Air-Bubble Insulating Polyethylene Greenhouse Film

Overview

How it works

This film is made of polyethylene layers that enclose small pockets of air, a little like packaging bubble wrap but built for years of sun exposure. The trapped air slows heat leaving the greenhouse at night, while the film still lets in a large share of daylight and scatters it, so light reaches the lower leaves and sunburn on the upper leaves is reduced.

What the numbers mean

The reference values for the series are an insulation value of about R-1.7, about 83% light transmission and a five-year UV life warranty. These are nominal figures for the product family. Roll thickness is around 334 to 344 mil; the exact thickness and values are stated on your quote.

Roll sizes

Rolls come in 4, 5 and 6 ft widths with a length of 328 ft. When the film is fixed with channel profiles, roll width is calculated from the profile center distances, so frame spacing decides the roll width.

Where it is used

It suits greenhouses where nights are cool, or where heating cost matters: nursery houses, seedling rooms and retrofits of older glass or plastic structures.

What the film does not include

The film is a covering only. Frames, vents, locking channels and fans are not part of this product unless quoted separately.

Choosing a configuration

• Roll widths matched to your channel spacing
• Total area and number of rolls
• Local wind and snow loading on the frame
• Fire-rating or fastening requirements in your region

Storage and handling

Store rolls flat or on a rack under cover, away from sharp edges. Install on a dry day, and do not drag the film over rough frame joints. We can advise on edge protection tape for the frame.

How to choose between air-bubble film and mulch film

This film is a covering for the greenhouse frame, not a ground cover. Buy it when your main problem is cold nights or temperature swings under glass-free structures, because the trapped air layers slow heat loss while diffused light spreads through the canopy. It is a poor choice if the structure is open-sided in hot, humid weather, since an insulating film can hold heat in summer unless you add shading or ventilation.

Our black and two-tone mulch film (MM-MLF01) is a different product: it lies on the soil, controls weeds and moisture and has no insulation role. Many growers use both, bubble film on the tunnel and mulch film on the beds.

Before ordering, compare roll width with your hoop spacing and the length of your span, and decide whether seams are acceptable. Wider rolls mean fewer seams and fewer leak points. Width, length and fixing method are matched to your drawing, so order quantities cover the surface area plus overlap.