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PDF NEWSLETTERS FOR CHAIN LINK FENCING
NEWS ON STANDARDS
Due to funding changes within Standards Australia, future industry standards including those produced by Standards Australia for the fencing industry will require a level of industry funding support for their development and publication.
Mr Adrian O’Connell, GM Operations at Standards Australia, has assured the Association that in the case of the current review of AS1725-2003, Standards Australia is committed to supporting this project until the end of June 2010.
The CE-008 committee consisting of a number of fencing members as well as other industry representatives has indicated that the five part document is in final proof reading prior to release for public comment. Chairman Ray Otter is confident that we will make the deadline announced by Standards.
eNEWS- The Australian Chain link Fencing
Association's electronic news update
revision of chain link fabric security fencing
australian standard 1725 - 2003
Work on the revised draft for the Chain Link Fencing Standard AS1725 has been steadily progressing over recent months. The draft and diagrams for tennis courts, cricket net enclosures and sports ground low level fencing will be combined with the existing security fencing and gates section for submission to Standards Comittee CE008 for consideration. These drafts have been circulated to a number of industry members as well as sporting bodies for comment and the feedback incorporated into the current document.
Since completing the initial draft, the Association has become aware that many City Councils, as part of their duty of care, are requiring high screen fencing on the perimeters of parkland and sporting grounds. The absence of practical, easily constructible designs has also been recognised.
It was determined by our draft working group that an additional section should be added to the fencing standard to cover this gap. This additional section would include designs for high screen sports fences.
Currently a consulting engineer, conversant with preparing Australian Standards, has been commissioned by the Association to prepare computations and a series of designs which would be suitable for high screen sports fences. These designs will be tabled and discussed at our fencing seminar in October on the Gold Coast.
Left: An example of a screen fence that did not meet the expectations of its designer.
Below: Photo illustrates a practically designed, high screen fence that was easy to construct, had a minimum footprint, yet met the design requirements.
AUSTRALIAN TEMPORARY FENCING AND HOARDING STANDARD
The new Standard AS 4687-2007 for Temporary fencing and hoardings was released by Standards Australia in October 2007. Copies of the new standard are now available online from www.sai-global.com.
The Association would like to thank Andrew Lee, Lee Bros Fencing, who chaired the Standards Committee and his colleagues on the temporary fencing working group who guided the various drafts through the review processes.
The Association is currently undertaking a campaign to make Municipal Councils and Statutory bodies aware of the new Standard.
An audit is proposed of our temporary fencing members to ensure that their fencing system complies with the Australian Standard and they hold current OHS and adequate public liability insurance. On completion of this audit, the Association will vigorously promote the services of our members, as the preferred contractors, to the construction, entertainment and events industries.
The Standard sets out a series of tests to ensure that the system meets the Australian Standard and is stable under loads likely to be imposed on it. More information on testing regimes for suppliers and manufacturers of temporary fencing can be sourced from:
Rod Wilkie - Melbourne Testing Services – (03) 9560 2759
rodwilkie@melbtest.com.au
or
Vince Higginbotham - Testsafe Australia – (02) 4724 4900 vince.higginbotham@workcover.nsw.gov.au
Tests include a wind force overturing test designed to establish that
the fencing system is capable of withstanding an applied horizontal force equivalent to the regional design wind speed specified in table 4.5 of the Standard.
Another test involves the aperture size of the temporary panels, requiring that a 76mm x 76mm block does not pass through the opening of the infill material. Use of building reinforcing mesh as a temporary fencing solution now fails to meet the Australian Standard.
For more information on the Standard contact: Brian Mullarvey (03) 9857 4305 or email: brian@wireassociation.com.au
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Dated: September 2007
Fencing Defects
From time to time the Chain Link Fencing Association has received complaints from organisations and consumers about defects and poor workmanship on chainlink security and sporting fencing projects.
The Association has decided to conduct an awareness campaign directed at Architects, Engineers and specifiers alerting them to the Australian Standard AS 1725 -2003; specifically Section 4 which deals with installation requirements to meet the Australian Standard.
The campaign will also publicise that members of this Association guarantee to install fencing in accordance with the Standard unless specifically directed to do other wise and that all work performed by certified members carries a 12 month warranty period.
Dated: September 2007
Testing to Meet New Temporary Fence Standards
The release of Australian Standard AS 4687 Temporary Fencing and Hoardings will raise the bar for manufacturers and temporary fencing contractors in Australia.
Apart from the general requirements for construction, storage, installation, and maintenance, temporary fencing will need to meet specific performance criteria if they are to meet the AS 4687 requirements.
The specified performance criteria essentially relates to the safety attributes of temporary fencing and are designed to provide minimum standards of compliance for manufacturers and contractors.
The key performance attributes as detailed in AS 4687 are listed as follows:
* Rigidity of the fence infill materials and connection devices
* Toughness of welded and bolted connections on the fence’s framework
* Stability of the fence when subjected to impact loads of moving objects
* Resistance to overturning from attempts to climb the fence
* Deterrent attributes of the fence infill to curb attempts to climb the fence
* Stiffness and rigidity of the fence infill material
* Resistance to wind loading and the performance of the fence in high
wind environments
In order to establish the above performance attributes, AS 4687 details a number of test methods appropriate for their determination. The Simulated climbing test, Foothold test, Impact test and Wind force overturning test have been included in the Standard and provide benchmark performance details.
For more information regarding the testing of temporary fencing please call Rod Wilkie at Melbourne Testing Services 03 9560 2759.
E-mail: rodwilkie@melbtest.com.au
Website: www.melbtest.com.au
Dated: March 2007
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First Step Forward - Accredited Training for Wire Fencing Industry
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Over the past couple of years the Australian Chain Link Fencing Association has been exploring options for a course which included the establishment of a traineeship for the wire fencing industry.
After a number of false starts with a private training organization, contact was made with the Training and Development department at the Holmesglen Institute of TAFE in Victoria to see if they could assist.
In conjunction with David Scannell, their senior project manager, a focus group was established to ascertain the work place competencies required to install security and recreational fencing.
We can now report that significant progress has been made in establishing a recognised training course for our industry.
Although the new Course in Fencing does not support a traineeship it does provide the foundation skills and knowledge for people entering the industry. The course provides a starting point for formal training in the fencing industry and provides opportunities to open discussions with the appropriate Industry Skills Council to develop a national qualification appropriate for a traineeship.
At the ACLFA February 2007 meeting in Melbourne David outlined the proposed course structure.
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Pictured at the meeting are:
David Scannell (Holmesglen TAFE), Glenn Otter (Otter Fencing), Tom Bishop (ARC Fences).
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The Course in Fencing has a nominal duration of 90 – 110 hours depending on the stream selected. The course comprises a total of four units :
Perform manual production welding. 20 hrs
Participate in workplace safety proc. 20 hrs
Deliver a service to customers. 20 hrs
Install metal fences and gates. 50 hrs
David reported that consultation during course development indicated a need to include basic welding skills for participants undertaking the metal fencing stream.
The proposed Course in Fencing is for fence installers and/or tradespeople and provides core fencing skills required to install timber or metal fencing and gates. This is achieved through participants selecting either one of the two streams contained in the course – (Metal fencing or timber fencing).
The Association is currently in discussions as to when and how the course will be delivered and will keep colleagues informed.
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Association
Logo Available On-Line
The Australian Chain
Link Fencing Association’s logo is now available to
download to members of the Association. The new logo will
be featured on all the Association’s literature, letterheads
and business cards. Members who wish to take advantage of
using the logo on their own literature etc. can do so by downloading
the file from the internet or by e-mail. Conditions for use
do apply however and members can sign on by contacting Brian
Mullarvey on 03 9857 4305 or Malcolm Michael on 02 9620 7100.
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