A hive frame is a removable wooden or plastic frame on which bees build comb inside a hive, and its interchangeability is what makes modern colony inspection, disease control and centrifugal honey extraction practicable at commercial scale.
In trade practice
During harvest, frames carrying capped honey are removed from the super, uncapped with a heated knife or roller, and placed in a centrifugal extractor; frames from the brood chamber are not used for harvested honey. Keeping brood and honey frames separate is a basic hygiene requirement that auditors verify during apiary visits. Wax foundation used in frames can be a source of pesticide contamination if recycled wax is not tested, and some buyers specify that new foundation must be used each season. Frame condition and cleanliness are noted in apiary inspection records.
In a specification
A supplier quality requirement may state that honey frames must be free from brood residue and that wax foundation must originate from tested, uncontaminated wax, with records available on request.