Zaun was contracted to supply high security and anti-protestor fencing for leading fracking companies to protect their sites from trespass or intrusion by protesters.
This case study investigates the fundamental role of temporary high-security fencing in protecting sites from protesters.
What is Fracking?
[vc_separator]Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, is performed by fracturing rocks. This can release the natural gas that has become trapped inside. This natural gas is the same kind utilised daily in homes, businesses and communities. Fracking companies perform extensive onshore fracking projects across the UK to harvest the natural gas trapped in various rock formations.
Why was it important to protect the site?
[vc_separator]Fracking is a subject that often dominates the news and can generate heightened emotions. Fracking regularly attracts protesters, resulting in the crucial necessity for site protection, such as high-security fencing.
Protesters could pose a significant danger to the running of the site and risk their own health if they could get onto the site.
The risk of potential security breaches was extremely high, and security fencing can deter and prevent protesters and trespassers from gaining access to the site, which is especially important if there is the potential they may interfere with the site or cause damage to it. Damage to the site could have caused serious interruption and impacted costs too.
It was also fundamental to erect temporary fencing to protect the health and safety of any trespassers. This was because there were many potential hazards on the site. These hazards could have proved harmful to someone who was not wearing the correct PPE or unfamiliar with the right procedures.
What Fencing Was Selected?
[vc_separator]Zaun installed two types of high-security temporary fencing systems to protect the site. One of these fencing systems was MultiFence temporary security fencing. Multifence is durable and mobile. Concrete blocks are utilised for mounting the fencing, which can be a viable space-saving option and extremely secure and robust.
The second style of temporary security fencing used at the fracking site was RDS Original, Zaun’s Rapid Deploy Fencing system. As this system requires no pinning or digging, it can be deployed extremely quickly and moved with ease when needed.
Why Were They Selected?
[vc_separator]Zaun’s Multifence system and RDS system are high-security solutions to temporary fencing needs. Both robust, strong and durable, they have extensive intrinsic security features that deliver the highest level of protection.
Both systems have been mob tested, which means they can withstand considerable force from crowds. They are ideally suited for this purpose. Due to a lack of footholds, protesters cannot climb or scale the fence. This offers dual protection because not only does it prevent protesters from intruding onto the site, but it also significantly reduces the risk of injury to the protesters too.
The Multifence and RDS systems both have the potential for hostile vehicle mitigation security upgrades to the fencing if necessary. This can be crucial if there is the possibility of hostile vehicles attacking the site.
As no ground penetration is necessary for installing either the Multifence or RDS, this protects the environment around the site’s perimeter. It also maintains the integrity of the site ground. They are also easily movable and redeployed over multiple sites.
For an extensive range of fencing solutions, you can trust, visit us at Zaun.
