The Importance of Non-Scalable, Temporary Fencing

The riots that occurred across the United States over the past year, including the breaching of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, has led to more and more businesses and government organizations questioning whether their current securing fencing provides adequate protection from a rioting, possibly violent, crowd.

Professionals with Sonco, a leader in crowd control and perimeter security industry since 1976, says these concerns are valid and can be addressed with non-scalable fencing. “A simple riot fencing system around the perimeter can prevent the type of breach we saw at the Capitol,” says Giuliano Marinho, specialist in crowd control and perimeter security with Sonco. “Thankfully, this type of fence isn’t reserved for the highest levels of law enforcement or the most desperate situations. Whether construction zones and events, private companies, or police agencies and government buildings, we offer a high quality, non-scalable fence at an affordable price.”

Also labeled “anti-scale” or “unscalable,” a non-scalable fence is a free-standing, hands-free, transportable and versatile crowd control product that creates extremely effective perimeters for a wide variety of applications. “Anytime you’re expecting a large turnout of angry or highly excited people, this is a barrier you want on your side,” says Marinho. “It’s also ideal for additional security at work zones with highly sensitive materials and equipment.”

According to Marinho, Sonco’s non-scalable fence offers multiple security-related benefits. He provides an overview of the most critical of these benefits:

ANTI-CLIMB

The tight, diamond-shaped mesh of a nonscalable fence puts tremendous pressure on the ends of your fingers when you try to lift your body. This makes it all but impossible to climb up the fence, even when wearing gloves. While

nothing is 100% certain, the possibility of one person managing to do the impossible is better than knowing that dozens of people could easily scale the perimeter together.

CONNECTED BY BOLTS NOT CLAMPS

For most temporary fencing applications, clamps do a great job of creating uninterrupted perimeters, preventing panels from separating, even when someone is trying to pry them apart. This forces would-be criminals to cut through the fence or climb over it, which gives law enforcement a tactical advantage.

However, a non-scalable riot fence is secured by a bolt, which is essentially a thick metal bar that runs perpendicular between the two panels, before it is locked in place to the fencing. No matter how hard a huge number of people try to push through, the bolt will hold up under intense pressure.

INTIMIDATING HEIGHT AND DESIGN

The inherent size and design of non-scalable fencing serves as a great deterrent from a perimeter breach. This fencing towers over people when they’re right up against it, and it provides enough of a visibility barrier for police to create formations and discuss tactics semiprivately.

INCREDIBLE STABILITY

Non-scalable fence stands on heavy-duty steel plates, which provides greater overall stability to each individual panel and creates a flat, smooth perimeter around any area. This is the toughest, most reliable stand in the industry. Even when not bolted to other panels, these stay upright, further emphasizing their versatility and adaptability to any situation. As an added benefit, the steel plates can be removed for storage and transport purposes.

PROTECTION FROM PROJECTILES

A non-scalable fence isn’t just a wall that’s practically impossible to climb, it’s the strongest, most durable portable fence on the market today. It can protect security personnel from bricks, bottles, stones, and beyond. While you’ll want to stand a few feet back if rioters start throwing items made of glass, the tight mesh threading breaks and blocks with unfaltering efficiency.

ADAPTABLE FOR PERIMETER SECURITY ADD-ONS

Due to the eight-foot height and hyper-sturdy build, you can combine this type of fencing with a variety of perimeter security peripherals, from floodlights to cameras, braces, privacy screens or even safety signage.

For more information about non-scalable fencing and other security barriers and fencing products, visit www.soncocrowdcontrol.com.