BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved  First Edition 2023   
DRAFT TANZANIA STANDARD  
Beehives — Specification s  
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
 
BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved   i This draft Tanzania Standard was published under the authority of the Board of Directors of Tanzania 
Bureau of Standards on 2023 -mm-dd.  
Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) is the statutory national standards body for Tanzania established 
under the Standard s Act No. 3 of 1975, repealed and replaced by the Standards Act No. 2 of 2009.  
The Building and Construction Divisional Standards Committee (BCDC), under whose supervision this 
Tanzania Standard was prepared, consists of representatives from the following  organizations:  
*College of Engineering and Technology, University of Dar er Salaam  
Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT)  
*National Housing Corporation (NHC)  
Contractors Registration Board (CRB)  
Ardhi University (ARU)  
Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa (JKT)  
*National Estates and Designing Consultancy Company Ltd (NEDCO)  
Architects and Quantity Surveyors Registration Board (AQRB)  
Institution of Engineers Tanzania (IET)  
*National Construction Council (NCC)  
Engineers Registration Board (ERB)  
The organizations ma rked with an asterisk (*) in the above list, together with the following were directly 
represented on the Technical Committee entrusted with the preparation of this draft Tanzania 
Standard:  
Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI)  
Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA)  
Sao Hill Industries Ltd  
Tanzania International Bee Co. Ltd  
Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation ( TASAC)  
Tanzania Bureau of Standards  
P O Box 9524  
Dar es Salaam  
Tel: +255 (22) 2450206/2450949/2450298  
Fax: +255 22 2450298  
E-mail: info@tbs.go.tz   
Website: www.tbs.go.tz  DRAFT TANZANIA STANDARD  BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved   ii 0 National Foreword  
The Tanzania Bureau of Standards is the statutory national standards body for Tanzania, established under 
standards Act No. 3 of 1975, amended by Act No. 2 of 2009.  
This draft Tanzania Standard is being prepared by BCDC 12 Timber structures technical committee under 
the supervision of the Buildi ng and Construction Divisional Committee (BCDC).  
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent 
rights. Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such 
patent rightBCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
1 ©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved  Beehives — Specification  
1 Scope  
This draft Tanzania S tandard  prescribes  the requirements  for Type A, Type B and Type C  of movable frame 
beehives.   
2 Normative r eferences  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
IS 399:1963 , Classification of commercial timbers and their zo nal distribution   
IS 1141:1993 , Seasoning of timber — Code of practice   
IS 1150: 1976, Trade names and abbreviated  symbols for timber species   
3 Terms and definitions   
For the purpose of this  Tanzania S tandard , the following  terms and definitions shall apply.  
3.1 Bee space  
the optimum distanc e between two comb surfaces in a  beehive essential for the normal movement and  
functioning of bees (see 3.9)  
3.2 Brood chamber  
a four-sided wooden box of rectangular cro ss-section  without a top or a botto m, in which the brood frames  
(see 3.3) are placed  
3.3 Brood frame  
 a frame (see 3.9) made up of a top bar, a bottom  bar and two side bars in which the bees develop comb  
to rear brood 
3.4 Crown board (inner cover ) 
a partition  between the super chamber an d the roof (top)  
3.5 Division board  
a wooden board slightly larger than the brood frame  and placed in the brood chamber to prevent the bees 
from going beyond it, thus limiting the capacity of the brood chamber.  
3.6 Dummy board  
a wooden board equal in outside length and height dimensions to the brood frame. This is used in parallel  
at the end of brood frames, generally, in weak and  developing colonies.  
3.7 Entrance gate  
a wooden block at the hive entrance usually provided  with slots  of suitable size. The slots may be covered  
with queen excluder sheet (see 3.10) . 
3.8 Floor board  
a wooden b oard on which the brood chamber  rests.  
3.9 Frame  
a frame of wood, of suitable size, to hold a comb.  
NOTE — The frames are  so constructed  that a seri es of them m ay be placed in a vertical position in the brood chamber 
or the super chamber so as to leave space  (bee space) in  betwe en them for be es to  move.  
3.10 Queen excluder sheet  
a set of openings meant for restricting the movement of the queen  from the brood chamber to the super . 
3.11 Queen gate 
a provision made on the entrance gate by a queen  excluder sheet (see 3.10) for preventing queen fr om 
going out and also enemies like wasps, etc . which ar e bigger than worker bees , from entering.  BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved   2 3.12 Reinforcement  
a wire parallel to the top bar and attached to the  sides of frames to reinforce the comb.  
3.13 Roof ( top) 
a wooden cover  with four sides and a top and placed on the inner cover.  
3.14 Super chamber  
a four-sided wooden box of rectangular cross -section without a top or a bottom in which the super frames 
(see 3.15)  are placed. It is similar to the brood chamber (see 3.2) but of lesser height for 'A' and ’B’ type 
and of same height in 'C' type and placed a bove it when in need.  
3.15 Super frame  
A frame (see 3.9) which has a depth less than that of the brood frame (see 3.3) for 'A' and 'B' type beehives 
but the same as brood frame in 'C' type beehive.  
4 Types and sizes of beehives  
4.1 There shall be three types of beehives, namely  Type A, Type B and Type C. In Type A, there shall  be 
provision of any of the three different bee spaces, namely  7 mm, 8 mm or 9 mm . In Type B, any of the 
two different bee spaces, namely,  8 mm or  9 mm shall he provided. In Type C, 10 mm bee space shall 
be provided. The A and B Type hives may have 10, 8 or 4 frames and C type hive shall  have 10 frames.  
4.1.1  The dimensions for different parts of Type A hive ( see Figure  1A) shall be as given in Table 1 (10 
frames), Ta ble 2 (8 frames) and Table  3 (4 frames).  
4.1.2  The dimensions for d ifferent parts of Type B  hives (see Figure  1A) shall be as given in Table 4 (10 
frames). Table 5 (8 frames) and Table 6 (4 frames).  
4.1.3  The dimensions f or different parts of Type C hive (see Figure  1A) shall be as given in Table 7  (10 
frames).  
5 Materials  
5.1 Wood  
For the purpose of beehives, well -seasoned timber (see IS 1141) such as Grevillea robusta (Grevillea), 
Eucalyptus spp. (Mkalatusi), Pinus patula  (Msindano), Tectona grandis  (Msaji/Teak), Cedrea 
odorata  (Mwerezi), Gmelina arborea  (Teak nyeupe/Mfudufudu)  (see IS 39 9 and IS 1150) , Acacia 
mellifera  (Kiti(Maasai),Mgunga/Msasa(Shambaa),Mnoa(Pare)) and Acacia xanthophloea (Elerai 
(Maasai), Mkongea (Shambaa/Kwere),Narmo (Iraqw),Olerai (Maasai))  shall be used. It shall be free from 
decay, insect -holes, dead knots, shakes and splits. The slope of the grain shall not be more than one in 
eight.  
5.2 Plastic  
If used for making of beehives shall  be of f ood grade.  
5.3 Wire   
If used for reinforcement shall he galvanized mild steel wire of diameter 0.4 mm and shall be suita bly 
anchored in the side of bars by nails.  
6 Constructional requirements  
The beehive shall consist of the following parts wit h the constructional details as under :-  
a) Floor board (with entrance gate);   
b) Brood chamber (with brood frame );  
c) Super chamber (with super frames );  
d) Inner  cover (crown board)  and  
e) Roof (top).  
6.1 Floor board ( with entrance gate ) 
The floor board shall be made of wood 15 mm thick  and the dimensio ns shall be as given in Tables 1  to 7. 
If it is made by using more than one piece  of wood, the pieces shall be joined by tongue and  groove joints. 
The slant diagonal groove 10 mm deep  and 15 mm wide shall be made along the entire  length of the inner 
side of each of the two side -strips  of the floor board to insert the above wooden plank  in it. These side strips BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
3 ©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved  shall project 25 mm and  10mm, above the inserted wooden plank at the  alternate front and rear sides of 
the plank  respectively.  The side s trips shall b e 50 mm high, the back cleats, 23 mm wide and 10 mm thick 
shall b e fixed on the shallow alternate edges of the rear sides of the floor  board. The  side st rips and back 
cleats should be  fixed by nails to the bottom plank . Two wooden blocks 23 mm x 23 mm thick,  between 
45 mm to  55 mm in length shall be fitt ed on both sides of the floor board in front of the hive entrance in 
order to  avoid slipping of the entrance gate ( Figure  1 A). It is recommended that there may be two hol es 3 
mm in diameter and 10 mm deep on both the faces of the side strips of the bottom board,  corresponding 
to the two holes of the centre beneath the side walls of  brood chamber. Eyelets should be fixed in these  
holes a nd small easily removable galvanized iron  wire piece s, 2 mm in diameter and 20 mm long  should 
be provided in these holes. This will avoid  slipping of the hive parts during migration of bee -colonies.  
Alternatively,  the non -reversible floor board may be  used. The bottom of the floor b oard shall be m ade of 
not more than two pieces of wood which shall he joined by tongue groove joints. Two sloping strips  shall be 
fitted on the edges of length sides of the  plank. These strips shall be 23 mm wide, 25 mm  high at the 
entrance side and 10 mm  high at the back  side and 361 mm long for Type ‘A’,  431 mm long  for ‘B’  type hive 
and 560 mm long for type ‘ C’ beehive. At  the back side of the plank a strip of  23 mm wide and 10 mm high 
should be fitted on the edge of the b readth of the plank and in between two ends of the sloping  side strips. 
The length of the b ack strips will be acco rding to the type of hi ve accommoda ting 4,  8 or 10 frames. These 
three strips shall b e fitted to the plank with 3  screws on each strip. 
6.1.1  Entrance gate  
The entrance gate shall b e made of wood 40 mm  x 20 mm. T wo gr ooves,  one of them 100 mm  to 150 mm 
wide and 15 mm deep on on e side and the  secon d gro ove of  50 mm wide and 10 mm deep on  the opposite  
side shall be cut on t he entrance block  as shown in Figure  1 A and Figure  3A. These grooves shall be cut 
50 mm  from one end of the block.  
6.2 Brood chamber  
The dimensions of the brood chambers shall be as  given in Tables 1 to 7. A rabbet, 10 mm wide and  16 
mm deep, shall be cut in the front and back walls  of the brood chamber. The brood frames (see 6. 6) shall 
rest on these rabbeted  walls. There shall be  grooves or notches on two opposite outer faces of  the side 
walls for lifting the brood chamber. These  shall be made in the centres of the outer faces of the chamber. 
The four sides of the chamber shall  be joined by special box corner or finger or dovetail  or tongue and 
groove joints . It is recommended that  there may b e two holes of 3 mm diameter and 10 mm deep on the 
opposite upper faces of the side walls  of the brood chamber, corresp onding to  the similar  two holes on the 
lower faces of the side walls of super chamber. Eyelets should be fixed in these  holes and small pieces of 
removable galvanized iron  wire pieces of  2 mm diameter and 20 mm long should he provided in these 
holes to avoid slipping of the  hive parts during migration of bee -colonies.  
6.3 Super chamber  
The dimensions shall be as given in Tables 1 to 7. A rabbet, 10 mm wide and 16 mm deep,  shall be cut 
in the front and b ack walls of the super chamber.  The super frames (see 6. 7) shall rest on these rabb eted 
walls. There shall b e grooves or notches on two opposite outer faces of the side walls for lifting the  super 
chamber. The se shall he mad e in the centres of  outer faces of the chamber. T ile four sides of the chamber 
shall be joined by special box corners or fingers, dovetail or tongue and groove joints.  
6.4 Inner cover (crown board)  
The dimensions of the inner cover shall be as given in Tables 1 to 7. The inner plank shall be 15 mm thick. 
On one of the sides of the plank, 23 mm wide and 7 mm or 8 mm or 9 mm thick strip, according to the bee 
space used in the hive should be fixed all along the four sides of the plank. In the centre the inner cove r 
shall have an opening of 100 mm x 30 mm for bee escape (see Figure 1A). For ‘C’ type, however, a wooden 
plank of 15 mm thickness having 15 mm thick and 20 mm broad wooden strip on the borders of one side 
of inner cover shall be used.  
6.5 Roof (Top)  
6.5.1  Walls   
The dimensions  of the walls shall be as given in Tables 1 to 7. The walls shall be 18 mm thick. The centres 
of the side walls shall have one slot each of 15 mm  x 25 mm or hole of 25  mm diameter. The holes shall 
be covered with wire gauze of aperture  1 mm. The f our walls shall be joined by  dovetail or tongue  and 
groove joints. Four supporting strips of minimu m 20 mm width and 2 8 mm thickness shall b e fixed in side BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved   4 the walls. Th ese four supporting strips of the inside walls of  the ro of shall be fixed 35 mm hig h from  the 
lower edges of the walls.  
6.5.1.1  Instead of  deep roof as above, shallow roof may also be used. The thickness of the walls and the  
roof board and length and breadth  of the shallow r oof should be the same as  given in 6.4.1,  6.4.2 
and table 1  to 7. The shallow roof shall however b e only 50 mm in height and devoid of ventilation 
holes.  It shall have four supporting strips inside  the side  walls.  
6.5.2  Roof board 
The roof board shall b e 18 mm thick. It shall be made by using not more than three pieces.  It shall be fixed 
to the walls with nails. The roof shall be suitably covered, if made of joint pieces, to protect  against rain.  
The sheet shall extend 15 mm down below the top edge of the roof board. The roof shall be made flat.  
6.6 Brood frame (see Figure  1D)  
The frame may be provided with a foundation sheet  made of bee wax or other suitable food grade 
material s.  
6.6.1  Overall dimensions  
The dimensions of the brood frame shall be as given in Tables  1 to 7. The top bar shall extend equally on 
both sides of the frame.  
6.6.2  Form of frame  
The brood frame shall have the top bar, two side  bars and bottom bar conforming to the provisions given 
in 6.5.2.1, 6.5.2.2 and 6.5.2.3 respectively.  
6.6.2.1  Top bar   
The top bar shall be 23 mm wide, 10 mm thick and 260 mm (T ype A), 330 mm (Type B) , 483 mm  (Type  C) 
in length. A groove 2 mm wide and 2 mm deep  shall he cut lengthwise in the centre underneath the top bar 
for fixing comb foundation. The end s of the top bar may be tapered,  if needed. The ends  of the si de bar 
shall b e joined to the to p bar by tongue  and groove joint.  
6.6.2.2  Side bar  
The side bar may prefera bly b e of shoulder type or  with separate bee -spacer. It shall be 10 mm thick,  23 
mm wide f or ‘A’ and ‘B’  types and 25 mm for ‘C’ type at the bottom and 30 mm, 31 mm, 32 mm or 35 mm 
(that is, for bee space 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm  or 10 mm) wide at the top to provide one  of the four bee spaces 
specified. Two holes for wire  reinforcements shall be made at a distance of 50 mm and 100 mm from the 
top of the side bar for ‘A’ and ‘ B’ types but for ‘C’  type, 4 holes shall be made at a di stance of 50 mm from 
the to p. 
Alternatively  keeping the width of the side bar as 23 mm for ‘A’  and ‘ B’ type and 25 mm for ‘C’  type, separate 
wooden  bee space or metal  spac ers (60 mm x 10  mm x  3.5 mm or 4 mm or  4.5 mm o r 5 mm ) may be fixed  
to the side bars. This would ensure greater accuracy in bee sp ace between two frames and autom atically 
adjust distance between the centres  of the two adjacent  frames.  
6.6.2.3  Bottom bar  
In case of Type A frames, the bottom bar shall be  15 mm wide, 10 mm thick and 230 mm in length.  For 
Type B frames,  it shall be 20 mm wide, 10 mm thick  and 300 mm in length and for Type C frames , it shall 
be 19 mm wide,  10 mm thick and 44 8 mm long. The ends shall have a groove 10 mm x 10 mm to fit in the 
tongue of the side bar.  
6.7 Super frame  
6.7.1  Overall dimensions  
The dimensions of the super frame shall be given in Tables 1 to 7. The top bar shall extend equally  on both 
sides of the frame.  
6.7.2  Form of frame  
The super frame shall have top bar, two side bars  and bottom bar conforming to the description give n in 
6.7.2.1, 6. 7.2.2 and 6. 7.2.3 respectively.  
6.7.2.1  Top bar   
The top bar shall have the same dimensions as given in 6.6.2.1. BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
5 ©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved  6.7.2.2  Side bar  
The side bar may preferably b e of shoulder type or  with separate be e-spacer. It shall be 10 mm thick,  23 
mm wi de at the bottom and 30 mm, 31 mm or 32 mm  (that is,  for bee space 7 mm, 8 mm or 9 mm) wide at 
the top to provide one of the three bee  spaces, specified. A hole in the middle of the two  side bars shall be 
made for wire reinforcement.  
Alternatively, keeping  the width of the side bar as  23 mm, separate wooden been space or metal spacers  
(60 mm x 10 mm x 3.5 mm or 4 mm or 4.5 mm)  may b e fixed to the side bars. This would ensure  greater 
accuracy in the bee space between two frames  and automatically adjust distance between the centres  of 
the two adjacent frames.  
6.7.2.3  Bottom bar  
The bottom bar shall have the same dimensions as  given in 6. 6.2.3. Groove 2 mm wide and 2 mm deep  
shall be cut lengthwise in the centre in the inner side  of the bottom bar and underneath t he top bar of the  
super frame for fixing comb foundation.  
6.8 Division board (see also Figure  1E) 
The dimensions of the division board shall be as  given in Tables 1  to 7. A top bar, 23 mm wide  and 16 mm 
thick, shall be  fixed to the board, with nails,  so that i t extends equally on both sides of the  board. The 
distance between two consecutive nails  shall be not more than 50 mm. The division hoard  shall h ave a 
slope, at its bottom edge,  corresponding  to the slope of the floor b oard. As shown in Figure  1 A side strips 
of 10 mm x 10 mm should be fixed  to the division b oard to avoid warping of the plank.  
6.9 Dummy board (see also Figure  1E) 
The dimensions of the dummy b oard shall be as given in Tables 1 to 7. A top bar, 23 mm wide and 10 mm 
thick, shall be fixed to the board, with nails, so that it exten ds equally on both sides of the  board.  
The distance between two consecutive nails shall be not more than 50 mm. As shown in Figure  1 A, side 
strips of 10 mm x 10 mm should be fixed to the dummy board to avoid  warping of the plank.  
6.10 Queen excluder  
The queen excluder shall be made of parallel wire mounts or a perforated plate of rustproof metal, such as , 
zinc or alumin ium of not less than 1.25 mm t hickness  or food grade plastic . The width of the openings or 
slots in the queen exc luder shall be 3.50 mm, 3.75 mm,  4.00 mm or 4.50 mm. The maximum length of the 
opening s or slots shall be 20 mm . 
6.11 Queen gate 
A piece of queen excluder sheet having adequat e width of the openings (see 6.10) shall be fitted o n the 
slots of entrance gate (see 6.1.1 and Figure  3). Th e dimensions of the entrance gate and queen gate shall , 
therefore, be  same. The length of the entrance gate  shall be accord ing to the breadth of the floor  board 
(see Figure  1A). 
7 Workmanship  
7.1 Finish  
The different  parts of the beehives shall have a smooth  finish with the edges trimmed square and smooth.  
Parts of the beehive exposed directly to weather shall  be painted with a suitable protective paint. The paint 
shall be non -toxic and shall not have any odour  disagr eeable to the bees. If painted, the colour or the paint 
shall be whit e, blue, yellow , green or grey.  
7.2 Joints  
All joints shall be sound and shall withstand normal use. Walls of chambers and roof shall be jointed by 
special box corner joints or finger joints or dovetail  joints or tongue and groove joints properly nailed (see 
Figure  3A and 3B).  
When the use of nails for joints is specified, ther e shall be one nail at each end. The distance between two 
consecutive nails shall be not more than 75 mm.  BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved   6 8 Packing a nd marking  
8.1 Packing  
The beehive shall be supplied in the complete form,  properly assembled or in separate parts as agreed to 
between the purchaser and the vendor. Unless  otherwise specified, the beehive parts shall be packed  
according to trade practices in such a way as to  protect them from damage in transit and during storage . 
8.2 Marking  
8.2.1  The following information shall be engraved on each  part: 
a) name of the part  and its size (for example;  Brood chamber, Type A, Bee space 8 mm);  
b) trade- mark, if any;  
c) batch or code number;  
d) name of the manufacturer; and  
e) date of manufacture.  
8.2.2  TBS Standard s Mark of Quality.  
The product may also be marked with the Standard Mark of Quality . The use of the Standard Mark  of 
Quality  is governed  by the provisions of the Tanzania Bureau of  Standards  Act No.3 of 1975 amended 
by Act No.2 of 2009  and the Rule s and Regulations made  thereunder. The details of conditions under 
which  the licence for the use of Standard Mark may be  granted to manufacturers or producers may b e 
obtained  from the Tanzania Bureau  Standards.  
Table 1 — Dimensions of various parts of type A beehives with 10 frames  (Clause 4.1.1 and Fig 1A)  
Description  Distance between centres of two 
adjacent frames = 30 mm (Bee 
spaces = 7 mm)  Distance between centres of 
two adjacent frames = 31 m m 
(Bee spaces = 8 mm)  Distance between centres of 
two adjacent frames = 32 mm 
(Bee spaces = 9 mm)  
 Length (L) 
mm 
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height 
(H) mm  
± 2 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height 
(H) mm  
± 2 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height 
(H) mm  
± 2 
Floor board  361 356 50 361 356 50 361 376 50 
Brood frame:  
Outside  
Inside   
230 
210  
- 
-  
165 
145  
230 
210  
- 
-  
165 
145  
230 
210  
- 
-  
165 
145 
Brood chamber:  
Outside  
Inside   
286 
240  
356 
310  
172 
172  
286 
240  
366 
320  
173 
173  
286 
240  
376 
330  
174 
174 
Super frame:  
Outside  
Inside   
230 
210  
- 
-  
85 
64  
230 
210  
- 
-  
85 
65  
230 
210  
- 
-  
85 
65 
Super chamber:  
Outside  
Inside   
286 
240  
356 
310  
92 
92  
286 
240  
366 
320  
93 
93  
286 
240  
376 
330  
92 
91 
Inner cover 
(crown board)  286 356 22 286 366 23 286 376 24 
Roof (top):  
Outside  328 398 100 328 408 100 328 418 100 
Dummy board  230 - 165 230 - 165 230 - 165 
Division board  236 - One end 
182 236 - One end 
183 236 - One end 
184 
   Other 
end 194    Other 
end 195    Other 
end 196  BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
7 ©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved  Table 2 — Dimensions of various parts of type A Beehives with 8 frames  (Clause 4.1.1 and Fig 1A)  
Description  Distance between centres of two 
adjacent frames = 30 mm (Bee 
spaces = 7 mm)  Distance between centres of 
two adjacent frames = 31 mm 
(Bee spaces = 8 mm)  Distance between centres of 
two adjacent frames = 32 mm 
(Bee spaces = 9 mm)  
 Length (L) 
mm 
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height 
(H) mm  
± 2 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height 
(H) mm  
± 2 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height 
(H) mm  
± 2 
Floor board  361 296 50 361 304 50 361 312 50 
Brood frame:  
Outside  
Inside   
230 
210  
- 
-  
165 
145  
230 
210  
- 
-  
165 
145  
230 
210  
- 
-  
165 
145 
Brood chamber:  
Outside  
Inside   
286 
240  
296 
250  
172 
172  
286 
240  
304 
258  
173 
173  
286 
240  
312 
266  
174 
174 
Super frame:  
Outside  
Inside   
230 
210  
- 
-  
85 
65  
230 
210  
- 
-  
85 
65  
230 
216  
- 
-  
85 
63 
Super chamber:  
Outside  
Inside   
286 
240  
296 
250  
92 
92  
286 
240  
304 
258  
93 
93  
286 
240  
312 
266  
94 
94 
Inner cover 
(crown board)  286 296 22 286 304 23 286 312 24 
Roof (top):  
Outside  328 338 100 328 346 100 328 354 100 
Dummy board  230 - 165 230 - 165 230 - 165 
Division board  236 - One end 
182 236 - One end 
183 236 - One end 
184 
   Other 
end 194    Other 
end 195    Other 
end 196  
Table 3 — Dimensions of various parts of type A beehives with 4 frames  (Clause 4.1.1 and Fig 1A)  
Description  Distance between centres of two 
adjacent frames = 30 mm (Bee 
spaces = 7 mm)  Distance between centres of 
two adjacent frames = 31 mm 
(Bee spaces = 8 mm)  Distance between centres of 
two adjacent frames = 32 mm 
(Bee spaces = 9 mm)  
 Length (L) 
mm 
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height 
(H) mm  
± 2 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height 
(H) mm  
± 2 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height 
(H) mm  
± 2 
Floor board  361 176 50 361 180 50 361 184 50 
Brood frame:  
Outside  
Inside   
230 
210  
- 
-  
165 
145  
230 
210  
- 
-  
165 
145  
230 
210  
- 
-  
165 
145 
Brood chamber:  
Outside  
Inside   
286 
240  
176 
130  
172 
172  
286 
240  
180 
134  
173 
173  
286 
240  
184 
138  
174 
174 
Super frame:  
Outside   
230  
-  
85  
230  
-  
85  
230  
-  
85 BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved   8 Description  Distance between centres of two 
adjacent frames = 30 mm (Bee 
spaces = 7 mm)  Distance between centres of 
two adjacent frames = 31 mm 
(Bee spaces = 8 mm)  Distance between centres of 
two adjacent frames = 32 mm 
(Bee spaces = 9 mm)  
 Length (L) 
mm 
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height 
(H) mm  
± 2 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height 
(H) mm  
± 2 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height 
(H) mm  
± 2 
Inside  210 - 65 210 - 65 216 - 63 
Super chamber:  
Outside  
Inside   
286 
240  
176 
130  
92 
92  
286 
240  
180 
134  
93 
93  
286 
240  
184 
138  
94 
94 
Inner cover 
(crown board)  286 176 22 286 180 23 286 184 24 
Roof (top):  
Outside  328 218 100 328 222 100 328 236 100 
Dummy board  230 - 165 230 - 165 230 - 165 
Division board  236 - One end 
182 236 - One end 
183 236 - One end 
184 
   Other 
end 194    Other 
end 195    Other 
end 196  
Table 4 — Dimensions of various parts of type B beehives with 10 frames  (Clause 4.1.2 and Fig 1A)  
Description  Distance between centres of two adjacent 
frames = 31 mm (Bee spaces = 8 mm)  Distance between centres of two adjacent 
frames = 32 mm (Bee spaces = 9 mm)  
 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height (H) mm  
± 2 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height (H) mm  
± 2 
Floor board  431 366 50 431 376 50 
Brood frame:  
Outside  
Inside   
300 
280  
- 
-  
195 
175  
300 
280  
- 
-  
195 
175 
Brood chamber:  
Outside  
Inside   
356 
310  
366 
320  
203 
203  
356 
310  
376 
330  
204 
204 
Super frame:  
Outside  
Inside   
300 
280  
- 
-  
105 
85  
300 
280  
- 
-  
105 
85 
Super chamber:  
Outside  
Inside   
356 
310  
176 
130  
92 
92  
286 
240  
180 
134  
93 
93 
Inner cover 
(crown board)  356 366 23 356 376 24 
Roof (top):  
Outside  398 408 100 398 418 100 
Dummy board  300 - 195 300 - 195 
Division board  306 - One end 213 306 - One end 214 
   Other end 225   Other end 226 BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
9 ©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved  Table 5 — Dimensions of various parts of type B beehives with 8 frames  (Clause 4.1.2 and Fig 1A)  
Description  Distance between centres of two adjacent 
frames = 31 mm (Bee spaces = 8 mm)  Distance between centres of two adjacent 
frames = 32 mm (Bee spaces = 9 mm)  
 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height (H) mm  
± 2 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height (H) mm  
± 2 
Floor board  431 304 50 431 312 50 
Brood frame:  
Outside  
Inside   
300 
280  
- 
-  
195 
175  
300 
280  
- 
-  
195 
175 
Brood chamber:  
Outside  
Inside   
356 
310  
304 
258  
203 
203  
356 
310  
312 
266  
204 
204 
Super frame:  
Outside  
Inside   
300 
280  
- 
-  
105 
85  
300 
280  
- 
-  
105 
85 
Super chamber:  
Outside  
Inside   
356 
310  
304 
258  
113 
113  
356 
310  
312 
266  
114 
114 
Inner cover 
(crown board)  356 304 23 356 312 24 
Roof (top):  
Outside  398 346 100 398 354 100 
Dummy board  300 - 195 300 - 195 
Division board  306 - One end 213  306 - One end 214  
   Other end 225    Other end 226  
Table 6 — Dimensions of various parts of type B beehives with 4 frames  (Clause 4.1.2 and Fig 1A)  
Description  Distance between centres of two adjacent 
frames = 31 mm (Bee spaces = 8 mm)  Distance between centres of two adjacent 
frames = 32 mm (Bee spaces = 9 mm)  
 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height (H) mm  
± 2 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height (H) mm  
± 2 
Floor board  431 180 50 431 184 50 
Brood frame:  
Outside  
Inside   
300 
280  
- 
-  
195 
175  
300 
280  
- 
-  
195 
175 
Brood chamber:  
Outside  
Inside   
356 
310  
180 
134  
203 
203  
356 
310  
184 
138  
204 
204 
Super frame:  
Outside  
Inside   
300 
280  
- 
-  
105 
85  
300 
280  
- 
-  
105 
85 
Super chamber:  
Outside  
Inside   
356  
304  
113  
356  
312  
114 BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved   10 Description  Distance between centres of two adjacent 
frames = 31 mm (Bee spaces = 8 mm)  Distance between centres of two adjacent 
frames = 32 mm (Bee spaces = 9 mm)  
 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height (H) mm  
± 2 Length 
(L) mm  
± 2 Breadth 
(B) mm  
± 2 Height (H) mm  
± 2 
310 258 113 310 266 114 
Inner cover 
(crown board)  356 304 23 356 312 24 
Roof (top):  
Outside  398 346 100 398 354 100 
Dummy board  300 - 195 300 - 195 
Division board  306 - One end 213  306 - One end 214  
   Other end 225    Other end 226  
 
Table 7— Dimensions of various parts of type C beehives with 10 frames  (Clause 4.1.3 and Fig 1A)  
Description  Distance between centres of two adjacent frames = 35 mm (Bee 
spaces = 10 mm)  
 Length (L) mm  
± 2 Breadth (B) mm  
± 2 Height (H) mm  
± 2 
Floor board  560 413 55 
Brood/Super frame:  
Outside  
Inside   
448 
428  
- 
-  
232 
192 
Brood/Deep Super chamber:  
Outside  
Inside   
508 
464  
180 
368  
242 
242 
Inner cover (crown board)  508 413 25 
Roof (top):  
Outside   
560  
465  
85 
Dummy board  448 - 232 
 BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
11 ©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved   
1A Exploded Assembly  
Figure  1— Beehive and its components (continued)  
BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved   12  
Figure 1 — Beehive and its components  
BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
13 ©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved   
Figure 2 — Entrance Gate  
 
Figure 3 — Joints (continued)  
BCDC 12 (1866) DTZS  
©TBS 2023 -All rights reserved   14  
3B Dovetail, Finger and special box corner joints  
Figure 3 — Joints  
 
 
©TBS 2023 – All rights reserved