The wrong fencing selection can be a burden that lasts well past its useful date. A boundary may need a secure perimeter for half a year, while industrial facilities require stable, continuous site boundaries to operate for far longer than any temporary perimeter fence would likely last. Confusing the needs of either can compromise the access control provided and require repeated adjustments to the perimeter layout.
The selection between temporary and permanent fencing has far less to do with the intrinsic strength of either system and more to do with their life expectancy, expected alterations, and the need for adaptability at the worksite.
When Does Temporary Fencing Make More Sense?
Temporary fencing is usually the clear choice whenever the perimeter is only likely to be needed for the duration of a project and/or the construction does not provide a lasting, stable ground for a permanent fence to be installed on.
Construction sites will tend to see the greatest degree of utility from removable perimeter fencing, as excavations, storage zones, work areas, and roads-to-be change with shifting project timelines. Fencing that does not require permanent ground anchors or adjustments when new structures replace roadways or parking lots is likely to give the most satisfaction when the job is finished.
Perimeter fencing to secure or mark controlled-access work sites, periods of industrial activity, events, utility work, and other temporary construction activities also benefits from speed of installation. Temporary fencing made of modular fence panels allow a secure boundary to take shape without the digging and permanent installation of more fixed systems.
There is no automatic rule dictating that temporary fencing installations be less strong or durable.
EMC’s 240-foot industrial site fence fencing systems are designed to allow temporary installments on work sites; they stretch 24 ft long per every 10 ft by 7 ft panel and 25 total posts and couplers included. Our company recommends this fence system to erect on construction sites, manufacturing facilities, or temporary-perimeter purposes.
When Does Permanent Fencing Make More Sense?
A permanent fence can give a property owner or industrial facility a secure and lasting perimeter that will not have to be adjusted, repaired, or replaced without a long period of time. This is best suited to industrial manufacturing facilities, warehouses, commercial properties, farms, and other private property where the ground area to be marked is not likely to change for several years.
Permanent boundary fencing systems have the capacity to act as stable and aesthetically pleasing architecture that will retain its condition over generations. This can be ideal for properties likely to be seen from the road and/or where pedestrians, drivers, livestock, or neighbors can pass within viewing or interacting distance.
The EMC Industrial collection are made up ornamental steel fence systems, including fence panels and gates, meant for commercial and industrial property boundaries. One 168-ft sample panel setup incorporates twenty 8-by-6-ft steel panels and two swing gates.
There is still the need to carefully plan out a permanent perimeter fencing installation. Foundation preparation, ground and post reinforcement, property boundary markings, and access gates must all be carefully planned. Permanent fencing must also take future modifications and continued maintenance into account. The ability to extend or shorten the length of the fence is a feature generally missing on fixed systems once the installation is complete.
How Long the Site Is in Effect May Be the Largest Influence
The length of the project a fence is needed for may provide the simplest rule of thumb for whether temporary or permanent fencing makes more sense.
For a short-lived project or one nearing completion, temporary fencing prevents the waste of spending the capital on infrastructure to be taken down and sold off later. Modular panels also offer far greater flexibility if a construction site changes throughout its progress. The expected lifetime of a property, warehouse, or commercial business installation dictates whether the initial expenses and reduced long-term maintenance costs make temporary or permanent boundary fences more practical.
Duration does have a major influence but there is also a middle ground to set up initial work sites and roadways before constructing a permanent system. Perimeter fencing for construction sites is sometimes installed as a temporary system until the roads, parking lots, building entrances, and other details take shape. The shift to a lasting, more sturdy fixed fence can also be justified when the construction project itself is designed to become a permanent structure or building.
Consider How Access to the Site Will Need to Change
A perimeter fencing system does little on its own if work sites, entrances, access gates, or other openings to either side cannot be properly formed on the schedule.
Temporary work fencing often requires such access adjustments as the work site evolves. Vast excavations might require temporary widening before backfilling; parking lots may need to be placed to meet new local roadways. The ability to add or rearrange access gates and temporary opening solutions allows a construction site to be better organized.
Permanent fencing requires careful planning to allow space and openings for vehicles to turn-around, personnel and equipment to enter and exit, and the appropriate number of personnel, pedestrian traffic, and gates to be built. The overall span and height of the fence is only a small part of the access and traffic control equation. The choice between individual locks and security gates to doors and security doors must also be considered.
Temporary Perimeter Fencing vs Permanent Fencing: What About Security?
There is another important difference between temporary and permanent perimeter fencing systems: the need for security, and the potential to act as a deterrent to trespassing or unwanted intrusion. The needs of these two different fences are separate functions that may require vastly different solutions.
A temporary system may only have the function of keeping pedestrians out of the way of dangerous equipment, work sites, or the construction. In that role, the need for speed of installation or adjustments to the access points may outweigh concerns about elegance or durability.
Permanent fence options serve both as boundaries and long-term access gates. They are built to last for decades or beyond. The ability to adjust the fence height, distance between panels, and the overall height of the fence system must be considered in terms of the level of threat.
Installation and Lifespan Cost: Which Option Fits the Budget?
Comparing the purchase price for a 600-ft roll of temporary boundary tape to a 600-ft roll of polyethylene temporary fence slats misses some of the most important considerations.
Temporary and permanent fencing options each have pluses over the other lifespan and project requirements will determine which will be more suited to the job.
Temporary fences tend to be cheaper for short jobs since their lifespan is far shorter, but they may also incur hidden costs in terms of installation labor, time consuming adjustments throughout the project, and limited re-sale value after the job is complete. Their value lies in flexibility and the elimination of digging and/or permanent adjustment. Permanent fences, meanwhile, last far longer but must be carefully planned before installation begins.
Maintenance costs such as regular fence system inspections, repainting or replacing weather damaged posts, and gate mechanisms must also be considered. Steel construction, paint finish, fence height, and distance between panels must all be considered in light of local weather and security concerns.
So, Should You Install Temporary or Permanent Fencing?
Temporary fencing is not necessarily the stronger choice compared to permanent fence options. Either choice has advantages and drawbacks based on the needs and circumstances of the site.
Temporary and permanent fencing each bring unique advantages to the worksite.
A temporary system is best for worksites and temporary site boundaries where the job cannot last for several years. A permanent fence is a better choice when the property has been set in stone for far longer than the temporary system can hold.
The project timeline and access gate requirements is more crucial than any assessment of which fence is stronger.