Beyond Barriers

Q1.      What does an owner need to consider when choosing a fencing solution?

  A1: Perimeter fencing can meet many diverse needs. One needs to look at the most suitable system on the basis of a specific situation, the security level required and the risk assessment.

Briefly there are 5 criteria or “functionalities” of perimeter fencing as well as risk assessment that need to be considered. These are:

Demarcation:

Fences in the ‘demarcation’ category indicate a boundary. Consequently they have no dissuading or delaying effect. They only demarcate an area. The demarcation is only intended to show the public where your property begins or where an area ends.

Dissuasion:

Fences in the ‘dissuasion’ category have a clear aim. They prevent the intentional trespasser from crossing your boundary and fences in this category should therefore have a dissuasive effect. Dissuasive fences form a physical obstacle, which clearly indicates that entry is reserved to authorized persons only.

Delay:

Fences in the ‘delay’ category hinder entry and for that reason are considered ‘security fencing’. Delay is defined as the time the fence resists unauthorized entry. The required delay time is very much related to the security response time, the time needed for security services or police to respond. The longer the security response time, the larger the delay factor required. Tests by police departments have shown that the delay factor of high security fences must be over forty times greater than other systems. Speak to your local SAP office or security and armed response companies for advice on the crime that occurs in your area.

Questions to ask are: what kind of crime is prevalent? Does it occur during the day or in the evening? It is important to know what the SAP or armed response time to a call is as this will assist in determining the level of delay that the fence should provide.