Tips for commercial property owners and businesses.
Commercial fencing installation around a property is a big step toward security, especially since there were 17,296 breaking and entering incidents in New South Wales from July 2021 to June 2022. While this is a 10.7% drop versus the numbers from five years ago, it is still best to protect property.
Fencings are a great way to secure a property, whether a campus, a school, or a commercial space. Apart from keeping out of danger, they also prevent children, pets, and seniors from wandering outside. Installing commercial fencing around a property can also provide privacy.
What to consider before a commercial fencing installation?
There are many benefits to installing a commercial fence for a property. However, one should take note of the considerations prior to a commercial fencing installation.
1. Check the local policies.
NSW officials remind their residents to refer to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (the State Policy). The policy indicates standards specific to fence installation in the region.
In general, fencing that complies with the following requirements are exempted from securing planning or building approval:
- The gates should not open outwards.
- Non-combustible materials should be used for fences that will be installed in bushfire-prone lands.
- If the fencing has metal parts, these should be low reflective, factory pre-coloured materials.
- Residential, industrial, or business zones cannot be allowed to have electrical fences. They also cannot have fences constructed out of barbed wires. Only fences that will be installed in zone R5 is exempted from these policies.
- Additional guidelines are in place for fencing that needs to be built in koala habitat areas or in movement corridors. One must check with their council for additional controls.
Take note of these additional requirements in order to be considered exempt development in the business and industrial zones:
- Fences should have a maximum height of 3 metres. If it is built from masonry, it can only go as high as 1.2 metres.
- For areas that are beside a residential zone, 75% of the fence should be transparent. The transparent part should start above the 1.8m height of the fence.
- For fences that will be built along a boundary with or in the setback area of a road, 75% of it should be transparent. The transparent part should start above the 1.2m height of the fence.
2. Identify the property’s correct demarcations.
Avoid starting a commercial fence installation without determining the property demarcations first. This avoids any inconveniences in the future should the fence happen to go beyond the property line. Moreover, moving a newly installed fence somewhere else is expensive and cumbersome.
3. Set a budget for the commercial fencing installation.
Identifying a budget will determine the type of material to use for the installation. It all boils down to how much one is willing to spend. Some property owners consider the material as the ultimate deciding factor.
Setting a budget early on will also help make sure that the installation process goes smoothly.
4. Determine the perfect fencing material for the property.
There are many fencing materials available in the market. It can get overwhelming but taking into consideration relevant factors may help in making a decision.
Apart from the budget, the functionality of the fencing will also determine the type of material to use. For example, chainwire fencing is an excellent all-around material whether it is for a school, a residential estate, or business establishment. They also work well as animal enclosures, sporting grounds fences, parking lot fencing, and swimming pool enclosures. On the other hand, press-formed spear-top fencing is best for schools. It helps stop intruders from getting in and vandalising the school grounds.
5. Install the gates at the same time as the fence.
Plan the installation properly and ensure that the gates are installed together with the fence. This way, the gates would go together with the overall look of the fence.
Do this by choosing a suitable material for the gate when deciding on the material for the fence. There are many gate materials to consider, like aluminium, timber, and even wrought iron gates.
Check also with the fencing specialist if they have different options for opening the gate. However, this will be dependent on the functionality of the enclosure. A swipe card, keypad access, or a remote is also a good choice. Automation is also possible using solar-powered motors.
6. Childproof both the fencing and the gate.
Childproofing the fence and the gate is a must. This is regardless of whether the property owner intends to keep children inside or outside their property.
Children are always curious and may wander anywhere in or out of the property. They may go to places they are not supposed to go, like pools, sports grounds, and other high-risk areas.
Fences and gates should also be safe for pets and wild animals.
7. Confirm if there is a product guarantee.
Just like most products, fencing products also come with a guarantee. Again, it is best to discuss this with the fence provider to check if they offer one. If they said yes, one should also ask for the duration of the guarantee.
8. Get in touch with professionals for commercial fencing installation.
Don’t just get anybody to do the commercial fencing installation. Remember that fences are meant to keep the property safe and secured. Therefore, it is crucial that only professionals work on the installation.
Professional fencing specialists will install the fences and gates properly and quickly. They also offer a warranty on their projects. So, in case something goes wrong with the newly installed fence, the property owner can just call them for help.
Only trust the professionals for commercial fencing installation.
Chainwire Fencing designs, fabricates, and installs fences and gates in Newcastle and Hunter Valley. We can manufacture and install different kinds of fences depending on what the property needs. Call us today on 02 4023 5416 or email admin@chainwire-fencing.com to discuss your next project.