Secure Protection
Security fencing is erected to either protect items on your property from being stolen, or vandalised, or to protect people from hurting themselves in an accident on your property when nobody is there. Security fences have become a fact of life for most businesses, particularly if they keep anything outside the buildings in the yards, such as heavy equipment. Even churches are having their grounds surrounded by security fencing to keep vandals out. Thieves like to steal air conditioners and copper wire. It seems nothing is sacred anymore.
The Location
If you are contemplating a security fence, you need to work out where it’s going to be erected. If the ground is rocky, or uneven, it might pose some problems come installation. If you don’t mind a bit of labour, you can even out the ground where the fence will be placed, otherwise the contractors will charge you a lot more for that anyway.
Fencing Material
You have to decide what type of fence you want – made of steel, aluminium, steel mesh or chain link, which we call cyclone fencing. Chain link can be cut with bolt cutters, but you can’t cut steel and aluminium so easily. Well, not at all with bolt cutters. Cost comes into play when you are deciding on the materials for your security fence. Weigh up the cost with the level of protection you require.
If you are only wanting to keep your air conditioner safe from theft, then wire mesh surrounds will do the trick. You just have to make sure that you make allowances for maintenance such as cleaning and re-gas.
Level of Security
As well as the materials, another decision is the height. The higher the fence the better the security. But the higher the fence the higher the cost! That decision will be based on your desired security level. For a residential fence, you might not be allowed to go higher than 1.8 metres anyway. For your business, you get what you pay for and you get the protection you pay for. So the things to consider:
- Is the fence going to be climbable?
- Will animals (and desperate people) be able to dig under it?
Answers to these questions will help you decide on your security fence.
Access Gates
Do you need a gate? A narrow personnel gate or one that allows vehicle access? What about motion detectors and security lighting operated by motion sensors? Will the gate be locked by chain and padlock or some other style of locking system? Will the gate be a sliding gate on rails, or a hinged gate that swings open?
The best way to help you decide is to meet with and chat to the fencing expert. Let them make recommendations based on your requirements and budget.
Remember: A security fence is a barrier between what you have and the people who want what you have.
