livestock housing - northern polytunnels€¦ · please phone for an up-to-date price and quotation...

N O R T H E R NPOLYTUNNELS

LIVESTOCK HOUSING

ISSUE 3

With over 40 years of experience in the design and manufacture of polytunnels, our staff can ensure you get the best service and the highest quality product from the UK’s largest polytunnel manufacturer.

The notion that a polytunnel is a poor man’s livestock house is certainly no longer the case. Advancements in structural design, developments in covering materials, and improved engineering techniques make them a truly credible, inexpensive alternative to traditional livestock buildings.

Will you be ready for lambing season?

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Polytunnels allow much welcomed light and warmth to enter the building. This not only improves food conversion rates but creates a healthier, drier environment which is less favourable to many bacteria and fungi.

We have found customers using our structures for hay/general storage as well as a dry place to house sheep before and during shearing, making them a year round investment. They are becoming increasingly popular as calf housing and poultry sheds, as well as housing for dairy herds, beef cows, goats and pigs.

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BENEFITS, LAYOUT AND SHEEP ALLOWANCES

Ensure sufficient space for lying and feeding. Competition for space can contribute to serious health and welfare problems as nutritional and social stresses increase in the run up to lambing.

The length of the forage feed face and trough space are more important than the overall space allowance, ensuring all stock have access to forage and concentrate without unnecessary struggling or competition.

Ewes that are lame, sick or affected by foot rot should be separated in to a hospital area. This allows for special attention and prevents any problems spreading throughout the flock.

Set up pens for ease of management in terms of cleaning, stock handling and movement.

Ensure water bowls/troughs are designed and located to minimise fouling and freezing.

Set up feed troughs so wasted feed can be removed easily and regularly.

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Catagory of sheep Lying space (m2 per ewe)Trough space per ewe

(Concentrates)Forage face per ewe

(Restricted forage)

Large ewes (Over 80kg live weight)

1.2-1.4m2 floor space per ewe during

pregnancy50cm 28cm

Large ewes after lambingwith lambs at foot

up to six weeks of age

2.0-2.2m2 floor space per ewe with twin lambs

50cm 28cm

Medium ewes (60-80kg live weight)


pregnancy45cm 25cm

Medium ewes after lambing with lambs at foot



45cm 25cm

Small ewes (40-60kg live weight)


pregnancy 40cm 20cm

Small ewes after lambing with lambs at foot



40cm 20cm

Lambs up to 12 weeks old

0.5-0.6m2 floor space per lamb

- -

Lambs and Sheep 12 weeks to 12 months old

0.75-0.9m2 floor space per lamb/sheep

- -

Rams1.5-2.0m2 floor space

per ram- -

The space allowance and group size for housed sheep should be determined according to age, size and class. Some examples of good current practice set out below...

• Short -wave radiation from daylight creates warmer and drier housing conditions - reducing bedding costs.

• Increased use of natural light - lower energy requirements.

• Warmer environment increases food conversion ratio - lower the feed cost.

• Content livestock / improved welfare, lower lamb mortality.

• Reduced incidence of twin lamb disease.

• Lower cost than traditional buildings.

• Natural light keeps potentially harmful bacteria, fungi, moulds and odours at minimum levels.

• Light provides natural vitamin enriching

sunshine and warmth for livestock.

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SHEEP HOUSE SPECIFICATIONS

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Hoops (Steel Arches)Our livestock houses are the strongest of their kind. We only supply two-piece hoops – much stronger than 3 or 4 piece hoops used by other manufacturers. For our single span polyhouses we space the hoops either 5ft or 6ft apart. Wider hoop spacing’s (up to 7ft or 8ft apart) can be catered for, but we would only recommend this for our smaller polyhouses which are being built in relatively sheltered locations.Generally, 5ft hoop spacing’s are the most widely used for our 24ft, 27ft and 30ft wide polyhouses, especially where higher wind speeds and heavier snow loads are expected. 6ft spacing’s are often used for 18ft and 21ft wide polyhouses, or where the weather is less severe. Remember……more steel equals a stronger structure!We use 50mm diameter pre-galvanised steel tube for our 18ft and 21ft wide polyhouses, and 60mm tube for everything above. All hoops have a 1.5mm wall thickness, and our steel tube is galvanised both inside and out.

Straight Sides All our polytunnels have straight sides to allow for a full working width. The height of the straight sides increases in relation to the tunnel width. Extra high structures are also available.

FoundationsHeavy duty galvanised foundations tubes (ground tubes) with a 3.5mm wall thickness give increased protection from corrosion and provide a sound footing.Our unique design allows the polytunnel arches to be raised up on the foundation tubes - after the polythene cover has been fitted - to achieve a drum-skin finish.

Three foundation options available:

Traditional foundation tubes Require concreting in position. Suitable for both single-span and multi-span polytunnels. This is the most populat option.

Screw anchors Can be manually screwed in to the ground with a crowbarusing the special adapter (supplied), or mechanically using a mini digger with a hydraulic bit. OOnly available with single-span polyhouses. Not suitable on ground which has been mechanically disturbed or with a high rubble/stone content.

Base plates For bolting on to an existing concrete base. Suitable for single-span and multi-span polyhouses.

Polythene TensioningAll our polyhouses have our unique polythene tensioning system. After the polythene cover has been secured, the steel arches (hoops) are raised-up on the foundation poles and locked in position. This effectively pushes the hoops up in to the polythene cover, thus making it drum-skin tight. A tight cover will last much longer, as the wind will simply glide over it, whereas the wind will ‘pull’ at a loose cover. When the time eventually comes to recover your polyhouse, the hoops are released back down again - making the whole process much easier.

End FramesMade from 75mm x 75mm (3” x 3”) pressure treated timber. The door posts can be set at your required width and height but with a max. height of 11ft high if the door posts are positioned 10ftapart. The height may vary between different polyhouse widths.

Doors and gates are not normally supplied, however door blinds can be supplied on request please phone for details.

Side Rails and Ventilation100mm x 50mm (4” x 2”) treated timber side rails are fitted to both sides, approx. 1m (3ft 3in) off the ground.

Traditional Foundation Tube Screw Anchor

6Base Plate

Anti-Hotspot TapePadded foam tape which is placed over each hoop prior to the polythene sheet being fitted. It acts as an insulator between the steel tube and the cover, preventing any heat build-up in the steel being transferred to the polythene. Also reduces friction between the hoops and the polythene. Extends the life of the cover by 1-2 years.

Polythene CoverThe standard polythene cover is white, allowing approx. 65-70% light transmission (30-35% shade value). This is considered to be the correct balance between allowing enough light to enter the building yet preventing excessive heat build-up on warmer, sunny days. A polyhouse environment provides much welcome light and warmth, which improves food conversation rates and creates a drier, healthier environment which is less favourable to many bacteria and viruses.

Alternatively, a cover which is green on the outside and white on the underside can be supplied where the structure needs to be less conspicuous. However, this allows no natural light to pass through. The white underside optimises artificial light inputs.

All of our polytunnel covers come with a 5 year manufacturer’s guarantee against UV degradation and manufacturing defects. However, a 10 year life is normally expected.

Bracing BarsThese are an optional extra and are only required for extreme weather conditions – heavy snow loads and extremely high winds. Not often required as they limit the height of machinery which can enter the polyhouse to approx. 2m high (depending on the width of the polyhouse). Manufactured from 50mm galvanised steel tube. Attached to each side of the hoops (above head height) and supported in the centre with inverted ‘V’ hangers, which creates a type of truss. Increases the wind and snow loading capacity by approx. 20%.

Side Gutters (Optional)All our sheep houses are available with optional side gutters. Manufactured from pre-galvanised steel sheet, and include a stop end, down spout, and support brackets. Usually fitted to both sides of the polytunnel, but can be installed on the windward side only to reduce the cost.

Prices from approx. £3.00 per foot (£10/mtr) per side.

Inverted ‘V’ hanger

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ABOVE GATE BLIND FULL HEIGHT DOOR BLIND EXTRA HEIGHT DOOR BLIND

SIZE (IMPERIAL) 12ft wide x 6ft 6 in high 12ft wide x 9ft 10in high 12ft wide x 13ft 1in high

SIZE (METRIC) 3.7m wide x 2m high 3.7m wide x 3m high 3.7m wide x 4m high

PRICE (EACH) £325 +VAT £399 + VAT £499 + VAT

Heavy Duty Mesh Door BlindsAn economic alternative to roller screens. Available as full-height door blinds or ‘above gate’ door blinds. Manufactured from green, heavy-duty, monofilament netting with pull-cord operation. Allows good ventilation whilst protecting against severe weather conditions. Easily assembled and simple to operate. The width can be reduced during installation where narrower doorways are required.

Strong and durable | UV stabilised | Green Knitted monofilament (no fraying)

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Single Span Polyhouses Suitable for small, medium and large size flocks, or for upland/hill farms where flat ground close by the farm is in limited supply. Single span structures generally offer higher levels of ventilation, due to the ratio of vented sides to floor space.

Generally speaking, the wider the polytunnel the lower the price per square meter of floor space, making the 9.15m (30ft) wide structure the most economical. If a central feed/access passage is being incorporated in to the layout design then the percentage of ‘lost’ housing space is vastly reduced with wider structures. For example, a 9.15m (30ft) wide polytunnel with a 3m (10ft) central passage only loses a third of its livestock area, whereas a 6.4m (21ft) polytunnel with a 3m (10ft) passage would lose almost half.

POLYTUNNEL WIDTH 18ft (5.5m) 21ft (6.4m) 24ft (7.3m) 27ft (8.25m) 30ft (9.15m)OVERALL HEIGHT 9’9” (2.97m) 10’ (3.5m) 10’6” (3.2m) 10’9” (3.28m) 12’ (3.66m)

SINGLE-SPAN POLYTUNNELS

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Extra High PolyhousesWhere extra height is required for access by large machinery we now supply extra high polyhouses. These are recommended with 5ft (1.52m) hoops spaces, and are not recommended for exposed locations where severely high wind speeds are expected. Please phone our sales team for advice and a quotation.

Where these are used for housing calves/cattle we recommend solid clad sides up to 1.0-1.5m above ground level with a 1m heavy-duty windbreak mesh above this for overhead ventilation. Our steel side gutters are recommended on calf/cattle houses. Please phone our sales team on 01282 873120 for advice and a quotation.

NB. The above prices were correct at the time of printing. Please phone for an up-to-date price and quotation for construction.

The above polyhouse lengths are only a represention of the available sizes. Our polyhouses can be any length. We also have intemediate sizes i.e. 35ft, 45ft 55ft 65ft etc, and 36ft, 48ft, 60ft, 72ft etc.

5ft HOOP SPACING

LENGTH

WIDTH

18ft (5.5m) 21ft (6.4m) 24ft (7.3m) 27ft (8.25m) 30ft (9.15m)

Price £/m2 Price £/m2 Price £/m2 Price £/m2 Price £/m2

30ft (9.15m) £1,928 £38.42 £1,962 £33.51 £2,133 £31.88 £2,159 £28.69 £2,252 £26.93

40ft (12.2m) £2,183 £32.63 £2,223 £28.49 £2,429 £27.24 £2,462 £24.53 £2,575 £23.10

50ft (15.2m) £2,432 £29.09 £2,479 £25.42 £2,716 £24.37 £2,755 £21.97 £2,893 £20.76

60ft (18.3m) £2,655 £26.46 £2,709 £23.14 £2,981 £22.28 £3,029 £20.18 £3,184 £19.04

70ft (21.3m) £2,905 £24.82 £2,969 £21.74 £3,272 £20.96 £3,327 £18.95 £3,503 £17.95

80ft (24.4m) £3,549 £26.53 £3,619 £23.19 £3,957 £22.19 £4,019 £20.03 £4,219 £18.92

90ft (27.4m) £3,773 £25.07 £3,846 £21.90 £4,220 £21.03 £4,287 £18.99 £4,510 £17.98

100ft (30.5m) £4,026 £24.08 £4.110 £21.07 £4,514 £20.25 £4,592 £18.31 £4,832 £17.34

110ft (33.5m) £4,242 £23.06 £4,334 £20.18 £4,771 £19.45 £4,855 £17.60 £5,120 £16.70

120ft (36.6m) £4,496 £22.40 £4,596 £19.63 £5,066 £18.93 5,156 £17.13 £5,442 £16.27

130ft (39.6m) £4,753 £21.86 £4,856 £19.15 £5,360 £18.49 £5,457 £16.74 £5,764 £15.91

140ft (42.7m) £4,978 £21.26 £5,092 £18.64 £5,628 £18.03 £5,734 £16.33 £6,061 £15.53

150ft (45.7m) £5,234 £20.86 £5,353 £18.29 £5,924 £17.71 £6,037 £16.04 £6,385 £15.27

160ft (48.8m) £5,479 £20.48 £5,606 £17.96 £6,211 £17.41 £6,330 £15.77 £6,699 £15.02

170ft (51.8m) £5,706 £20.07 £5,839 £17.60 £6,476 £17.08 £6.601 £15.48 £6,991 £14.75

180ft (54.9m) £6,341 £21.07 £6,480 £18.45 £7,152 £17.82 £7,284 £16.13 £7,698 £15.34

190ft (57.9m) £6,599 £20.77 £6,748 £18.20 £7,452 £17.59 £7,594 £15.93 £8,027 £15.16

200ft (61m) £6,819 £20.39 £6,975 £17.87 £7,713 £17.30 £7,861 £15.67 £8,315 £14.92

SUPPLY ONLY PRICES (construction not included) Excludes VAT

6ft HOOP SPACING

LENGTH

WIDTH

18ft (5.5m) 21ft (6.4m) 24ft (7.3m) 27ft (8.25m) 30ft (9.15m)

Price £/m2 Price £/m2 Price £/m2 Price £/m2 Price £/m2

30ft (9.15m) £1,843 £36.74 £1,874 £32.02 £2,032 £30.38 £2,052 £27.26 £2,140 £25.59

42ft (12.8m) £2,111 £30.06 £2,145 £26.18 £2,339 £24.98 £2,368 £22.48 £2,479 £21.18

54ft (16.5m) £2,369 £26.23 £2,413 £22.90 £2,639 £21.92 £2,675 £19.75 £2,810 £18.67

66ft (20.1m) £2,638 £23.90 £2,689 £20.88 £2,951 £20.05 £2,993 £18.08 £3,154 £17.15

78ft (23.8m) £3,259 £24.98 £3,316 £21.79 £3,610 £20.76 £3,662 £18.72 £3,843 £17.68

90ft (27.4m) £3,520 £23.39 £3,584 £20.41 £3,914 £19.51 £3,973 £17.60 £4,178 £16.66

102ft (31.1m) £3,782 £22.17 £3,856 £19.38 £4,218 £18.55 £4,283 £16.74 £4,515 £15.88

114ft (34.7m) £4,050 £21.25 £4,130 £18.57 £4,528 £17.82 £4,603 £16.10 £4,854 £15.28

126ft (38.4m) £4,312 £20.46 £4,398 £17.89 £4,833 £17.20 £4,910 £15.54 £5,189 £14.78

138ft (42.1m) £4,542 £19.68 £4,635 £17.22 £5,105 £16.59 £5,189 £14.99 £5,491 £14.28

150ft (45.7m) £4,813 £19.19 £4,916 £16.80 £5,418 £16.20 £5,508 £14.64 £5,833 £13.95

162ft (49.4m) £5,067 £18.71 £5,174 £16.37 £5,711 £15.81 £5,811 £14.30 £6,159 £13.64

174ft (53m) £5,724 £19.67 £5,840 £17.20 £6,410 £16.52 £6,517 £14.93 £6,889 £14.21

186ft (56.7m) £5,952 £19.14 £6,075 £16.74 £6,681 £16.11 £6,794 £14.56 £7,192 £13.87

198ft (60.3m) £6,219 £18.78 £6,349 £16.43 £6,987 £15.83 £7,109 £14.31 £7,527 £13.64

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BAY WIDTH 21ft 6” (6.5m) 26ft 6” (8m)OVERALL HEIGHT 12’ (3.66m) 13’ (3.96m)

Multi-Span Polytunnels

Multi-Span livestock houses provide the ideal solution to housing livestock in a medium and large-scale working environment.

Feeding and transport bays can be incorporated to allow safe, easy access and feeding.

The percentage of ‘lost’ space with feed/access passages is greatly reduced with the multi-span design.

Larger numbers of livestock under one roof makes lighter work of many duties, especially when you can’t be in two places at the same time.

This type of larger, higher structure is becoming increasing popular for dairy herds and beef cattle.

We can tailor the length and number of bays to suit your requirements.

MULTI-SPAN POLYTUNNELS

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BAY WIDTH 21ft 6” (6.5m) 26ft 6” (8m)OVERALL HEIGHT 12’ (3.66m) 13’ (3.96m)

The most popular bay width is 26ft 6in (8m), with 3-bays wide being a popular option. We can reduce the width of the central bay to suit your machinery if you intend to use it solely for access and feeding, however, the cost of a narrower central bay doesn’t reduce the overall price significantly. Having standard width bays allows extra room in the central bay for emergency housing, lambing pens and general storage if required.

Multi-span polyhouses are an economical option, with prices ranging from approx. £15 per square metre plus £5/m² for construction. Door blinds and steel side gutters are optional extras. We would normally recommend that multi-span polyhouses are built by our constructors as they are more challenging than single-span polyhouses.

Please contact to discuss 01282 873120

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FAQ’s

What size sheep house do I need?

It is recommended that each in-lamb ewe has a minimum of 0.9m²-1.4m² of floor space (depending on breed). That there is a separate dedicated area for sick animals, and you have sufficient feeding/access space. See page 4 for more specific requirements.

Do I require planning permission?

Strictly speaking…..yes. As with all our polytunnels we recommend that you contact your local planning authority for advice. Planning application (elevation) drawings are available on request. We normally charge a fee for these which we later deduct from the final invoice price of the polytunnel.

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If you have any further questions why not give our team a call 01282 873120

How long will the polythene cover last?

All of our polytunnel covers come with a 5 year manufacturer’s guarantee against UV degradation and manufacturing defects. However, 10 years plus is normally expected.

Does it become too hot inside a polytunnel?

Strangely enough, polytunnels are widely used to house livestock in Australia and New Zealand, especially for cows. Providing there is sufficient ventilation then a polytunnel creates an ideal environment. The white polythene cover also provides 30-35% shading.

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CALF/CATTLE HOUSING

Calf Housing: Polytunnel calf houses provide a much welcome source of light and warmth, creating a dry, low-stress environment for your stock whilst keeping bacteria, fungi and odours to a minimum.

The width of individual pens for a calf from birth to 8 weeks of age must be at least equal to the height of the calf at the withers, as measured in the standing position. The length shall be at least equal to ‘the body length of the calf, measured from the tip of the nose to the caudal edge of the pin bone’ multiplied by 1.1. In practice this means pens at least 1.5 x 0.75m, but preferably 1.8 x 1.0m. Calves must be group housed from 8 weeks of age, unless an animal is kept in isolation on the advice of the veterinary surgeon. See the table below for requirements.

Dairy and Beef: Weather in cubicles or straw yards, polytunnels improve your animal’s welfare. The benefits of natural light and warmth are many. Cattle are homeothermic animals and need to maintain a constant body temperature around 38ºC. The lower critical temperature (LCT) is the temperature below which an animal must burn extra energy to keep warm, i.e. feed is channelled away from growth/production in order to keep warm, hence the

Space Allowances For Group Housed CalvesMass of Calf Approx. Age Minimum (statutory) Area Recommended Area

45 kg 0 months 1.5 m2/calf 2.0 m2/calf46-99 kg 0-2 months 1.5 m2/calf 3.0 m2/calf

100-149 kg 3-5 months 1.5 m2/calf 4.0 m2/calf150-199 kg 5-7 months 2.0 m2/calf 5.0 m2/calf

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warmer winter temperature within a polytunnel will significantly reduce feed inputs. A lower requirement for artificial lighting reduces energy costs. Floor and bedding dry quicker, reducing bedding costs.

Space Allowance For FeedingEven if feed is available on an ad lib basis it has to be recognised that there are peak periods for feeding e.g. immediately after fresh feed is put down. To prevent subordinate animals giving way to dominant animals (often resulting in reduced growth rates), adequate feeding space must be allocated.

Feed Face Required For Cattle Eating Simultaneously

Mass of Animal Width of Feed Face <100 kg 0.30 mtr

100-199 kg 0.35 mtr200 kg 0.40 mtr300 kg 0.50 mtr

Poultry: Polytunnels which are used for poultry are normally clad with a black-out polythene. This is green on the outside and white on the underside. The green outer helps to blend in to the natural environment, whilst the white underside make the best use of artificial lighting. Widely used for both laying and table birds.

General Agricultural Storage: Machinery sheds, feed storage, crop storage, fertiliser & seed storage, dry work areas…… the list of uses is endless.

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GENERAL STORAGE & POULTRY HOUSING

Clamp CoversThese come with a variety of options and are available as single span covers or as multi-span structures. Manufactured in most bay widths up to 30ft (9.14m) wide. Available as open-sided canopies (which usually have side gutters), or with enclosed sides. A range of fixing systems allows the framework to be bolted directly on to an existing wall or steel beam, clamped on to vertical RSJ beams, or clamped on to precast concrete walls. Free standing canopies are also available. The gable ends can be fully enclosed, fully open, or with ‘D’ panels.

STORAGE

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Storm Trooper Storage ShelterFor superior strength we’ve used heavy duty box section steel arches which are mounted on to steel box section legs. The Storm Trooper can be bolted directly on to a concrete base or on to simple concrete foundations. Alternatively they can be supplied with portable concrete foundations. These are in the form of reinforced pre-cast concrete floor beams which run along each side of the structure. The Storm Trooper’s feet bolt directly on to these beams. Each beam measures 22cm x 22cm x 2.5mtr and weight 282kg. The Storm Trooper legs are spaced 2.5mtr apart, so a 10mtr long shelter would require four beams for each side.

The cladding is a highly durable, flame retardant, PVC coated fabric which allows for easy cleaning. Your company logo, business name etc. can be applied to each side to create effective brand awareness.

Supplied with a choice of gable ends, either a closed end panel, double hinged doors, or left fully open. The most popular options being a closed end panel at the rear and double hinged doors at the front.

We offer a full installation service. Call for a quote.

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CLOSED END PANEL

DEE PANEL

Container CanopiesContainer canopies are designed to span across two 20ft or 40ft long shipping containers. Several canopies can be linked end to end to create longer structures, with the gap between them ‘bridged’ with a PVC-fabric flashing strip.

Container canopies provide a low cost storage solution for hay, machinery, fertiliser etc. and can be easily dismantled and re-erected if the need arises. The main cover is supplied in 2m wide strips, and is attached to the steel arches using a ‘keder’ beading system – similar to that used for caravan awnings. This enables individual cover strips to be easily replaced, but also makes the initial installation process much easier.

The width can vary depending on the distance between the containers. The containers can be spaced anything from 4.5m up to 8.6m apart, however providing space is not a limiting factor most customers would use the maximum width by spacing the containers 8.6m apart.The arches are constructed from 60mm pre-galvanised steel tube. The cladding is flame retardant, PVC-coated fabric – the standard colour is white, but other options are available for a small surcharge. A choice of gable ends are available – fully closed; fully open; or partially closed using a ‘D’ panel. Hinged doors are also an option.

The canopy can be dismantled and re-erected as and when the need arises. A typical construction time for a 40ft long container canopy would be two days for three people, and would require the use of a scissor lift.

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CONTAINER CANOPY

DEE PANEL

CONTAINER CANOPY PRICES

20ft Container Canopy £2,097.03

40ft Container Canopy £3,618.52

Closed End Panel £1,176.34

Dee Panel £497.20

Closed end panel with PVC Roll Up Personnel Door £1,540.00

Double Hinged Doors £1,700.00

Closed End Panel

‘D’ Panel

Fully Open Personnel Door

Double Hinged Doors

Width: 4.5mtr - 8.6m (adjustable).Height From Ground: 5.75m.

Shelter Height: 2.88m.Height To ‘D’-Panel: 2.7m.

Personnel Door Height: 1.95m.Personnel Door Width: 0.95m.Double Hinge Door Height: 4.12m.Double Hinge Door Width: 6.12m.

Extensive European standards and regulations are in place regarding this kind of product. Our container canopies meets these standards. Please note: The current turnaround time for manufacture and delivery is 2-6 weeks, depending on the timing of order. Please call 01282 873120 for an update.

Please state the height of your container when ordering closed ends and doors (hi-cube or standard), otherwise we will assume it’s a standard 2.6m high container.

We also offer a full installation service – contact us for a quote. 20

livestock housing - northern polytunnels€¦ · please phone for an up-to-date price and quotation...

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