PolyReflex BIG 8 mm (3-layer) Reflective Hive Insulation Roll 1.20 x 15 m (18 m²)

You know that feeling when you crack the lid and the hive just feels “leaky” around the joints. In winter that means extra feed consumption and a cluster that’s fighting cold air it shouldn’t even be seeing. In summer it turns into wasted energy on ventilation and brood stress. A simple insulation layer, placed right, changes the hive’s day-to-day stability more than most people expect.

PolyReflex BIG 8 mm comes as a 1.20 m x 15 m roll (that’s 18 m²). The big advantage is you cut it exactly to your kit: 500 x 430 mm, or whatever fits your Langstroth/Dadant lids and inner covers. Buying by the roll is usually more cost-effective than pre-cut sheets, and you can use the leftovers for nucs, partitions, or quick tests.

Where to install it

• Directly on the top bars/frames (the lid clamps it down and seals micro-gaps).

• On the inner cover or on top of the feeder.

• Fixed to the inside of the roof, especially useful with bare metal lids.

You can also use it on the outside (above the roof), but performance is best inside the hive. If you fix it to a metal roof, leave a small air gap between the metal and the insulation. That reduces direct heat conduction and can improve summer performance by up to 40% in that setup.

Not all “reflective” insulation is the same. Some products are only faced on one side or have no protective finish, so bees can chew them and they degrade fast. This one is aluminium faced on both sides, with anti-corrosion treatment and flame-retardant properties, making it a safer, longer-lasting option for hive use.

Technical specs: roll 1.20 m x 15 m (18 m²), thickness 8 mm, weight approx. 255 g. Construction: two external aluminium layers (100%) + central large PE air-bubble layer. Emissivity 0.05, reflectivity 95%. Fire rating Euroclass B-s2,d0 (EN 13501-1) and M1 (UNE 23727-90). Declared thermal resistance depends on air cavities (eg. wall with two 2 cm air gaps: 1.52 m²°C/W; roof with two 4 cm air gaps: 2.46 m²°C/W). Service temperature -20°C to +100°C. Rot-proof, anti-condensation, air/vapour barrier, resistant to humidity and mould growth.