As a site manager or business owner, you’re responsible for securing your facilities against break-ins, theft, and vandalism. The first line of defense for your facility is a perimeter security fence.
Choosing the best security fence for a commercial building involves many options and considerations. This guide to security fence ideas will discuss some critical factors for security planning and the relative strengths of various security fences.
The 5 D’s of an Effective Perimeter Security
There are five factors to consider for securing a facility. These “five D’s” are deter, detect, delay, deny, and defend.
1. Deter
The primary goal of an effective security fence is deterrence. Your fence is a physical barrier separating the outside world from your property. The level of deterrence the fence provides needs to align with your security needs.
For example, you might secure a public park with a low iron or wire mesh security fence. This type of fencing is a good option for securing a large area and deterring, but not denying, entry (anyone who wants to enter the property can jump the fence).
High-security facilities require a different level of protection. You might install a six-foot-high high-tensile steel perimeter fence topped with razor wire. CCTV cameras and security lighting add another layer of deterrence.
2. Detect
A good security fence provides clear surveillance sight lines (people can see through the fence). That allows security guards patrolling the interior or exterior of the property a clear view of what is happening on the other side of the fence. You can use palisade fencing, 356 and 358 fencing, or mesh panel fencing to secure the perimeter of your facility.
Clear site lines mean you can monitor both sides of the fencing with security lighting and CCTV cameras. You can easily mount CAST security lighting systems to provide detection to your security fencing. For example, the CAST Perimeter® CPL2 Series Lights is a low-voltage lighting system that illuminates a diameter of 40 feet inside and outside the fence line.
Additionally, include proper security lighting, surveillance cameras, and motion sensors to cover blind spots. These are the areas intruders are most likely to focus on.
3. Delay
No security fence is impenetrable. An effective perimeter security fence delays entry to your property. There are various ways to delay intruders.
Secure fencing, like a high-tensile steel palisade, is resistant to cutting tools and won’t break when rammed. A security fence with these properties will be difficult to destroy. Of course, it’s higher-priced. Mesh fencing, on the other hand, is much cheaper but easier to cut.
A tall security fence that is difficult to scale will also delay entry to your property. The recommended height for high-security properties is six feet and above. You can install an anti-climb fence to make it hard to scale.
Layers of perimeter security can also delay entry. For example, you might install a double layer of fences. You might see this form of perimeter fencing at highly secure facilities.
For lighting, consider the CAST Perimeter® Infrared Night Owl. You can easily integrate these lights with your surveillance system. The lights have a feature that temporarily blinds and disorients intruders.
4. Deny
It’s best to think of your perimeter fence as one layer of an integrated security system. Additional components of the security system include security lighting, motion detectors, CCTV, and security guards.
It is almost impossible for anyone to enter your facility undetected when all the layers of security work together. Conduct regular security reviews if you’re maintaining a secure facility. This will help you identify weak spots and keep your security team on its toes.
5. Defend
The final consideration for an effective perimeter fence is defense. Your security team or the police should be able to catch anyone trespassing or attempting to trespass on your facility before they do any damage or steal goods.
With well-designed layers of security, ample time will be available to apprehend intruders. Real-time monitoring via CCTV is crucial during this stage. Remember, most break-ins occur at night.
Assuming you have high-fidelity CCTV, advances in facial recognition technology mean you can accurately match the captured images of intruders with their identities. This will help you swiftly identify and apprehend culprits. With a system like the CAST Infrared Night Owl, you’ll be in the best position to capture intruders by using security lights that illuminate them.
Security Fence Regulations
Check relevant regulations and guidelines before installing a security fence. Local building regulations provide details like the type of fence you can install, building materials, lighting, and other factors.
Always check with local authorities or a professional to ensure your security fence ideas meet height, material, and design standards. Failure to comply with local or state regulations may result in legal consequences alongside the cost of modifying your fence.
Types of Security Fences
You’ve identified the need for a security fence around your property. Now we’ll give an overview of the different commercial security fencing options. They include palisade fences, welded mesh fences, and chain link fences.
1. Palisade Fences
Palisade fences are made of steel and consist of vertical pales or pickets attached to horizontal rails. This type of fence offers a high level of security and is hard to climb. You can go for either a bolted or welded palisade fencing system.
Review your needs before choosing a palisade fence. For example, companies like Ameristar offer fencing solutions like Impasse 2. You can choose between Gauntlet, Trident, and Stronghold fencing.
Meanwhile, companies like Perimeter Security provide fencing like the IFI-14 Palisade. This welded system is topped with a double gauntlet and integrated with climber deterrence. The feature set makes it best suited for high-value facilities.
In general, palisade fences are harder to breach. They don’t require infills and are hard to climb. They are also easy to install since they can easily be adjusted to follow the contours of your property.
2. Welded Mesh Fences
Welded mesh fences are constructed by welding vertical and horizontal wires together. There are only small apertures between the wires, making it much harder for intruders to climb the fence since it reduces handholds.
The welded fence panels are rigid. They don’t require horizontal rails for extra support. On the flip side, welded mesh fences are considered hard to install, especially on a slope.
Most of the various welded mesh fence designs offer a similar feature set: hard to cut, hard to climb, and resistant to vandalism. There are some innovations in this space, like the Securifor® 2D double wire mesh system pioneered by Betafence.
3. Chain-Link Fences
Chain-link fencing is made of interlocking steel wires that form a diamond pattern. This type of fencing is the most popular choice for commercial properties because of the price. However, chain-link fences provide only moderate security.
You can strengthen a chain-linked fence by adding barbed wire at the top and a bottom rail or grade beam. Adding CCTV cameras and perimeter security lighting provides another layer of security to your facility.
In Closing
Investing in a high-quality security fence is a proactive step toward protecting your property and ensuring the safety of its occupants.
To choose the perfect security fence for your property, first consider your security needs, then explore the key design features and types of fences we’ve discussed above. Remember to comply with local regulations.
Doing this will help you make an informed decision that aligns with your specific security requirements and gives you peace of mind 24/7.
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CAST Perimeter® CPL2 Light
