National Floors, Roofs & Boards

National Hive Floors, Roofs and Boards

Maintain, repair or build your British National beehive with our range of National hive floors, roofs and boards. Shop open mesh floors, entrance blocks, crown boards, clearer boards, queen excluders and protective hive roofs made for the popular British Standard National format.

These essential National beehive parts form the top, bottom and internal divisions of the hive. Each component plays an important role in ventilation, weather protection, colony management and honey harvesting. Our collection includes traditional wooden equipment, galvanised roofs and lightweight polystyrene components from specialist beekeeping suppliers such as Thornes, Swienty and Thomas Apiculture.

National beehive floors

A National hive floor supports the brood box and forms the colony entrance. The floor must remain stable, well maintained and correctly aligned with the boxes above it.

An open mesh floor, sometimes called a varroa floor or screened bottom board, allows hive debris and naturally falling mites to pass through the mesh. When used with a removable inspection tray, it can help beekeepers monitor varroa levels without opening the hive.

Entrance blocks and reducers can be fitted at the front of suitable floors to control the size of the hive entrance. A smaller entrance may help a colony defend itself against robbing bees, wasps and pests, while a wider opening can provide greater access during busy periods. The appropriate entrance size depends on colony strength, weather and the time of year.

National hive roofs

A well-fitting National beehive roof protects the colony and hive components from rain and other British weather. Our range includes wooden roofs with galvanised metal covers, assembled hive roofs and insulated poly hive roofs.

A deep roof provides good coverage over the crown board and upper hive body. Check the exterior regularly for damage, make sure rainwater can run off freely and secure the roof when strong winds are expected.

When replacing a roof, confirm that it matches both the dimensions and construction style of your National hive. Some polystyrene roofs are intended for use within a specific manufacturer’s hive system.

Crown boards and inner covers

The crown board sits above the uppermost brood box or honey super and below the roof. It closes the top of the hive while allowing the roof to be removed without immediately exposing the colony.

Selected National crown boards include holes for Porter bee escapes or feeding equipment. These openings should be used or covered according to the colony’s needs and the design of the board. Poly National hives may use a moulded plastic inner cover in place of a traditional wooden crown board.

National clearer boards

A clearer board is used to remove bees from full honey supers before harvesting. Fitted with one-way bee escapes, the board allows bees to move from the supers into the brood area while making it difficult for them to return.

Clearer boards are temporary pieces of equipment rather than permanent hive covers. They should be fitted correctly, checked after use and removed once the supers have been cleared.

Choosing compatible National hive parts

Although equipment described as British National follows standard overall dimensions, details can vary between wooden and polystyrene hives or between manufacturers. Before ordering, check:

• The hive format and manufacturer

• Whether your hive is wooden or polystyrene

• The precise external dimensions

• Whether the product is assembled or flat packed

• Whether fixings, mesh, trays or bee escapes are included

• Compatibility with your existing brood boxes and supers

Gwenyn Gruffydd is a family-run beekeeping business in West Wales. We manage more than 400 hives and use our practical apiary experience to help beekeepers choose dependable British National hive components.

Frequently asked questions

What type of floor is best for a National hive?

Open mesh floors are widely used because they provide ventilation and allow debris and falling varroa mites to pass through. The best choice depends on your hive system, location and preferred management method.

What is the difference between a crown board and a clearer board?

A crown board is a regular part of the hive and sits beneath the roof. A clearer board is used temporarily to move bees out of honey supers before those supers are removed for extraction.

Do I need an inspection tray under an open mesh floor?

A removable tray is useful when monitoring natural varroa mite drop. It should not necessarily remain fitted continuously, as this changes airflow through the floor. Follow your chosen hive-management method and current varroa-monitoring guidance.

Will a wooden National roof fit a poly hive?

It may fit in some cases, but compatibility should not be assumed. Polystyrene hive systems can have different profiles and external dimensions, so check the product measurements and manufacturer’s guidance first.

Which way up does a clearer board go?

The one-way escape must be oriented so bees can travel from the honey supers down towards the brood chamber. Designs vary, so follow the instructions supplied with the board or bee escape.