High Security Wrought Iron Fence

When it comes to security, iron fence is your best bet.  Chain link can easily be climbed up, wood and vinyl can easily be broken and aluminum can have the pickets unscrewed and removed.  With iron, you have a fully welded fence panel with the strength to withstand a lot of abuse before failing.

However, the weak point becomes the panel to post connection.  In a standard iron fence installation, you have a bracket and a self-tapping screw holding the fence panels to the posts.  These screws can be backed out with common tools and the panel removed or entry gained.  In majority of residential fence installations, this is not something likely to occur.  But in a high security setting, this could be more crucial.  So what is the best way to make your iron fence more secure?

Welding the Panels to the Posts

This is a very strong setup that will essentially tie the entire fence system together into one unit.  The powder coat and galvanization is ground off the edge of the fence panel rails and the attachment point on the post and a weld joint the two together.

PROS

• Strongest way to tie the panels and posts together

• Makes the fence line one continuous piece that cannot be taken apart

CONS

• Requires someone with welding experience

• The protective powder coating and galvanization has to be ground off for a goo metal-to-metal weld.  While it can be painted back over, this will be a weak point in the finish

• Removal of panels or damaged pieces requires cutting the fence apart and re-welding it

Using Tamper-proof or Security Fasteners

Special fasteners are used in conjunction with the standard brackets.  These fastener screws have special shaped heads that require special drivers to tighten and loosen them.

PROS

• Allows for easier removal of individual panels if they need to be removed

• Requires special tools the common person does not own to back out the screws and gain access

• No marring of the powder coat and galvanization to use these

CONS

• Drivers to remove these are commercially available for purchase by individuals if they match them to the the head pattern

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As with any security installation, an overall understanding of what you are trying to prevent or keep out will dictate the best method to follow.  We are here to help guide you along the way as well.

If you have any questions on creating a security fence, feel free to call (800-261-2729) or email ([email protected]) us!