Controlled Environment Agriculture Systems

Commercial Structures

Today's commercial greenhouses are constructed of galvanized steel, extruded aluminum, fibreglass, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyethylene and glass. The percentage of each, comprising a typical structure, varies by type of design.

Loosely categorized, the following basic shapes and styles are prevalent:

freestanding grade to grade hoop houses (quonset) clad in polyethylene, double polyethylene, corrugated fibreglass sheet, or plastic composite structured panels

linked or gutter-connected straight-wall hoop houses clad in polyethylene, double polyethylene and so on as above

linked or gutter-connected straight-wall hoop houses clad in curved automotive glass

linked or gutter-connected straight-wall peaked houses clad in flat tempered glass. This style of range breaks down into three further sub-categories:
- single peak gutter-to-gutter
- double peak with floating gutter
- triple peak with two floating gutters

All of the above styles or designs of greenhouses are popular, the grower selecting which he will build based on crop to be grown, usage pattern, seasonal pattern, as well as economic considerations.