Greenhouse Types and Structures

Greenhouse Types and Structures

Common Controlled Environments Used in Horticulture

The structures and types of control systems that are used will be dictated by which of the
environmental factors must be controlled, to what degree they must be controlled, and the cost of
controlling them in relation to the value of the crop(s) being produced. Each environmental parameter
that must be controlled increases facility and production cost. The objective is to design a controlled
environment structure that allows for the control of those parameters that need to be controlled at the
level of precision required. Doing more only adds to the cost of production. Common types of
controlled environments include:

Hoop Houses

A true hoop house is generally only an arched

structure or frame that provides cover, and thus
some degree of light and temperature control, for
crops. Hoop houses are generally used for over
wintering plant materials or for starting hardy
spring crops (broccoli, cabbage, ornamental
perennials) early in the season. They typically do
not have heating or cooling systems. Hoop
houses may be covered with polyethylene film,
shade fabric or may have no covering during
warm seasons. Sometimes these structures are
referred to as quonset houses. However, one type
of greenhouse design is the quonset-type
structure. Therefore, the term quonset should be
used only to refer to a type of greenhouse design.

Cold Frames

Cold frames are similar to

hoop houses and serve a
similar purpose. The
difference is that a cold
frame may be partially set
into the ground, is
typically not as tall as a
hoop house and may
have a flat roof. Cold
frames are generally
used for over-wintering
plant materials or for
starting hardy spring
crops (i.e. broccoli,
cabbage, ornamental
perennials) early in the season. Cold frames may also be used to provide the necessary cold
treatments to bulb crops. Cold frames have no heating or cooling systems.
Shade Houses

Shade houses (Sometimes

referred to as Saran Houses)
are structures that are covered
with a fabric made of
polypropylene, cotton, plastic or
other material that is designed
to partially exclude light. Some
shading materials are
aluminized so that light is
actually reflected away from the
structure. The cover material
may be selected to block out
varying amounts of light, but
typically shading materials
excluding 20% to 60% are most common. These structures are generally used in subtropical (i.e.
Florida) and tropical climates where reducing the light level and providing some measure of cooling
(by shading) is desired. Shade Houses typically do not have heating or cooling systems. Shade
houses are most often used in the production of cut flowers, foliage plants and nursery stock.

Greenhouses

Greenhouses are the most common types of structures used for production of ornamental and
vegetable crops under controlled conditions. These structures provide the potential to control all
environmental parameters, although to varying degrees depending upon the design of the
structure and its components. We will discuss greenhouses in much greater detail.

Coolers

Coolers allow for plant materials to be held at low temperatures. Typically temperatures in the
range of 35 - 50 F (2 - 10 C) are most common. In a few situations, temperatures below 32 F
(0o C) may be required. Coolers are most often used for the storage of vegetables, fruits and cut
flowers, holding nursery stock and providing a cold treatment (for vernalization or to break
dormancy) to bulb crops.

Growth Chambers

Growth chambers are computer-controlled enclosed units that potentially allow for very precise
control of many or all of the environmental parameters previously discussed. Growth chambers are
most often used for research purposes although they may be used in some propagation situations
such as tissue culture. Growth chambers may be small reach-in chambers or large walk-in
chambers.

Germination Chambers

Germination chambers are similar to walk-in growth chambers except that they are primarily allow
for the control of temperature, humidity and possibly light. They are often large walk-in rooms that
are well insulated to minimize temperature fluctuations, and they have some type of fog system
used to maintain a high relative humidity. They are designed specifically to provide an optimal
environment for seed germination.
Common greenhouse Designs
 The quonset is based upon an arched roof. The
arched roof allows stresses on the structure to be
efficiently transferred down to the ground. Quonset
greenhouses may come in two basic designs. In the
first, the arch extends to the ground with no
sidewalls. In the second, the arch essentially forms
the roof and gable sections of the greenhouse and is
set on straight vertical walls.

The A-frame usually, but

not always, has a series of
supporting trusses that
form the roof and gables.
The strength of this
structure primarily comes
from the trusses set on
vertical walls. The weight
of the structure and other
stresses are borne by the
trusses and transferred to
the vertical walls that in
turn transmit the stresses
to the ground. A-frame
greenhouses may be
even-spans or uneven spans. In the former, both roof sections are of equal length, but are of unequal
(or missing entirely) length in the latter.

These two basic designs may be single stand-

alone structures or combined side-to-side to
form ridge-and furrow or gutter-
connected structures. In this case, the interior
walls are usually absent. Most commercial
greenhouses now utilize some variation of the
gutter-connected design. This is primarily
because the gutter-connected design allows for
a larger unobstructed interior than would be
possible with stand-alone houses. Having a
large unobstructed interior improves the ability
to automate common tasks such as irrigation
and improve space usage efficiency.
Additionally, by eliminating interior walls (which
would be exterior exposed walls in free-
standing structures), the cost of construction
materials and heating costs are reduced.
 Several potential drawbacks exist for
gutter-connected facilities. Since the
entire production area is a single space,
the ability to maintain different
environmental conditions (such as would
exist with numerous individual
structures) is lost. Additionally, as the
size of the gutter-connected span
increases, uniformity and control of light,
temperature, airflow and humidity can
be reduced. One way to minimize these
issues is to have drop-walls or curtains
made of polyethylene film that can be
raised or lowered between sections.
This allows sections within the structure
to be partially isolated so that different
temperatures or relative humidity levels
can be maintained if only to a limited
degree.

Greenhouses, primarily gutter-connected designs, are often referred to as being of "American" or

"high-profile" design or of "Dutch" or "Venlo" design. The American or high-profile design is a
traditional A-frame greenhouse with a relatively large roof area compared to the wall area. The Dutch
of Venlo design has higher walls, smaller gables, and narrower individual greenhouse sections and
reduced roof area. This reduces the roof surface area (an area of major heat loss) and heating costs.
Greenhouse walls support the
roof and transmit stresses to the
ground. In older greenhouses
walls may be only 6' to 8' high
(ground to eaves or gutter in
gutter-connected design).
However, in newer greenhouses,
walls are 12' to 14' to better
accommodate automation. I
some cases external side walls
may be designed as a
polyethylene curtain that may be
raised during low temperatures
and dropped during warm
weather to provide improved
ventilation and to promote
passive cooling. In other cases,
greenhouses may have
retractable roofs. The roofs may
be closed during low
temperatures or when light levels
are too high. They can be
opened to maximize light
available to the plants and to
allow for passive cooling.

Other greenhouse designs exist but are less common. The gothic arch is a design similar to a
quonset, but this type of arch provides increased support and a larger unobstructed interior.
The sawtooth, which is an example of an uneven span, is more common in high temperature
locations and those places that receive pervailing winds since the design allows for improved
movement of hot air out of the greenhouse roof vents.
The lean-to design is most
commonly used by homeowners
and the geodesic dome is most
often used by botanical centers.
Some botanical center
conservatories have elaborate
cylindrical, arched or Victorian
designs.

Common Greenhouse Structural Components and Materials

Greenhouse frames (support structure) may be constructed of wood, steel, aluminum or concrete.
Modern greenhouses are usually constructed of steel or aluminum. Aluminum is the material of choice
since it is light-weight, strong and rust-resistant. Low-cost small quonset greenhouses with
polyethylene covering may use bent electrical conduit or pipes for physical support.
Wood is typically only
used for hobby
greenhouses,
coldframes and hotbeds.
Wood is difficult and
expensive to maintain as
it needs to be treated
with a preservative and
periodically painted to
prevent rotting. When
using wood in a
greenhouse, coldframe
or hotbed, never use
creosote or
pentachlorophenol-
treated wood because
they contain phytotoxic
volatiles. Chromated
copper arsenate (CCA),
ammoniacal copper
arsenate (ACA), copper
naphthanate and zinc
naphthanate are
recommended for use on
wood being used in
greenhouses.
Floors may be constructed of porous concrete, Portland cement, gravel or compacted clay covered
with a strong polypropylene fabric. Porous concrete is usually strong enough to bear most loads
encountered in greenhouse situations and allows
for drainage through the surface. Portland cement is
more expensive, does not allow drainage through
the surface and is more expensive. However,
Portland cement might be desirable in traffic areas
where heavy loads will occur. Concrete floors
(unless used as part of the irrigation system) should
have a slight grade to promote drainage and
prevent puddling of water. Gravel is low cost and
allows drainage but can allow the growth of weeds

and may not accommodate all types of

equipment. Polypropylene fabric can be a
low cost alternative but the floor can
become uneven over time, can cause
puddling and algae growth.

Curtain walls are non-translucent sections of the greenhouse wall. They are typically located along
the lower 2' - 4' of the of the greenhouse walls. Curtain walls are typically constructed of concrete
block, cement, brick or some other non-transparent and well-insulated material. Because the curtain
wall only extends up to approximately bench height, it does not significantly reduce the light available
to the crop. However, because
it is constructed of a well-
insulated material, it reduces
heat loss from the
greenhouse. In northern
climates, the entire north wall
of the greenhouse may be
constructed as a curtain wall
to reduce heating costs. In
northern climates during the
winter months, a relatively
small proportion of the light
entering the greenhouse does
so through the north
greenhouse wall. Therefore,
the savings in heating costs
outweigh the reduction in light
levels in the greenhouse.
Structural designs and Considerations
Many factors must be considered in the greenhouse structural design. It is difficult to give a specific
set of requirements, as there are many exceptions to any rule. However, a structure must meet the
building codes for the specific locality. Most greenhouses are now designed by engineering firms or
are constructed from packages developed by engineering firms. The design and all the materials are
provided by the design firm. In many cases, the design firm will also build the structure in place for an
additional fee. Larger installations are usually custom designed and built by an engineering firm.
However, with this in mind, it is still valuable to understand basic design considerations.

The primary objective in designing a greenhouse structure is to maximize light transmittance (i.e.
minimize obstructions to light entry) while providing adequate support. In many cases minimizing heat
loss in important, while in others, allowing maximum air exchange for cooling is desired.

Greenhouse engineers often refer to design loads. The design load includes the dead load and the
live load. The dead load includes the weight of the structure, framing, glazing, permanent equipment,
heating and cooling units, vents, etc. The live load includes the weight of people working on the roof,
hanging plants, snow loads and wind loads. Most often greenhouses are required to support an 80-
mph wind. The required snow load is based upon the expected accumulation, the roof slope and
whether the greenhouse is a gutter-connected structure or a stand-alone greenhouse.

In gutter-connected greenhouses, the gutters should slope slightly to encourage drainage of runoff
from the roof. The gutters or eaves should be high enough to allow for automation with 12' to 14'
being recommended. At least one entrance into the greenhouse should be large enough for carts,
trucks of other equipment.

Greenhouse structures should be designed to allow for automation. This requires that width of
walkways and driveways accommodate carts and equipment. Width of greenhouse bays may need to
be designed to be compatible with irrigation systems such as irrigation booms.

The foundation must support the structure and transfer loads to the ground. In some cases, the
structure may set on an intact concrete foundation or slab. Supports may be bolted onto the
foundation. In other cases, whether or not a concrete foundation is present, the structure may be
supported by vertical beams placed on concrete footings. Footings should extend below the frost line
or at least 24 inches into the ground.

Electrical conduit or pipe may work well for a small polyethylene covered quonset house. However, it
is not strong enough if the diameter of the quonset becomes too great or if the loads are too great The
gothic arch increases the strength of the standard arch by more effectively directing the load to the
ground. This increases the potential span and the strength of the structure and reduces the need for
internal structural supports which in turn allows for a larger unobstructed space. In an A-frame
greenhouse, the structural support is derived from the supporting trusses and rafters. The strength
and number of rafters and trusses required depends upon the weight of the glazing material, wind
loads and snow loads. However, as the support required increases, there is a reduction in light
availability to the plants.
Design Recommendation

Below is the suggested dimensions for the needed greenhouse structure.