A penetration resistant fence, sometimes called an anti-cut fence, is a type of high security fence designed to prevent or delay breaching by an intruder using tools to cut the fence material and gain entry into a restricted access facility. This requires more robust fence materials than are used in residential fencing. A key characteristic of penetration resistant fencing is the aperture size and spacing of the openings in the infill/fence fabric. Very small apertures that are tightly spaced prevent breaching tools from getting any “bite” or leverage with which to bear down and cut the fence material.
They’re not exactly the same but very similar in that each requires the infill fabric to have very small, tightly spaced apertures. In the case of anti-cut fencing, this prevents or delays breaching using cutting tools. The small apertures also prevent finger and toe holds, making climbing extremely difficult if not impossible.
The Department of Defense refers to fence infill as “fence fabric”. This refers to the fencing material that actually creates the barrier between the panel’s frame posts and horizontal rails. Infill or fence fabric gives the fence its ‘look”. The most popular infill used is chain link because it is easy to install and very inexpensive. That’s great for residential and demark boundary fencing but not for high security, penetration resistant applications. Unless the chain link uses a very strong heavy gauge wire, it will not provide sufficient protection against intrusion. Most chain link can be breached in as little as 7 minutes.
However, there are many other infill options that satisfy high security requirements depending on your budget and the aesthetic considerations of your project. To delay or even prevent forced entry, there are several infill options that can be penetration resistant:
The main standard for high security fences is UFC 4-022-03: Security Fences and Gates. There are several test standards that apply to penetration resistant fences, including:
Typically, the minimum height for a security fence is six feet. However, many security fences are taller, ranging from 8 feet to 16 feet or more.
A clear zone is simply an area around the fence-line or perimeter that provides an unobstructed view to provide easier intrusion detection. Thus, clear zones work in combination with a penetration resistant fence to detect and then delay unauthorized entry into the property so that countermeasures can be initiated.
Security lighting is implemented to assist intrusion detection by making areas visible during the night. Security lighting is just one element of the physical perimeter security strategy and is designed to enhance detection.
Anti-cut fencing can be paired with intrusion detection equipment such as:
The following deterrents can be added to the fence top rail:
Protogetic.com has a large selection of anti-cut/penetration resistant fences from leading manufacturers as well as high security gates and access control systems to complete your perimeter security needs. Our easy to use, free product filter was designed by A&E for A&E so you can perform detailed searches and instantly find exactly what your project requires.
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