Palisade fencing is a popular type of security fencing often seen around commercial properties, utilities, and other sensitive sites in the UK. This style of fencing features tall, closely spaced vertical pales that create an imposing boundary while allowing visibility through the gaps. When considering security solutions, Aldershot fencing offers a range of options including palisade fencing that can be customized to fit the specific needs and requirements of your site.
Palisade fencing utilizes vertical steel or aluminum slats or pales that slot into rails along the top and bottom to create a tall, opaque perimeter barrier. The pales are typically 150-200mm wide and spaced approximately the same distance apart. The most common heights for palisade fencing range from 1.8m to 3.6m, though custom sizes are available.
Importance of Knowing the Weight
When planning a palisade fencing project, it is important to understand the weight of the materials that will be used. The weight impacts several practical considerations:
- Transportation and Handling: Heavier materials are more difficult to transport and require heavy machinery or additional labor to handle and install. Knowing accurate weights allows for proper planning.
- Foundations and Support Posts: The fence must be installed on footings and posts sturdy enough to support the cumulative weight without sinking or buckling. This affects material and labor costs.
- Security: Effective security boundaries require stability and strength to withstand impacts, climbing, or other physical security threats. Understanding the fencing’s weight gives insight into its durability.
- Cost: In general, heavier fence materials equate to higher costs due to transportation, foundations, and other weight-related considerations discussed above. Budgeting correctly requires accurate material weights.
Factors Influencing Palisade Fencing Weight
Several variables impact the weight of palisade fencing, including:
Material Composition
The two most common materials used in the manufacturing of palisade style fencing are steel and aluminum:
Steel
- Most common palisade fencing material
- Offers strength, security, and cost effectiveness
- Heavier than aluminum – steel carries more weight per linear meter
- Most steel palisade weighs between 20-30 kg per linear meter
Aluminum
- Lightweight alternative to steel
- Weighs approximately 50% less than steel
- More expensive material option
- Aluminum palisade fencing often weighs 10-15 kg per linear meter
Design and Dimensions
Beyond the core material used, customization of certain specifications also impacts the fencing weight:
Height
- Typical heights range from 1.8m to 3.6m+
- Taller fence heights equate to more material and weight
- Short ornamental styles can be under 20 kg per meter
Thickness
- Steel pale thickness is typically 1.5-2mm
- Thicker steels pales (2.5mm+) add weight
- Aluminum pales are approximately 1.25 – 1.5mm thick
Length of Panels
- Standard panels are 250cm (2.5m) long
- Longer, custom cut panels mean more material and weight
Coating and Finishing
Protective coatings and aesthetic finishes add some incremental weight:
Galvanized
- Zinc coating prevents long-term corrosion
- Adds minimal thickness and weight
Powder Coating
- Decorative, protective finish
- Can add up to 250 microns thickness
- Marginally increases overall fence weight
Average Weights of Palisade Fencing Types
To give more precise idea of common palisade fencing weights, the averages for standard steel and aluminum options are:
Steel Palisade Fencing
Standard Weight Range
- 1.8m high system – Approx. 25 kg p/m
- 2.4m high system – Approx. 30 kg p/m
- 3m high system – Approx. 35 kg p/m
- 3.6m high system – Approx. 40 kg p/m
So using 2.4m (8ft) high galvanized steel palisade fencing as a benchmark, an averaged weight would be around 30kg per linear meter.
That calculates to 120kg (264 lbs) per standard 2.5 m long fence panel section.
Variations Based on Dimensions
- As outlined previously, taller fence heights, thicker steels gauges, and other dimensional increases result in heavier fence weights
Aluminum Palisade Fencing
Lighter Weight Characteristics
- 1.8m high system – Approx. 15 kg p/m
- 2.4m high system – Approx. 18 kg p/m
- 3m high system – Approx. 22 kg p/m
- 3.6m high system – Approx. 25 kg p/m
So the benchmark 2.4m high aluminum palisade fence averages around 18 kg per linear meter, making it nearly 40% lighter than the steel equivalent.
Comparison with Steel Options
- At equivalent heights and specifications, aluminum palisade fencing is approximately 50% lighter than galvanized steel
- This comes at a higher material cost, but provides weight saving
Installation Considerations
The weight of palisade fencing materials impacts various practical factors related to handling, transportation and configuration:
Impact of Weight on Installation
Heavier palisade fencing requires more robust foundations and support from larger, more strongly posts anchored in concrete footings. This adds labor, equipment, and material costs to installation. Decking and, in some cases, small cranes or lifting apparatus may be needed for handling and fitting panels due to their combined size and weight.
Handling and Transportation
Single palisade fencing panels up to 3.6m tall can weigh over 100kg in steel. Handling these on site requires planning and potentially machinery. Transportation from manufactures in bundles with multiple panels may weigh several tons, often requiring flatbed trucks, trailers, or shipping containers. This logistics process needs to be accounted for.
Site-Specific Challenges
In some installations, the underlying terrain or site conditions limit accessibility for heavy machinery or make handling bulky panels near impossible without lightening individual sections. This is where choosing aluminum over steel could be beneficial despite the higher innate material cost. Slope changes, soft soils, elevated platforms, or restricted access points are all examples of challenging site factors.
FAQ Section
How is Palisade Fencing Weight Measured?
Palisade fencing weights are most often measured in kilograms per linear meter (kg p/m). This allows you to calculate the approximate weight for panels or runs of any length. Some manufacturers may also provide package weights for standard height panels or quote based on kg per square meter.
Does Coating Affect the Weight Significantly?
The application of coatings like galvanizing or powder coating do marginally increase the weight of palisade fencing. However, these finishes are very thin (250 microns max) so they add less than 5% to the overall weight in most cases. Their protective properties are more important than the negligible weight gain.
What Are the Industry Standards for Palisade Fencing Weight?
There are no formal “industry standards” governing weights, but rather longstanding conventions by material. For steel palisade fencing, weights between 20-30kg per linear meter are most common depending on height. For aluminum, the conventional range is 10-22kg under normal specifications.
Can Palisade Fencing Weight Impact Security?
Absolutely – heavier, sturdier fences make boundaries more difficult to breach. But excessive weight without proper footings and posts also means panels are prone to sinking, buckling or falling over if impacted or climbed. Specific securityapplications should balance strength with smart weight distribution through design.
How to Calculate the Total Weight for a Fencing Project?
The math is simple:
- Multiply fence height weight p/m x total linear meters needed
- Then calculate panel/post ratios and add foundations
- Use ranges above for estimates or get exact quotes from manufacturers
Are There Lightweight Alternatives for Specific Applications?
Yes, aluminum is lighter than steel by nearly half in most palisade fencing uses. However, it comes as increased cost. Other lightweight perimeter fence materials like welded mesh or railings could work for low security commercial sites where visibility is still important along boundary lines.
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