greenhouse
Enable an AI agent to recognise a greenhouse, assess whether its enclosure and growing environment support its intended use, and identify interventions within its operating limits.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
Researched by: Codex + Grok
Purpose and description
Enable an AI agent to recognise a greenhouse, assess whether its enclosure and growing environment support its intended use, and identify interventions within its operating limits.
A greenhouse is a framed horticultural building whose predominantly transparent cladding is specified to admit solar radiation into an enclosed volume whose air temperature, humidity and ventilation are regulated so that plants can be grown independently of the outdoor climate.
It can be Assign cultivation uses to growing zones after comparing their requirements with observed conditions and available controls.; Inspect and record covering damage, obstructed openings, condensation and drainage defects.; Adjust vents, shading and environmental setpoints within verified limits and delegated authority.; Compare measurements across zones to identify where additional observation or intervention is needed.; Isolate an affected growing zone or suspend an operation when documented restrictions apply.; Plan covering maintenance, cleaning or equipment servicing around access and cultivation constraints..
Distinguishing features
Determine whether the structure encloses a space intended for plant cultivation rather than primarily for human occupancy, storage or display.
Check whether the roof or covering admits daylight to the growing space; a fully opaque indoor grow room does not meet this proposed boundary.
Check whether the covering and sides can form an enclosure that modifies exposure to outdoor conditions; a roof-only rain shelter needs a separate boundary decision.
Distinguish a predominantly transparent or translucent weather enclosure from a predominantly mesh shade house or insect enclosure.
Do not require glass walls, rigid construction or active heating: classification of polytunnels, hoop houses and small cold frames remains a registry boundary question.
Scope
+ The enclosure, its light-transmitting covering, openings and relationship to the growing space
+ Internal environmental conditions and differences between growing zones
+ Capabilities and limits for ventilation, shading, heating, cooling and humidity management
+ Arrangement of growing areas, access routes, irrigation distribution and drainage
+ Readiness for cultivation, enclosure defects and permitted operating interventions
- Crop identity, physiology, disease diagnosis and cultivation prescriptions
- Detailed component models for heaters, fans, pumps, sensors and controllers
- Land ownership, site planning and the surrounding landscape
- Farm staffing, business performance and production scheduling
- Standalone irrigation-source, electrical-supply and water-treatment systems
Characteristics
- Enclosure form
- freestanding bay | connected bays | attached enclosure | other | unknown Determines which growing areas share an enclosure and where adjacent structures constrain access or environmental control.
- Covering configuration
- roof and wall material, number of covering layers, fixed or retractable sections Identifies how daylight and weather reach the growing space and which maintenance actions are applicable.
- Usable growing area
- m², with the treatment of aisles and stacked growing surfaces stated Separates usable cultivation space from the enclosure footprint.
- Canopy-level light
- photosynthetic photon flux density in µmol/m²/s or daily light integral in mol/m²/day, with location and time Shows the light actually reaching the growing area and supports assessment of shading or covering changes.
- Internal air temperature
- °C by zone, sensor position and timestamp Supports comparison with the requirements of the linked cultivation use and detection of local extremes.
- Internal humidity
- % relative humidity with co-located temperature and timestamp Supports assessment of moisture conditions and whether ventilation or humidity control warrants attention.
- Environmental control capability
- linked ventilation, shading, heating, cooling and dehumidification equipment, with served zones and verified limits Distinguishes desired conditions from conditions the greenhouse can actually maintain.
- Covering and opening condition
- intact | degraded | damaged | unavailable for inspection, with affected location and evidence Identifies losses of weather protection, light transmission or controllable closure.
- Drainage condition
- free-draining | restricted | ponding observed | unknown, with observation conditions Informs whether irrigation, cleaning or continued occupation of an affected growing zone is appropriate.
- Cultivation assignment
- growing zone linked to crop or cultivation activity and its current environmental requirements Makes suitability a comparison against an explicit use rather than a universal greenhouse condition.
- Operating readiness
- ready for specified use | restricted | out of service | unassessed, with reasons and assessment date Summarises whether an agent may recommend or undertake an operation and which restrictions apply.
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.greenhouse
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 6 bundles · 11 layers · 18 findings · 33 questions.
Cultivation enclosure Establishes what physical enclosure constitutes this greenhouse and how its covering mediates daylight and outdoor exposure.
An agent must distinguish the greenhouse from neighbouring shelter types and identify the envelope whose condition it is assessing.
Enclosure identity
Identifies the cultivation enclosure and its boundaries across bays and attached spaces.
Greenhouse boundary
Record the enclosed growing space, its intended cultivation use and which connected bays or attached rooms belong to this instance.
- What evidence identifies this enclosure as intended for plant cultivation? definition
- Which connected bays share this greenhouse identity, and which adjacent spaces are separate objects? boundary
Light-transmitting envelope
Describes covering sections, openings and defects that affect light admission or weather protection.
Covering and closure
Record roof and wall coverings, movable sections, closure condition and located evidence of damage or contamination.
- What materials and covering layers occur on each roof and wall section? definition
- Where do tears, failed seals, deposits or openings alter daylight admission or weather exclusion? measurement
- Which covering sections or openings can be cleaned, repaired or moved under the current operating restrictions? action
Growing environment Connects observed conditions in the growing space to the requirements of its assigned cultivation uses.
A greenhouse cannot be judged suitable from a single temperature reading or from the presence of environmental equipment alone.
Environmental observation
Records where, when and how growing-environment measurements were obtained.
Zone condition evidence
Record temperature, humidity and canopy-level light with spatial coverage, timing and measurement reliability.
- What temperature, humidity and light conditions have been measured at representative growing positions and times? measurement
- Which sensors or observations produced these readings, and what evidence supports their accuracy and coverage? provenance
Cultivation suitability
Assesses conditions against explicit requirements supplied by the linked cultivation activity.
Requirements and deviations
Record applicable environmental requirements and the duration, location and uncertainty of observed departures.
- Which linked crop or cultivation activity supplies the environmental requirements for each occupied zone? provenance
- Where and for how long have measured conditions departed from those requirements? measurement
- Does the available evidence support continuing the assigned use, changing conditions or requesting further assessment? action
Climate control Describes how the greenhouse can alter its internal environment and the constraints on doing so.
An agent needs to know which interventions are physically available, effective for the affected zone and authorised.
Control coverage
Maps vents, shading and environmental equipment to the areas they influence.
Available control paths
Record natural and powered control mechanisms, their served zones, dependencies and current availability.
- Which vents, screens, fans, heaters or cooling systems influence each growing zone? definition
- What inspections, specifications or operating observations establish their usable range and present availability? provenance
Control interactions
Records constraints and interactions that determine whether a proposed adjustment is appropriate.
Permitted environmental adjustments
Record operating modes, control authority, interlocks and known interactions between ventilation, shading and thermal or humidity controls.
- Which adjustments may the agent execute, and which require an operator or equipment-specific procedure? action
- What documented weather limits, interlocks or equipment dependencies constrain vent, shade or climate-control movement? boundary
- What observations will establish whether an adjustment improved conditions without creating an unacceptable change elsewhere? measurement
Growing space and water Describes cultivation layout and the paths by which water enters, moves through and leaves the greenhouse.
Usable growing capacity depends on physical layout, service reach and drainage rather than footprint alone.
Cultivation layout
Distinguishes beds, benches and other growing positions from access and service areas.
Usable growing positions
Record growing surfaces, vertical clearances, service access and zone assignments without absorbing the crop or growing-system models.
- How much usable growing area and clearance does each zone provide, and how were they measured? measurement
- Which beds, benches or growing systems are linked components, and which aisles must remain available for access? boundary
Water distribution and removal
Identifies irrigation service boundaries, runoff routes and observed accumulation within the enclosure.
Greenhouse water paths
Record the zones served by irrigation connections, where drainage is directed and where leaks or ponding affect use.
- Which supply connections serve each growing zone, and where do drainage and recovered water leave the greenhouse? boundary
- Where have leaks, blocked drains or standing water been observed, and under what irrigation or rainfall conditions? measurement
- Which zone or water connection can be isolated while maintaining required service to the remaining growing areas? action
Cultivation readiness Combines enclosure condition, access controls and operational dependencies into a use-specific readiness assessment.
An agent must distinguish an occupied or equipped greenhouse from one that is ready for a particular cultivation operation.
Exposure and entry
Records relevant entry paths for people, materials and unwanted organisms, including their interaction with ventilation.
Entry and screening condition
Record doors, screens and designated movement routes, along with defects or procedures relevant to the assigned cultivation use.
- Which doors, vents and material-transfer points are subject to entry or screening requirements for the current use? boundary
- What inspection evidence identifies damaged screens, failed door closures or departures from the applicable entry procedure? provenance
Operating restrictions and recovery
Connects defects and service interruptions to restrictions, maintenance actions and return-to-use evidence.
Use-specific readiness
Record whether the greenhouse can support its specified use, which zones are restricted and what must be checked after repair or interruption.
- Which covering defects, weather-related damage or losses of climate and water services currently restrict cultivation or access? boundary
- What maintenance or recovery action is required, and who is authorised to perform it? action
- What inspection or operating evidence is required before the affected growing zone returns to its specified use? provenance
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
A model that cannot be lined up against existing standards, identifiers and practice cannot be adopted by anyone who already uses them.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Kinds and varieties
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Venlo greenhouse
- wide-span greenhouse
- multi-span plastic-film greenhouse (multi-tunnel)
- parral greenhouse
- high tunnel (hoop house)
- lean-to greenhouse
- high-tech climate-controlled production greenhouse
- greenhouse open to the public (garden-centre or botanical display)
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of greenhouse this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Wikidata - Q165044 - greenhouse, the horticultural building; aliases include glasshouse and hothouse
- OpenStreetMap - building=greenhouse - OSM building tag for mapped greenhouse structures
- Getty AAT - 300004938 - Art & Architecture Thesaurus id recorded on Wikidata
- GND - 4020816-3 - German Integrated Authority File
- LCSH - sh85057244 - Library of Congress Subject Heading for greenhouses
- ICS - 65.040.30 - ICS class used on EN 13031: greenhouses and other agricultural buildings
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of greenhouse this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- EN 13031-1:2019 Greenhouses - Design and construction - Part 1: Commercial production greenhouses (CEN; national adoptions include BS EN, DIN EN, NS-EN, NEN-EN, SIST EN)
- EN 13031-2:2024 Greenhouses - Design and construction - Part 2: Greenhouses open to the public (CEN)
- Eurocodes EN 1990 and EN 1991-EN 1999, cited by EN 13031-2 as the general structural design basis for public greenhouses (CEN)
- NGMA Structural Design Manual, intended to meet International Building Code structural criteria and ASCE 7 (National Greenhouse Manufacturers Association, USA)
- NGMA standards for greenhouse glazing, heat loss, and ventilating and cooling (National Greenhouse Manufacturers Association)
- DIN EN 13031-1 German national annex classifying production houses (e.g. A30/A15, B classes) and consequence classes CC1/CC0 (DIN)
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of greenhouse this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Professional year-round production of vegetables (tomato, cucumber, pepper) and ornamentals under glass or plastic, including large clusters such as the Dutch Westland Venlo houses and Almería multi-tunnel houses.
- Garden-centre and botanical-garden buildings used to exhibit, present or sell plants and therefore designed as greenhouses open to the public.
- Nursery production of liners, plugs and bedding plants with heating, shading and mechanical ventilation.
- University and breeding-station research glasshouses.
- Hobby and backyard houses, often lean-to or small free-standing kits, for season extension and overwintering.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of greenhouse this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- ridge or eave height (basic production greenhouse) - 2.4-6 - m
- ridge height (high-tech greenhouse) - 4.5-9 - m
- interior temperature class (cold / temperate / warm house) - <12; 12-18; >18 - °C
- design working life of the structure (EN 13031-1 classes) - 5, 10, 15 or 30 - year
- covering service life - PE film ~3; polycarbonate 10-15; acrylic ~20; glass >25 - year
- fan-and-pad design airflow - 8 cfm per ft² of floor (~0.041) - m³·s⁻¹·m⁻²
- pad-to-fan design temperature rise - ~4 (7 °F) - K
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of greenhouse this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Snow or wind collapse of lightweight film or parral frames, and cladding blow-off.
- Hail puncture of polyethylene film or rigid plastic covers.
- Overheating and crop loss when roof vents, fans or cooling pads fail on a high-radiation day.
- Frame displacement that cracks Type A (typically glass) cladding, a reason EN 13031-1 separates Type A from more flexible Type B film houses.
- Glass fall and public-safety risk in garden-centre and botanical houses, which is why Part 2 exists.
- Empirically sized foundations that are either under-designed or wasteful relative to soil mechanics.
- UV ageing and replacement of polyethylene film on a roughly three-year cycle.
- Fire: EN 13031-1 does not cover fire resistance, so fire performance must be taken from other building rules.
- Humid enclosed air that favours fungal disease and, with poor hygiene, pest outbreaks.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of greenhouse this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- United Kingdom and much of northern Europe: commercial production houses are often called glasshouses; greenhouse is the broader term covering hobby and commercial.
- Netherlands: the Venlo multi-span glass house (kas) is the default commercial form.
- Spain, especially Almería: historically the flat parral house, now largely gutter-connected multi-tunnel plastic houses (invernadero).
- German-speaking practice names houses by winter temperature: Kalthaus, temperiertes Haus, Warmhaus or Treibhaus.
- North America: high tunnel or hoop house is routinely distinguished from a greenhouse (unheated film over hoops versus a permanent heated, mechanically ventilated building).
- Mediterranean production is dominated by unheated or minimally heated plastic multi-spans; northern Europe is dominated by heated glass.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of greenhouse this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- high tunnel / hoop house / polytunnel - A high tunnel is a walk-in hoop frame, usually polyethylene, often unheated and without a permanent foundation; a greenhouse in the EN 13031 sense is a designed building with specified cladding, working life and, for Type A, tight limits on frame displacement.
- conservatory / orangery - A conservatory or orangery is historically a plant-overwintering room attached to a dwelling and is now often a furnished living space; a greenhouse's primary specified use is cultivation, not human occupancy.
- sunroom / solarium - A sunroom is glazed for people and may have an opaque or insulated roof; a greenhouse has a transparent roof specified to admit photosynthetically useful radiation.
- cold frame - A cold frame is a low, usually not-walk-in glazed box over a bed; a greenhouse is a building a person can work inside.
- shade house / screenhouse - A shade house uses net or lath to reduce solar radiation; a greenhouse uses transparent cladding to admit and trap it.
- growth chamber / phytotron - A growth chamber is an opaque, insulated cabinet whose light is artificial; a greenhouse uses the sun as the primary light source.
- atmospheric greenhouse effect - The planetary radiative process named by analogy; it is not a horticultural building (German usage keeps Glashauseffekt for the building's convective trap and Treibhauseffekt for the atmosphere).
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of greenhouse this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Sources
- EN 13031-2:2024 Greenhouses - Design and construction - Part 2: Greenhouses open to the public - CEN definition of a greenhouse as a building that optimises solar-radiation transmission for plants needing a regulated climate; split between production houses (Part 1) and houses open to the public (Part 2).
- BS EN 13031-1:2019 Greenhouses - Design and construction - Part 1: Commercial production greenhouses - Scope of the European structural standard for professional production greenhouses, including foundations, cladding of glass or plastic, and exclusion of fire-resistance rules.
- Greenhouse Structures (CCD-SP-01) - Practical distinction of low tunnel, high tunnel, basic greenhouse and high-tech greenhouse, with typical heights, glazing, heating and covering lifetimes.
- greenhouse (Q165044) - Canonical identifiers and aliases (glasshouse, hothouse) for the horticultural building.
- NGMA Structural Design Manual, Chapter 1 - Introduction - United States production-versus-commercial greenhouse design split and alignment with IBC and ASCE 7.
- Gewächshaus - German temperature classes (Kalthaus, temperiertes Haus, Warmhaus/Treibhaus) and the film-tunnel as a production form.
- Appendix E. Season Extenders and Greenhouses - The season-extender continuum from cloche and cold frame through high tunnel to greenhouse, and the walk-in unheated high tunnel as a neighbour rather than a full greenhouse.
- Standards for Ventilating and Cooling Greenhouses - Fan-and-pad design airflow of 8 cfm per square foot of floor and a typical pad-to-fan temperature rise of 7 °F.
What the second pass must settle
- Does this registry entry include polytunnels, hoop houses, cold frames and retractable-roof cultivation structures, or do neighbouring entries own some of them?
- Does an existing Vercy world model already own the greenhouse concept or any of the proposed greenhouse-specific bundles?
- What rule determines whether connected bays constitute one greenhouse or multiple linked greenhouse instances?
- Which environmental sampling locations, intervals and evidence standards are sufficient for the intended agent decisions?
- Which site-specific design limits, cultivation requirements and operating procedures govern weather response, service interruption and return to use?