How Construction Contractors Should Approach The Purchase Of Temporary Fencing
If you are in the business of constructing property on a regular basis, one of the most important things you can do is making sure that you get the right temporary fencing for the job. Though it’s easy to take this for granted, it’s actually an issue that can determine how easy it will be for you to get the job done well and on time. If you regularly do construction work (such as if you are a contractor or work in the real estate industry), you would be better off buying temporary fencing rather than having to keep renting it whenever you need it.
What are the principles that should affect the type of fencing to buy?
If you are going to buy temporary fencing to be used on a regular basis, some of the qualities you should look out for include:
• Ease of portability: It should be very simple for you to move the fencing from one site to another. Using fencing made out of materials such as aluminum is a good way of achieving this, since this metal is strong but light.
• Ease of putting it together: In addition to that, you should also examine the fencing and find out if it’s easy to put together before going ahead to buy it. Remember, if a specific type of fence is too difficult to put up, it is usually more likely that the person installing it will do it the wrong way.
• It should be made of hardy material: Remember, by virtue of the fact that the fence will be used in a construction site, it will be exposed to many forces that have the potential to damage it. The ideal fencing should be designed in such a manner that it can withstand this.
Other adjuncts you should buy
In addition to the fencing, which can be considered a framework for the barrier, you should also consider investing in a few other adjuncts, such as a construction wrap. The latter refers to a piece of cloth that is wrapped around the fencing, and whose sole purpose is to reduce the chances of any debris getting out of the construction zone and harming any passers by. This sort of addition is important especially during the demolition phase of construction, and can also be modified to protect people from being harmed by small objects such as pieces of wood falling on them from overhead.
Are there any rules that the fencing might need to follow?
When you are considering investing in such fencing, you need to keep in mind that there are a few rules that you might need to adhere to when erecting them. This is especially so if the fencing is to be done around a public area. Understanding some of these can make it easier for you to identify a form of fencing that will cause minimal harm to passers-by. Some of the things that the fencing often needs to achieve include:
• It should provide access around the site with minimal risk of injury to the public.
• It should not interfere with line of sight, such as making it difficult for motorists to see traffic lights or obstructing junctions.
• The distance between the fencing and the sidewalk should be reasonable. Most authorities prescribe a distance of around 1.5 meters.
• Any gates within the fence should swing inwards.
• The fencing should not be too tall or too short. A fence that is too tall has the potential of collapsing especially when not properly installed. One that is too short might not offer adequate protection to passers-by. The ideal height advocated for by most local authorities is between 1.8 to 2 meters.
Don’t take anything for granted
When you are out there shopping for temporary fencing that you can buy, you should not take anything for granted. For instance, if you are not sure about the design of the fencing you should get, you would be better off seeking some help in finding out which one the best is rather than making a decision based on gut instinct. Remember, once you buy the fencing, you may need to use it regularly especially if you are in the construction business. Well, having low quality fencing will only lead to increased long term spending as you will keep replacing parts of it. Always consult a party that has enough information regarding this (such as your fencing vendor) to ensure that you don’t have a problem with this in future.
The most important thing you should remember when planning on buying temporary fencing is making sure that you make deliberate decisions. Ideally, this should be a purchase that you make only once or twice in the life of the business. Keeping all the above in mind goes a long way in making sure that this happens, and that you end up getting value for money.