Design Considerations For Data Centre Perimeter Fencing

When designing your security fence, it is important to ensure it is up to the job and meet your requirements.

However, with a range of options on the market, how do you know which fence is right for your data centre?

It is important to consider a range of variables when specifying and designing your data centre security fence, to ensure it is right for your data centre and will meet the requirements to ensure the correct level of safety.

Read on to find out more….

Security Requirements

When designing your data centre fence it is important to consider your security requirements. By choosing the third party accredited security fencing you can be confident that it will do the job it’s meant to do. After all, only 5% of the products put forward for testing to the LPCB for LPS 1175 certification pass the physical test.

These accredited fences are tested rigorously to ensure they meet appropriate standards, and they can protect your data centre to the necessary level.

It’s also worth considering how much the aesthetics of your fence need to deter people.

Palisade fencing has a more intimidating look, due to its spiked pales, whilst mesh has a more friendly look, which is better suited for built-up areas.

If you’re looking for hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) solution, but you have limited space or you would like it to be subtle. You could look at HVM fencing such as StronGuard RCS which has been impact tested to stop a 7.5tonne vehicle at 30mph.

Sloping Ground (Topography)

The topography of the ground can have an impact on your design considerations.

When it comes to sloping ground and security fences, it is best to use palisade fencing. This is due to it being delivered as individual elements to you, and therefore you can have it fitted to the way the ground flows.

When using mesh fencing on sloping ground, you tend to leave gaps beneath the fence or you have to step the fence, burying sections of the fence into the ground. This is because the mesh panels come as a sheet, rather than individual elements.

You also need to consider the ground conditions, as the ground conditions may affect the footings of the fence. e.g. additional footings may be required in soft ground to ensure the fence is stable and won’t move.

Location Of Your Data Centre

Location can play a huge part in the design consideration stage, as certain locations may need extra security when compared to others.

For example, a data centre located next to the main road will need HVM protection, whereas one in a remote area may not, due to the likelihood of an attack or accidental crash happening is significantly lower.

When planning your security, it is important to think about the likelihood of an attack for your data centre, and every case will have different requirements.

The Supply Of Your Entrance Security

Fencing has apertures to allow for entry and exit to the site. It’s important to ensure that the gates, barriers and turnstiles used to secure the entrances and exits meet the same security level as the fence.

It’s a good idea for the fencing and entrance security to come from the same place. This will ensure that aesthetically they match seamlessly and that they have been designed to integrate, the one supplier will tell you how this works as a complete package.

As if purchased from all over the place, you may leave weak points in your fence, as they may not all be up to the same standard, or they may not integrate in practice.

Barker’s fencing has a wide range of security solutions for your data centre, ranging from fencing and gates to turnstiles and barriers, giving you a single contact for all your security fencing needs.

Conclusion

When specifying your data centre security fence is it important to ensure that it has been designed and specified to the highest standard, and to also ensure it matches your data centres requirements, to ensure you get the best value for your investment.

Many things are needed to be considered when specifying your data centre fences, such as location, perceived risk, and required ratings.

If you’re still unsure of your specification needs, get in touch for your free, no-obligation site survey, to find the right security fence to meet your needs.

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Russell Ridgway

Russell’s security career began in 2006 when Barkers were tasked to develop a highly secure fence to prevent security breaches at a high profile mine in Papua New Guinea.

At the time Russell was managing Barkers Fastener division, playing a pivotal role in the development of StronGuard. Due to the success of StronGuard, Russell became Business Development Director for our high security products.