The past ten years in the fencing industry has been remarkably transformative. From new legislation to drive higher standards in public safety to innovation in sustainable manufacturing, the industry has modernised and streamlined to meet the demand of its customers and the market.
In this blog, we will look at the drivers for innovation that have shaped the fencing market and share our views on what the future holds for the industry.
The evolution of fencing innovation
Buying habits have changed and every industry has been affected. In the fencing industry, manufacturers and suppliers have had to evolve based on changing customer trends the desire for more environmentally friendly products, the need to comply with legislation and industry standards and even a change in how buildings and public spaces are utilised. All have created both challenge and opportunity for the industry, and it has responded with enthusiasm.
Legislation
Whilst the industry has always been governed by standards, there has been less of an obligation regarding legal requirements. The Occupiers’ Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984 set out the duty of care owed to visitors and people not invited or permitted to be in premises, respectively, and there are various pieces of legislation that guide how buildings more generally need to be treated regarding perimeter security (Building Regulations 2010 and Defective Premises Act 1972), but nothing particularly recent.
Industry accreditations
The performance expectations of perimeter fencing vary depending on a number of factors, but for the most demanding of high-security installations, it’s crucial that the fencing panels can perform as specified. In the last ten years, organisations including the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and BRE Group have focused on developing guidance, standards and accreditations that are designed to ensure that where a standard of security performance is stated, that it can deliver.
BRE Group particularly, through its Loss Prevention Certification Board, has identified a manual forced entry test standard that defines the security performance of a fencing product and with it, certification requirements that must be met to claim compliance with it.
LPS 1175 was introduced in the mid-1990s. LPS 1175 is a standard defining how a physical security product’s capacity to delay forced entry is determined. Products’ resistance to forced entry are rated according to the delay they provide, taking into consideration the type, size and power of tools used and the potential time an intruder will risk spending when attempting to gain entry. The introduction of requirements for perimeter products such as fences and gates within Issue 6 (2007) signalled a revolutionary change from the design-based specifications defined within the BS 1722 series of fencing standards. Many manufacturers quickly discovered fences were vulnerable to entry within 1 minute using simple tools. In particular, this led to innovations in terms of the types of fixing used to assemble fencing systems but also highlighted the vulnerabilities present in some then typical designs of palisade fences, railings and weld mesh. This very quickly led to the development of far more secure options that drew on the aesthetics end users had been accustomed to but provided in formats that offered significantly greater delays to a variety of entry methods.
Issue 8 is the latest edition. It was published in January 2019 and introduced significant changes to the rating system. Its two-part classification allows for variations in the type of tool an assailant might use and the delay achieved by the product in minutes. This change means there are potentially multiple ways a specifier can achieve the desired delay and importantly for the fencing industry, creates more opportunity when it comes to product development.
A more sustainable approach
In recent years the corporate world has become more aware than ever of the impact it has on the environment around us. Being a more sustainable citizen has raised the agenda of many organisations, including those in many commercial sectors such as construction and infrastructure.
For the fencing industry, there are three emerging areas of focus that can make a real difference:
1. The manufacturing processes
2. Product material and design
3. Distribution
The manufacturing process for fencing is machine intensive, meaning it uses a high volume of energy. Innovation in the industry has led to two major developments – using renewable energy to provide energy for manufacturing facilities and a focus on machine design so that processes are quicker, more efficient and as a result, less reliant on heavy energy use.
When it comes to material and design, many fencing manufacturers are committed to sourcing responsibly. For timber products, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) both offer recognised certification programmes to demonstrate a commitment to eco-friendly timber sourcing, whilst all manufacturers are able to align to the requirements of the Environmental and Sustainability Standard BES 6001: Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing (Issue 4.0), most recently updated in November 2022. Many companies are also looking at their processes and ways of working to make them more efficient, including addressing waste materials and using treatment processes that have a less harmful impact on the environment.
Sustainable distribution of fencing products is a challenge across the industry as many manufacturers and suppliers offer national coverage. Both carbon offsetting and more responsible logistics to actively reduce emissions are schemes that many organisations adopt to reduce their carbon footprint.
Meeting the efficiency challenge
Customers of the fencing industry have the difficult task of needing to combine the highest quality fencing possible to meet the requirements of their specific security challenges whilst also looking for cost-effective solutions that are within the set budget.
In recent years, the industry has welcomed this challenge and many manufacturers and suppliers now offer a range of options to meet the desired specifications at different price points. Decisions around coating type, panel dimensions and overall quantity will all have an impact on cost but with more products now readily available as standard, it is increasingly possible to achieve the safety requirements needed from a perimeter system without breaking the budget.
The future of fencing innovation
With demand for commercial fencing and perimeter systems showing no signs of slowing down, it’s up to the industry to continue delivering innovations. Some of this will be driven by legislation and accredited bodies, but alongside this there is a lot that can be driven from within the industry.
Sustainability will continue to be a key area of focus. Investment in end-of-life treatment for fencing systems, as well as how systems can be recycled or repurposed is likely to both reduce waste and increase lifespan. As technology advances, the process of manufacturing many types of panels will become more efficient, reducing the burden on energy consumption and the environment.
Technology is also likely to be an emerging influencer in fencing products. In 2011, the first virtual fencing technology was sold commercially for use in agriculture, encouraging more sustainable meat production as well as removing all the traditional environmental consequences of a more traditional perimeter system. Combined with the power of AI, which could transform traditional security measures, the potential for technology in the industry is huge.
Fencing design is also an area of opportunity. With innovation in man-made materials as well as the manufacturing process, new base materials could lead to developments in the construction and end product of a fencing panel, or even less focus on panels and a shift towards holistic perimeter systems. As part of this, the evolution of standards that measure the security effectiveness of a fencing system will also drive innovations as businesses seek to find new and creative ways to deliver the required performance levels.
Areas of development
Perimeter barriers that can effectively defend against combined threats – for example, fences should serve multiple purposes, like combining hostile vehicle mitigation with forced entry protection. In the United States, there’s a growing demand for fences that guard against ballistics and manual break-ins. The Middle East has expressed interest in fences resistant to RPG and manual attacks. Closer to home, many are looking for ways to protect assets from criminal gangs who use petrol-driven tools like grinders. These tools are highly effective, posing a significant challenge for those designing fencing systems. We must balance the need for reasonable delay, cost, aesthetics, and the ability to install intrusion detection systems while ensuring reliable intrusion detection.
Talk to us about supporting your next project
Fencing structures and perimeter systems are more than just simple panels. Specifications need to involve size and strength, purpose, required security standards and an understanding of how location and use can impact material and coating choice. accreditations such as the SR Ratings and LPS 1175 are important to understand for high-capacity venues and high-security installations and purchasing decisions are best made with the assistance of an expert partner. With the innovation emerging in the industry, you may be surprised at what’s available.
Talk to us today about the range of fencing panels we have on offer to support your next project. You can call us on 01484 401610 or fill in our quick contact form here and we’ll get straight back to you.
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