Prevention

Measures to prevent harmful greenhouse gases

In the winter, air vents in greenhouses are seldomly used. Incorrect adjustment or use of equipment can lead to an accumulation of harmful greenhouse gases. What are the possible negative effects of toxic gases in your greenhouse? In this article, we will explain how you can prevent greenhouse gases causing growth retardation or even damage or loss of crop due to toxic greenhouse gasses.
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07 Feb 2023

Crop, Climate Risk

Combined heat and power (CHP) system consulting & maintenance

If your CHP or medium-voltage system fails, your entire business will come to a standstill. Proper maintenance reduces the chance of downtime.
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Switching from heated to unheated cultivation?

Consider the strength of your greenhouse

A greenhouse is built for the first crop grown in it. Most greenhouses are designed for heated cultivation and calculated for limited snow loads. Greenhouses designed for heated cultivation use lighter gutters and roof bars which cannot support a heavy snow load.
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Hit by a snow drift

De Munck nursery managed to rebuild its business after a snowstorm wreaked havoc

Hydrangea growers Ferry van der Meer and Peter de Munck of Kwekerij De Munck in De Lier, the Netherlands, were hit by heavy snowfall in February 2021. Part of the greenhouse collapsed completely. The entrepreneurs managed to recover by acting quickly and wisely and by cooperating with us as insurers, among others.
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Ventilation windows can freeze shut at temperatures around the freezing point

Vents freeze partly due to radiation and the insulating effect of the screens, which is the case during night frost.

Vents freeze partly due to radiation and the insulating effect of the screens, which is the case during night frost. With multiple screens and greenhouses being increasingly closed off, it is often colder above the top screen. The rubber seal of the vents freezes to the aluminium greenhouse frame. “Every year, business owners open vents without realising they are frozen shut,” Theo Herngreen, a greenhouse technical specialist, explains. “The temperature difference between the greenhouse air and the windows is considerable, and temperature sensors or separate measuring boxes are not always installed above the screen. Opening the vents while frozen damages the rubber seals, or worse: the vent mechanism and window actuators can be deformed or broken.”
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How to keep your greenhouse frost free

Frost can damage pipes and tubes

What can you do to reduce the risk of damage during winter, unnecessary crop downtime, high costs and damage caused by frost?
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Tips to prevent snow damage in greenhouse horticulture

Reduce the risk of broken windows and damage to your greenhouse structure. Follow our tips in this article.

Prevent snow damage: Greenhouses can carry a limited amount of snow. The weight of a snowpack can be considerable, especially if it persists or if it snows in combination with rain. Excessive weight can break windows or damage the greenhouse structure. A greenhouse can even collapse completely under the weight of snow.
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An empty greenhouse requires extra attention during the winter

Winter weather increases the likelihood of damage to your greenhouse. If you leave your greenhouse empty—either temporarily or for an extended period—to save energy, for example, special attention is required to keep your greenhouse undamaged and ready for use. How do you prevent damage and ensure that you can resume production quickly? We are happy to help.
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Check your heat water storage tank’s condition regularly to ensure operational safety

Just outside your premises is often the tank for storage of millions of liters boiling water. Having a functioning tank is key to keeping your business at peak efficiency.
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Water silos as a creeping risk

Stand at the helm as a sector

When you invest in new or replace existing water silos, it is important to understand the added security available and have a regular inspection schedule of these silos during their lifetime. Silos used for the storage of rainwater and feed water are a must in the horticulture industry. Hundreds of cubic meters of water can be stored efficiently, but there is a danger in this.
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5 Useful Tips to Ensure Virus-Free Water

How you can keep a drain water disinfector functioning optimally

Did you know there are risks associated with the reuse of drain water? Viruses and fungi which are present in the drain water can be spread throughout the greenhouse when recirculated. The attention for prevention and control of viruses such as ToBRFV has increased in the recent years. Good prevention also includes disinfection of drain water and maintenance of the drain water disinfector.
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How to stay in operation during this corona crisis