The AŽ Hives currently in use in Slovenia are, more or less, the identical design in use for over 100 years. They feature rear-door access for the beekeeper, two or three-levels for frames, and are designed to be placed into a secondary structure to protect the hives. There is no lifting required to manage AŽ hives, apart from removing the individual frames, which typically weight around six pounds.  The hives are a particularly good choice for individuals with physical limitations, as they can be adapted to nearly any structural design the beekeeper chooses.