Greenhouse Orientation
- Angle of Incidence
- Types of Greenhouses
- Free-Standing Greenhouses
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Free-Standing Greenhouses
- Quonset Greenhouses
- Gothic Arch Greenhouses
- Gable Greenhouses
- A-Frame Greenhouses
- Gutter-Connected Greenhouses
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Gutter-Connected Greenhouses
- Greenhouse Height
- Light Distribution
- Sawtooth Greenhouses
- Venlo Greenhouses
- Open-Roof Greenhouses
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Open-Roof Greenhouses
- Open-Panel Greenhouse Systems
- Retractable-Film Greenhouse Systems
- Flat-Roof Greenhouse Systems
- Low-Profile Greenhouse Systems
- Rolling-Roof Greenhouse Systems
- Greenhouse Structural Components
- Greenhouse Framing Members
- Greenhouse Framing Materials
- Greenhouse Foundation
- Greenhouse Walls
- Curtain Walls
- Design Loads
- Dead Loads
- Live Loads
- Snow Loads
- Wind Loads
- Greenhouse Flooring
- Soil Floors
- Gravel Floors
- Concrete Floors
- Shade Houses
- Fabric
- Structural Designs
- Rigid Frame Systems
- Cable-Frame Systems
- Retractable Systems
- Other Greenhouse Structures
- Growing Rooms
- Head House
- Cold Frames
- Cold Frame Construction
- Hot Frames
- Refrigerated Storage for Greenhouse Harvested Crops
